How long do anti-roll bar bushings last?

An anti-roll bar is pretty much what it sounds like - a metal bar that helps stabilize your vehicle. It plays an important role in handling, especially in tight corners. The operation of the bar is quite simple. It is designed…

An anti-roll bar is pretty much what it sounds like - a metal bar that helps stabilize your car. It plays an important role in handling, especially in tight corners. The operation of the bar is quite simple. It is designed to redistribute the vehicle's weight to prevent rollover and improve handling.

Your car's anti-roll bar is used every time you hit the street, but it's under a lot of stress when you're cornering, especially if you're driving fast or if the corner is especially tight. This is partly offset by the stabilizer bar bushings. You will find them at the ends of the bar and they are used for different purposes. For example, they help attach the steering wheel to the bottom of your car. They also help provide a bit of flexibility and can also reduce noise.

Anti-roll bar bushings are quite simple in design and construction. In fact, they are not much more than rubber shock absorbers, and this is their weakness. The underside of your car is exposed to high temperatures, freezing temperatures, road salt, water, rocks and more. Over time, this will wear out the rubber bushings, causing them to shrink and crack. Eventually, they stop doing their job and you lose some of the benefits of an anti-roll bar. You will also notice increased road noise.

Driving with damaged or worn sway bar bushings can be somewhat dangerous as it can prevent the sway bar from doing its job properly. You can lose some controls when cornering and you will definitely notice the extra noise. Here are a few signs to look out for that might help you catch this before it becomes a real problem:

• Increased road noise from the front of the car
• Squeaking or grinding from the front, especially when driving over bumps
• Feeling like the car is trying to roll around corners
• Knocking when driving over bumps or corners

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to check and replace the anti-roll bar bushings if they fail. Have a certified mechanic diagnose and repair the anti-roll bar bushings if necessary.