Thursday, October 24, 2013

How to Repair a Sway Bar

A sway bar links opposing suspension components to counteract a cars tendency to pitch in tight turns. Most often, sway bars need to be repaired because the linkages between the bar and the suspension become worn or broken. Fortunately, the parts are relatively inexpensive and the repairs are simple for anyone with a floor jack and some free time.

Instructions

    1

    Find the broken link. Use the floor jack to lift the car so the wheel near the broken link is just off the ground. Remove the lug nuts and set the wheel aside.

    2

    Remove the broken linkage with the necessary wrenches. Typically there will be some stress in the sway bar that can be relieved by placing a second jack under the suspension arm and compressing the suspension just enough so you can remove the sway bar linkage.

    3

    Assemble the new linkage in place of the old one. Because different makes and models will vary, follow whatever directions are included with the sway bar repair kit youve purchased to ensure correct installation.

    4

    Replace the bushings at the contact point between the sway bar and the vehicles chassis. Depending on the repair kit that you bought, you may have to purchase new bushings separately.

    5

    Remove the bottle chack from the suspension. Reattach the wheel and lower the vehicle.

    6

    Repeat the process to replace the linkage on the other end of the sway bar. If one linkage has broken it is likely that the other one is also nearing the end of its service life. By replacing the linkages at both ends, you are also ensuring that they will be balanced.


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