I replaced my sway bar links and not sure the correct way they go back on.





Drivers side sway bar link





Passenger side sway bar link


When I pulled the old ones off, the drivers side was like the picture of the drivers side above. The passenger side was reversed, the link was closer to the spring.

Does the link attach like I have them or rotate them 180 and mount them on the inside of the upper bracket to put the link closer to the springs?

I know driving it now and you cut the wheels while driving any speed, it feels like your in a boat, sort of just slowly turns/floating. Any thoughts?

 

Please explain what you mean by "inside"?

The pictures you posted already show that you have mounted the swaybar link on the "inside" of, or inboard, of the upper bracket.

"Inboard" in vehicle parlance is considered closer toward the centerline of the vehicle. "Outboard" , or outside of, is considered further away from the centerline of the vehicle.

Are you proposing to remount your swaybar end links on the outboard side of your upper brackets? If that is the case, then no, don't do that. But I'm not really clear about your question.

 

Sorry for not being clear... probably not asking right... The below picture was how mine was mounted with the link close to the springs..looking at mine it is further from the spring.



I borrowed this picture from another thread, but it shows how one of my links was mounted.

 

Trying to explain myself better, I drew a line on how one side was previously.




I am confused on which way they mount since I had them two different ways...

Thanks...

 

I just looked through all of my sway bar link installation photos in my first album (several dozen pictures) and sadly realize that none of my photos are of any help to you. Doggone it. You have an early 99 set up, and Ford changed it within the first year.

 

Yes, truck is 99 model, made in May 98...but thanks for checking... really want to get the stearing better. I replaced my steering gear box, red gear, and that feels good...just not solid when cutting the wheel to either side...

 

It's really hard to say. I don't want to "steer" you wrong.

My sway bar end links mount from wide at the top to narrow at the bottom, which would be somewhat similar to your white line drawing, but the top end of mine still mounts inboard of the upper brackets, not outboard like your white line proposed.

 

lol...good pun...

The alignment would be similar to the picture of someone elses truck if mounted outboard to the bracket.

 

Since I did a lot of research on front sway bar end links, your dilemma has peaked my curiosity. I can't find any images of a sway bar end link fastened to the outboard of that early 99 bracket. By the way, here is a TSB related to the early design you have:

Article No
00-1-6
01/10/00
SUSPENSION - FRONT STABILITY BAR MAY BREAK OFF - VEHICLES BUILT FROM 1/1/1998
FORD:
1999 SUPER DUTY F SERIES
ISSUE
The front stability bracket on the front axle may break off due to impact with a solid object or from fatigue.
ACTION
Install a revised bracket. On vehicles built before 3/21/1999, install a new stability bar bracket which will raise the bar approximately 25 mm (1"). This will reduce the possibility of breakage. Refer to the Service Procedure for details.
PART NUMBER PART NAMEF81Z-5486-DB Mounting BracketN605921-S426 BoltN620482-S427 NutYC3Z-5A316-AA Cap - Front SpringF81Z-5486-AA Retainer - Stability BarF81Z-5484-EC InsulatorFB1Z-5484-JA InsulatorFB1Z-5482-FA Stability BarF81Z-5482-AA Stability BarF81Z-5705-BA U-BoltN805480-S426 Nut
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under The Provisions Of Bumper To Bumper Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME000106A Install Revised Stability 1.1 Hr. Bracket And Stability Bar (Super Duty F Series 4X4 Built Prior To 3/21/1999)000106B Install Revised Stability 1.0 Hr. Bracket And Stability Bar (Super Duty F Series 4X4 Built On Or After 3/22/1999)000106C Install Revised Stability 1.6 Hrs. Bracket And Stability Bar (F-450/550 4X2)
DEALER CODING CONDITIONBASIC PART NO. CODE5486 01
OASIS CODES: 303000, 304000, 702100

 

Thanks...from all of the pics and videos I have found, they are all the newer design, but they are all wider at the top. Looks like a couple of hundred dollars to put the new bracket and link bars on it...not sure if I need to replace them or when and if the bracket breaks?

 

Just curious, if they are install wrong, having the top narrower than the bottom, what would that do?

 

I don't know. But we are both trying to solve this by making inferences from pattern recognition. I think we need an early 99 service manual to get to the bottom of how the original design should be mounted. And that is assuming the book will even say. Sometimes the instructions are quite clear: (sarcasm face)

1. Remove.
2. Replace.

And maybe there is a partial line drawing.

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Problem is, the older these trucks get, the more affordable they become to kids, so by now even the trucks that managed to stay stock for more than a decade have now been lifted or otherwise mucked with. I'll keep looking though.

 

Thanks....

 

After looking at Shake N Bake's early 99, I'd say you are correct in mounting the tops of the sway bar end links inboard of the upper brackets. Now, as to whether or not your endlinks needed to be flipped 180, rotated 180, or swapped from side to side, I cannot say. But the top eyelet to the sway bar end links does not mount outside of their hangar bracket... it mounts inside.

The last letter of the part numbers on your end links "BA" versus "BB" will indicate which side is driver's side and which side is passenger's side. I forget off the top of my head which is which, but I've posted some fairly long posts describing each part number and the application, which are in a sticky somewhere in some tech folder.

ON EDIT:

Looking at your first pictures, it appears that you have two passenger side sway bar end links (both ending in BA). I think you need to order a driver's side endlink for your application, part number F81Z-5K483-BB. The Motorcaft part number equivalent is MEF-212. It might be obsolete, requiring you to go aftermarket. I think that could be the issue.

 

I was looking for parts showing the two different ones...and noticed after you said one was drivers and one was passenger...we were on the same trail. I bought the truck used and those were on there. Def two of the same part numbers.

Once I get the right other one...will have to try and figure out if I need to rotate them so it is wider at the top.

I sure appreciate all of your help...makes it tougher being so old of a truck.