Front sway bars

[97greenmonster]

i took my truck to the dealer today, and i need to have both my arm links are completly broken. the dealer wants $150 o replace them both.. any suggestions on what to do? If you know where i can get the parts and do it myself i would like that, i am pretty handy, but concerned for winter!

 

[aldive]

You can easily DIY and save some bucks.

Good luck ....

 

[section525]

They're about $12 a piece at the local auto parts store. One nut and bolt per side and they're off. Simple as can be.

 

[Turdle]

Actually
I thought there was a recall on the 96-97 endlinks???

 

[CougarX]

I've got a perfectly good set of factory end links (bushings still good and not rusted, must have been replace by previous owner) that I'll mail ya for $15.

If you've got a ratchet and a socket and a wrench (or even a couple pairs of good pliers) you can do it yourself in the driveway.

 

[97greenmonster]

Sweet.. Thanks.. thats going to save my alot.

 

[Halfnuts]

you can head down to the parts store of your choice and pick up a complete kit w/ urethane bushings from Energy Suspension for beans. While you're there, get the sway bar bushing kit, too.
If urethane is the way you go, use plenty of lube on it, else it'll squeak.
~Ken

 

[gijoecam]

Ditto. $25-30 bucks, and two nuts. Takes all of 10 minutes once the old ones are out of the way. I did mine in the wintertime, with about 50 lbs of ice melting all over me in teh garage... Didn't even jack the truck up.

-Joe

 

[aldive]

Take a look at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1425414&highlight=end+links#post1425414 post # 16

 

[97greenmonster]

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[97greenmonster]

Ok, i bought some links.. now how do i put them on? HA im too poor to by a chiltons, but yea. it came with 4 washers, the link and 4 red cap things and a nut? what order? HELP

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The bolt goes in from the top.
One washer goes against the head of the bolt curved side.
Then one of the bushings goes against the washer with the stem of the bushing facing down.

Now put the bolt through the sway bar.
next is another bushing (stem up)then another washer (curve side) down.
after this the metal spacer will go on.

Next another washer curve uo
Bushing stem down.

Now slide bolt throug lower control arm
bushing stem up.
washer curve down.
Nut

Now you are done


It will be easier to take both right & left old links off first. This will let you move the swaybar up for more room to get the bolt and metal spacer on.

Here is a side view if it helps.

I(OlO)------(OlO)I

Hope this helps

 

[97greenmonster]

YEa thanks.. only one question.. once i get it through the lower control arm, there isnt enough room to get the bolt on. should i have someone sit on it?the sway bar is moving freely because both side were completly broken! how and i going to get this thing on thereif the bolt can go on?

 

[Steeda90GT]

Since nobody is answering my other post, Ill ask it here. What size nut is on the control arm side?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Do you have your Explorer on jack stands? If you do you can place the jack under the control arm and raise it to get the nut on.

If not have someone sit on the bumper and see if that is enough force to push it down.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Steeda, if it is the stock bushing it is either a 15mm or 18mm.

 

[97greenmonster]

Ok.. new problem. On the the old links, it rusted through righ before the bushing right before the sway bar, so its stuck and i have NO clue how to pry it out?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Is it the bushing that is stuck or the bolt?

 

[97greenmonster]

Ok.. i powered my way through that one.. Now i have jacked up the control arm so the tires not on the ground, but i still cant get enough room to put the washer and then screw the bolt on. im the only on working on it, so is that a problem? and anything else i can do to pull the sway bar down to get the nut on?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

That is the problem I had. I ended up cutting down the steel bushing by a
1/2" so I had enough threads exposed so I could get the nut on.

I only did one side as the old one broke trying to get it off when I was replcing my axle shaft.

It has not effected the handling by cutting down the steel bushing.