My new sway bar linker fell out!

[cpumatt]

So sure enough after about 3 weeks with my new and shiny MOOG sway bar links I hear a clunk, get under my truck and find one missing.

So, I'm going to buy a new one. But I have a question on how I should install this new one: Usually, the bolt goes in from the bottom; making it so that if the top nut were to vibrate out, the bolt falls through and the whole linker spreads over the road. What if I put the bolt through the top though? So If the nut comes loose again, I just lose a nut and a bushing.

 

[koda2000]

So sure enough after about 3 weeks with my new and shiny MOOG sway bar links I hear a clunk, get under my truck and find one missing.

So, I'm going to buy a new one. But I have a question on how I should install this new one: Usually, the bolt goes in from the bottom; making it so that if the top nut were to vibrate out, the bolt falls through and the whole linker spreads over the road. What if I put the bolt through the top though? So If the nut comes loose again, I just lose a nut and a bushing.

It doesn't matter which end the bolt goes through. I usually put if in from the top. If the nut came loose it was defective. The nuts are nyloc locking nuts. They shouldn't come loose.

 

[cpumatt]

It doesn't matter which end the bolt goes through. I usually put if in from the top. If the nut came loose it was defective. The nuts are nyloc locking nuts. They shouldn't come loose.

Ah, so you think it broke?

 

[chefduane]

I put my bolts in from the top so as to avoid exactly what happened to you. My fear was that if the link failed, the bolt and assembly would drop out and flail around underneath and possibly puncture something. Also, after they are in for a while aren't you supposed to go back and give them a few more tightening turns? I think that is the wisdom of the collective here.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Those shouldn't back off. Did you over tighten it? If you over tighten it you'll bend and or weaken it and it'll snap.

 

[koda2000]

Ah, so you think it broke?

Yes. How tight did you make the nut?

 

[cpumatt]

Yes. How tight did you make the nut?

I don't have a torque wrench, but they said 17 foot pounds so I tried my best to guestimate. Guess it was on too tight! Luckily they're only like $15

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

As extra insurance, you can run another 'jam' nut on
to back up the nyloc nut. (I do this on all exhaust
bolts/nuts.) Lots of flexing on these SB links so a nut
could easily work loose.