Symptoms of Faulty or Faulty Sway Bar Links

Common signs of bad sway bar links include squealing or rattling in the tire area, poor handling, and a loose steering wheel.

The responsibility for keeping the vehicle stable and handling smoothly under various driving conditions lies with the stabilizer bar, or anti-roll bar as it is often referred to. This mechanical assembly is attached to the vehicle body by a body support with anti-roll bar bushings and anti-roll bar links that are attached to the front lower control arm and have bushings along the link to protect and ensure a smooth ride.

When the anti-roll bars begin to wear out, the symptoms can range from subtle to significant, and if you don't replace the anti-roll bars, it can cause catastrophic damage to the front of your vehicle and potentially lead to an accident. .

Below are a few warning signs that will let you know when the sway bar links are starting to wear out and should be replaced by an ASE certified mechanic.

Knocking or rattling around the tires

Anti-roll bar links are attached to the lower control arm at the front of most domestic and foreign-made cars and trucks sold in the United States. In some vehicles, the rear also has anti-roll bars. However, the ones that cause the most damage are in the front and are located directly behind the left and right front wheels. If you're driving down the road and you start to hear clanging, rattling, or metal-on-metal scratching, the sway bar links may be causing the noise.

The stabilizer links should sit incredibly tight, with no play or displacement, except for the rubber bushings. When the links wear out, the stabilizer will start to make these sounds, especially when you are driving around corners or overcoming speed bumps. If you hear these noises coming from the front of your vehicle, be sure to see a certified mechanic and have them check and replace the anti-roll bar links and bushings. This job requires both driver and passenger side to be done at the same time.

Poor handling or dangling steering wheel

Because the anti-roll bar links are attached to the lower suspension arm, steering and handling also deteriorate when they begin to wear out. In most cases, the actual culprit is the bushings, which are designed to take most of the impact and help protect the metal parts from wear. However, bushings can also cause extensive corrosion, especially if oil, grease, or other debris gets on the anti-roll bar. The direct result of all these problems is that the vehicle just doesn't drive the way you're used to. The steering wheel will feel "dangling", and the body will sway more from left to right due to wear on the anti-roll bar links and bushings.

Checking when changing tires or inspecting the suspension

A great opportunity for car owners to protect their anti-roll bar and front suspension from significant damage in advance is to have a certified mechanic inspect them while changing front brake pads, changing tires, or doing other front work. When they look under the front end, they also check the tie rods, dampers and struts, CV joints and boots, as well as the front anti-roll bar links, bushings and other front end components. It's a good idea to completely replace the front stabilizer links and bushings at the same time as doing other front work.

This allows the mechanic to perform precise front suspension alignment that sets the suspension straight correctly so that the car rides smoothly, the tires wear evenly, and the car doesn't pull to the right or left when you try to drive. straight.

As with any front suspension work, it is always best to have a professional and ASE certified mechanic perform the sway bar link replacement. If you notice any of the warning signs or symptoms above, contact AvtoTachki so they can check your anti-roll bar links and accessories.