Sway bar links!

I've been driving it for some time (over 6k miles) without a front sway bar. I was always concerned by the amount the vehicle would roll around in a strong wind...now I know.

EDIT: After a quick search, it's obvious the links broke.

But, here's the thing. I'm under the front of the truck every 5k for oil changes and I have never noticed this before.

So, it looks to be a DIY job and I'll need to buy some new hardware as one of the links has a vertical crack in it and is showing it's age. And, on top of this, I'm curious if, at 130k on the clock, if I should be looking to rebuild anything else on the front end. I'm also debating on whether or not I should send the truck in to a mechanic to have them go through the front end...decisions, decisions.

For now, pictures:

 

I 'd check all suspension parts period. Both tie rod ends, ball joints (my lower driver snapped out of no where) & control arm bushings. The stabilizer bars are an easy job. Just finished mine.

To do the passenger side I had to jack up the driver side a-arm to make room to even slide the sleeve between the sway bar and the lower control arm on the passenger side. Used jack stands, on both sides, it is not only safe, but it makes the job easier. I tried jacking up the passenger side control arm to put in the sleeve for the stabilizer bars it didn't work for me. Good luck to you and it only takes less than an hour to do them. Well easy for me to say, I had everything already out of the way when I decided to to them !!!

See Ford changed the way the sway bar stabilizer links look mine look completely different.

<a href="http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u401/Man_tlac83/?action=view&amp;current=stabilizerbarontruck.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u401/Man_tlac83/stabilizerbarontruck.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u401/Man_tlac83/?action=view&amp;current=stabilizerbarinpieces.jpg " target="_blank"><img src="http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u401/Man_tlac83/stabilizerbarinpieces.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

@Man_tlac83 some ones got ductape
but anyways when i first got my nai one was also gone and replaced them with the same swaybar links

 

Since I been known to screw up, scuff, and or dent the heck out of stuff. I took duct tape and wrapped a bag and some clothes around my axle teeth. I should have just taken it off and moved it completely out of my way instead, but was too lazy and already mad at all the rust. So left that shaft right on in there,lol.

 

Ford didn't change the way they were connected-Moog figured out a far better way to do it. You can still actually buy the old, crappy Ford OEM links. I had the same thing happen to me a couple years back. Replaced them myself in an hour. The worst part is getting the old ones out.

 

that was the best part in my book, removing them crappy oem swaybar links

 

The hard part for me was getting them back in, darn things didn't want to line up.

 

I bought the same (Moog) links today and installed them. However, without any instructions I don't know how far down to torque the nuts.

Any ideas?

 

Stabilizer bar link nut to stabilizer bar 15-20 ft. lbs. or 20-30 Nm. That's for 4x2 & 4x4's not sure which one you are riding in.

If you moved the stabilizer bar the bracket on the frame is 19-26 ft. lbs. or 26-35 Nm.

Can you post what the moog stabilizer bar looks like. The one I found looks just like my old on.

Good luck!!

 

The Moog one isn't a stabilizer bar. It's a long bolt with a sleeve and some bushings.

 

Real common problem.

 

This is what I bought. Moog K8772

 

Glad you got that fixed.

 

Ah yes... As they say on the Red Green Show "Duct Tape, the handyman's friend". Those Canadians have the answer and it's always duct tape!

I had the same link break on my Navigator and the alignment shop missed it.