Sway-bar End Links... can't believe how trashed they were!!!

[Todd82TA]

So, I bought my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport about a year ago w/ 35k miles on it. It's immaculate... the headlights don't even have any clouding on it. It was owned by an old guy who drove it here and there.

Anyway, the suspension is IMMACULATE... it's a little dusty, but there's no rust anywhere on the car or the suspension, barely even surface rust on the steel, unpainted, brake / hub components.

Anyway, there was a slight clunk when I bought the car in the front right... couldn't figure out what it was, but figured one day I'd get around to looking at it.

So, a couple of days go, the suspension starting making a lot of clunking noises. I figured it was the upper ball joints failing since I had heard they were suseptible to early failure. I cut the wheel sharply and took a look at the suspension... I couldn't believe it, but the anti-sway bar end link bushings were totally shot.

I've never seen this before in my entire life. I've had cars that were much older than this. My 1987 Pontiac Fiero SE V6 which was my first car... it's got 120 some odd thousand miles on it and the bushings are still serviceable.

The ones on this Explorer just cracked and fell apart. Apparently the bolts were bottoming out when I'd take a turn and that's what that sound was.

Here are some pictures. I went to Advance Auto and bought a MOOG kit w/ some really hard blue bushings (felt almost like Poly). Paid $18 each... rip off I suppose, but I didn't feel like waiting for Rock Auto.


Anyway, this is normally not a big deal, but I just thought it really odd that the rest of the car is immaculate, and like new, but this ONE thing... totally shot. Just really weird. Is there a recall or something?

 

[almond900]

I think I have replaced them on just about every vehicle I have owned,explorer,bronco,taurus,f150 and lat week in my crown vic. I always thought sway bar link replacement was pretty common.

 

[01EXP5.0]

Seems like a lot of people on this site have had the same trouble just search sway bar end links. Anyway my opinion is that the problem is due to the top heaviness of the vehicle and the fact these are fairly light duty parts. There are some really good alternative solutions on this site but the moogs have served me well after several years and about 40k miles. Good luck

 

[Todd82TA]

I think I have replaced them on just about every vehicle I have owned,explorer,bronco,taurus,f150 and lat week in my crown vic. I always thought sway bar link replacement was pretty common.

I've had some real beaters... but I can't remember ever HAVING to replace them. I had a 1981 Pontiac TransAm which I tore down to a shell and subframe, and even those sway-bar end links were still solid (even if very cracked / dried).

I've got a Crown Vic too... love the car. I inherited my grandfather's 2002 LX back in 2004. I try to never drive it, but sometimes I just can't help myself. It's got 47k miles on it as it sits... lots of mods, but I keep it looking totally stock inside and outside. Just bought new whitewalls for it to replace the old ones... but it'll run a flat-15 on a good day, and still get 27-28mpg on the highway.

Seems like a lot of people on this site have had the same trouble just search sway bar end links. Anyway my opinion is that the problem is due to the top heaviness of the vehicle and the fact these are fairly light duty parts. There are some really good alternative solutions on this site but the moogs have served me well after several years and about 40k miles. Good luck

Yeah, I think you're right... I'm pretty sure that's what it was.

I'll tell you what though. I loved that I could change them without even having to jack the car up or even remove a wheel.

That's what I love about this thing. When I need to change the oil... I just throw down a piece of cardboard and get started. No jacking up the car, crawling under it...

it's SOOO easy.

Biggest piece of crap I ever had to work on in my life was my wife's 2004 VW Beetle Convertible. It took me 2 hours just to change a battery. First I had to remove an engine cover, then I had to remove the car's ECM, then the entire air-box assembly, then the fuel evaporative canister, and THEN, only then... could I get to the battery.

Don't even ask me about changing the oil or changing a rear tail-light.

To change the oil, there's a small slot to stick your finger and socket wrench in. Then, when the plug comes out, the oil dumps all over a structural body pan to support the convertible. So... the oil dumps out at both ends bythe control arms. (awesome).

To change a tail-light... you have to remove all the interior panels in the trunk... which requires you to remove the spare tire, jack, and all the other crap. It's no small feat because it's a convertible.

I was SOOO happy to get rid of that crappy car.


I've rebuilt a few engines in some cars and projects I've owned over the years... never had more trouble doing stuff than I did on that crappy VW.

(sorry, just got on a rant)



Todd

 

[my98nnj]

Biggest piece of crap I ever had to work on in my life was my wife's 2004 VW Beetle Convertible. It took me 2 hours just to change a battery. First I had to remove an engine cover, then I had to remove the car's ECM, then the entire air-box assembly, then the fuel evaporative canister, and THEN, only then... could I get to the battery.

Try changing a front fender or the front bumper cover on one of them.
The ENTIRE front end has to come aprt.