How do anti-roll bars work? Know the signs of failure and damage to the anti-roll bar
Content
What are the stabilizer links responsible for and how are they arranged?
Can a simple metal piece with two screws affect the handling of a car that much? As it turned out, it is very possible, because this is exactly the case with the details described. The ends of the anti-roll bar connecting it to other suspension elements are important, especially when hitting a hole in the road and when cornering. more precisely, the driver does not have noises and thuds coming from the area of \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe wheels. The length of the stabilizer links varies depending on the design of the suspension. The bar can be almost invisible or have a length of more than 30 cm.
Anti-roll bar - what is it for?
To understand how the connectors work, you need to say a little about the stabilizer itself. This is a metal rod with appropriately shaped bends that connects the suspension arms from the front and rear axles. The stabilizer of the car is designed to reduce the forces acting on the springs when cornering. Thanks to this, the wheels constantly touch the surface, even despite significant overloads, and the car does not lose traction. It consists of rubber elements and ball joints.
What is the role of this element?
When cornering, the inner wheel spring is stretched and the other wheel spring is compressed, which can lead to instability. The steering wheel counteracts these forces and helps to maintain balance when cornering. However, for proper operation while driving, the stem must be connected to the shock absorber. This is exactly what the stabilizer links do.
Signs of wear on the stabilizer struts
The main culprit of driving discomfort is the so-called. apple, i.e. an element in which there is a fixing screw and a rubber element responsible for damping vibrations. You will learn about his work by deaf knocks when driving through pits and other transverse irregularities. However, a word of caution here - the anti-roll bar connector can easily be confused with other suspension components such as bushings. rocker. So how do you know what is damaged in the car? It must be organoleptically diagnosed.
How to check the stabilizer links on your car?
It's actually quite simple and requires the car to be raised enough so that the wheels are hanging freely. Thanks to this, the connector will not transmit forces and you can move it with a crowbar or pipe. Your best bet is to lean against the shock cup and insert something between it and the stabilizer tip to move it out of the way. When worn, a distinct knock is heard. This is a symptom of a loose apple. Complete wear can cause the connector to fall out of the holder and destabilize the vehicle.
How to replace stabilizer links on a car?
Since you already have a car on a lift and you have diagnosed that the stabilizer struts are suitable for replacement, you should proceed to action. Fortunately, the whole procedure is extremely simple. For independent work you will need:
- wire brush for cleaning threads;
- penetrating agent for fighting dirt;
- torx key.
The connectors are fastened with a pair of screws, so there is not much to unscrew. First, thoroughly clean the threaded areas with a wire brush to remove rust and dirt. You can also treat them with a penetrating agent, then it will be easier for you to unscrew them.
Do-it-yourself stabilizer bar replacement!
One of the bolts has a thread ending in a nut and should not be an obstacle for you. The second one has a counter so you will need a Torx key to unscrew it. Without it, you will turn the nut endlessly. Be prepared for the fact that everything will not immediately go as smoothly as it seems and may complicate your life a little, but after a while you will be able to get rid of the faulty element.
Experts recommend changing the stabilizer struts on both sides of the car at the same time. Thanks to this, there will be no serious problems with subsequent failure symptoms when one of the connectors is new and the other is half worn.
Replacing the stabilizer link - price in the workshop
What if you are not going to replace the fasteners yourself? It is best to visit a specialist. The stabilizer link itself is not too expensive, but if you are tempted to replace it in the workshop, then the work will cost about 75 PLN. Much depends on the location, type of construction and the complexity of replacing the element. If you decide to do this, it is worth checking the suspension strut with the car raised and replacing it if necessary. This will save you time and money on your next visit to the mechanic.
Although it seems that the stabilizer links are invisible parts of the suspension, they are an integral part of it. They are responsible for safety while driving. Therefore, it is worth even prophylactically monitoring their condition, for example, when periodically changing wheels to summer or winter ones. A few minutes spent on this will minimize the risk of problems.
