Missing piece on Sway-Bar!
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: SW VA
Missing piece on Sway-Bar!
I just noticed this earlier this week when I was underneth the truck washing it. On the passenger side....the sway bar is disconnected from the mount on the lower A-Arm! I dont know how long it's been like that...whether it just happened last weekend, or if it was like that when I bought it.
Now I gotta fix it...
Would the dealership have this piece (bolt/screw), or do I have to buy a whole assembly?
Now I gotta fix it...
Would the dealership have this piece (bolt/screw), or do I have to buy a whole assembly?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
you can buy a universal "kit " at Auto Zone for $20 to do both sides. you get two bolts, rubber grommets, and two short pipes for spacers. only takes 15 minutes per side, do it. sometimes they break or the bolt rot off.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 479
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From: Syracuse
I found the the same thing on mine about a month back. I did the formentioned $20 route. I couldn't bring myself to pay $35 per side from the dealer. Not for this particular job. It's a real easy job to do though. I put the ole boy up on ramps for some elbow room. Rob
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
I broke the head off my driver side mount a couple years ago and got the kit from Napa to replace it. Then after cranking up the torsion bars I popped the other side. But since cranking the bars the ride has been much stiffer and when the sway bar mount broke it rode nicer so I went ahead and removed both sides. With the bars cranked and the sway bar unbolted from each side it seems to have less sway then with the bar mounted before the lift. Oh well, I am happy, and one less thing to worry about.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 1
From: Dixie - Tennessee
Me and a bud were talking about this same issue on his 1997 F-150 4x4 last night...
His is missing the rod on the driver's side. Now I know how to go about fixing it...
Thanks, fellers!
Nightrain
His is missing the rod on the driver's side. Now I know how to go about fixing it...
Thanks, fellers!
Nightrain
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
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From: Southeast FLA
Are you guys talking about "end-links," or some rod I don't know about?
If you're going to replace 'em, and if you're going to keep the truck, get Energy Suspension's polyuertane-bushing end-links (SUmmit Racing is cheap and has all the sizes (usually)). The end links are sturdier, IMO, and the poly makes the truck handle better. Probably less than $35 for the kit.
But for 'rods,' I'm just not sure who sells 'em. Gonna look under the truck tonight to see if I can find 'em though.
If you're going to replace 'em, and if you're going to keep the truck, get Energy Suspension's polyuertane-bushing end-links (SUmmit Racing is cheap and has all the sizes (usually)). The end links are sturdier, IMO, and the poly makes the truck handle better. Probably less than $35 for the kit.
But for 'rods,' I'm just not sure who sells 'em. Gonna look under the truck tonight to see if I can find 'em though.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Nightrain was the only one who used the term 'rod', and yes the rest of us are talking about the end-links, although that term escaped me earlier. And I have heard good things about Energy Suspension's polyuertane-bushed end-links, never checked to see if they were avaiable for my f150 though and since decided to just disconnect the end links all-together.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 2
From: Southeast FLA
Ah... everyone seemed on the same page, so I wondered if I was missing something.
To be honest, for my '99 4x4 I ordered what I thought was the closest sized end-links (I don't recall the size now - if someone really needs it, I may be able to call up Summit), then trimmed down the two center spacers to the size that the truck had. I probably could have left them the original size if I would have disonnected both sides before installing new ones, and played around with jacking the truck up (or the sway bay down) a little.
To be honest, for my '99 4x4 I ordered what I thought was the closest sized end-links (I don't recall the size now - if someone really needs it, I may be able to call up Summit), then trimmed down the two center spacers to the size that the truck had. I probably could have left them the original size if I would have disonnected both sides before installing new ones, and played around with jacking the truck up (or the sway bay down) a little.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Originally Posted by ATC Crazy
Would the dealership have this piece (bolt/screw), or do I have to buy a whole assembly?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,155
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From: Southern Louisiana
I ordered Moog replacements for mine from www.rockauto.com. Pretty simple and straight forward job.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Southeast FLA
One really shouldn't try to re-use the other pieces - the original soft rubber bushings only get softer (and some partially wear away) with time. If the truck is in a rust-belt area, the 'washers' may not be strong enough to hold over the life of the truck anyway.
This, like the rear shock studs up near the frame, may very well be a good place for a hacksaw (or, skip that, I used a Sawzall - the end-link hardware is pretty tough steel - a cutting torch will work, too).
This, like the rear shock studs up near the frame, may very well be a good place for a hacksaw (or, skip that, I used a Sawzall - the end-link hardware is pretty tough steel - a cutting torch will work, too).
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: SW VA
Thanks for the Poly-bushing tip GammaDriver!
As for you guys who run with a disconnected Sway-bar...will it cause excess tire wear in the long run? As in leaning too much in a corner, and causing the tire to wear.
The reason I ask, is that I just got new M/T's put on the truck, and I want them to last as long as I can. Plus...I take this truck off-road regularly, and would like the extra flex/travel
As for you guys who run with a disconnected Sway-bar...will it cause excess tire wear in the long run? As in leaning too much in a corner, and causing the tire to wear.
The reason I ask, is that I just got new M/T's put on the truck, and I want them to last as long as I can. Plus...I take this truck off-road regularly, and would like the extra flex/travel
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