Stabilizer bolt and wheel alignment

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Jun 25, 2008 | 01:31 PM

archerm

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Stabilizer bolt and wheel alignment

I recently bought new tires and had the front end aligned at the tire shop. While paying I was informed that the front brake pads are worn and need replaced. I declined their offer with the intent to do it myself a short while later. About two months and 900 miles later I bought new pads and went to install them. After removing the driver-side front wheel I noticed the bolt at the top of the stabilizer bar was missing. The hole in the stabilizer-bar is now slightly offset from the 5 inch "spacer" that the bolt would go through on down to the lower control arm. I've not noticed any difference in the ride or handling.

Is it possible, or likely, that the tire shop removed the bolt during the alignment and failed to put it back in....or do these bolts sometimes just break off.

I'm trying to decide if I should demand the tire shop replace the bolt at their expense, or is it possible it just broke on it's own and had nothing to do with the alignment.

Thanks in advance for any advice....

Oh yeah.. 1999 Ford Explorer 4WD, 6 cyl OHV, 106,000 miles.

Jun 25, 2008 | 08:28 PM

MCDT

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Anything is possible. It is an inexpensive part that takes five minutes to replace. Mine did break on its own.

Jun 25, 2008 | 09:09 PM

steve(ill)

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they break after 4-5 years of use. cost $20. a pair and less than 30 minutes to do it.

Jun 27, 2008 | 09:34 AM

1081

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From: Kansas City, Missouri

I doubt the alignment had anything to do with it, as said above, they break. You probably had a rattle you didn't notice or something. If it broke when they were aligning it I am sure they would have tried to sell you that work also. The hole will line back up and I recommend you replace both sides because the other one probably isn't far behind.

Jun 27, 2008 | 11:47 PM

archerm2

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Thanks for the advice...seems clear I should not ask the tire shop to cover this.
In case you noticed, this reply is under a new user-name. My forum account became inactive....I couldn't reply, post or anything. I guess it was never activated, yet somehow I was able to post my question in the forum. Oh well???
I paid the tire shop $120 to replace the stabilizer links on both sides. I was tempted to try it myself, but I just don't have the time right now to try something new.

Thanks again for the advice, very much appreciated.

archerm