Users' questions / September 3, 2020

What happens when sway bar links go bad?

A broken or damaged sway bar link can cause your vehicle to handle poorly, particularly if the sway bar link is broken. If it is broken, then the sway bar is not connected to the chassis properly and will not prevent the car from leaning in a corner. Your car will lean more in corners if the link is broken.

What does a sway bar do Subaru?

A sway bar, also known as a stabilizer bar, is a crucial component of a Subaru suspension system. It helps reduce the car’s body rolls during tight cornering or while driving on uneven terrain, making your vehicle safer to drive especially at high speeds.

Is it safe to drive with bad sway bar links?

It is possible to still drive a vehicle with broken sway bar links, but handling performance will suffer so use caution by driving on paved roads, taking turns slowly, and staying off high-speed highways and/or interstates that require lane changes.

Is it expensive to replace sway bar links?

The average sway bar link replacement cost is usually between $125 to $160 including labor. The links themselves cost between $40 to $110 each, while the labor will set you back anywhere between $50 to $70.

What are the signs of a bad sway bar link?

Some of the most common symptoms of a bad sway bar bushing or sway bar links going bad are:

Clunking noise.
Rattling noise.
Knocking sound on uneven road.
Lack of stability when driving.
Noise going over speed bumps.
Poor handling when turning.

How often should sway bar links be replaced?

Now, when it comes to the overall lifespan of the sway bar link, it will be from four to five years. However, if the roads have treated the car exceptionally well and the turns were not that sharp, you can expect them to last over five years.

Do I need sway bar links?

The good news is that most owners will only need to replace their stabilizer bar links maybe once during their ownership, unless you’re one who really puts their car through its paces on a regular basis (racing, tight corners at high speeds, etc.).

Do sway bars affect ride quality?

These bars act as a third spring, controlling rolls and stiffness of a vehicle. A sway bar has no effect if both sides simultaneously move in the same direction. If you increased the spring rate, it would reduce body roll but would impact ride comfort.

Can I replace just one sway bar link?

Is it necessary to replace both sway bar links if only one is bad? The answer is no, however your mechanic may recommend replacing both sway bar links because both links usually wear at the same rate and if one is bad, the other may go soon too.

Can you drive with broken sway bar link?

Front sway bar. If a front sway bar is broken, you’ll experience significant differences in how the car handles. It may feel “looser,” particularly when driving at high speeds. You could lose control of the car, resulting in a serious accident if you’re not prepared.

Do you need an alignment after replacing sway bar links?

Sway bar end links, or anything to do with a sway bar, won’t affect wheel alignment settings.

Will sway bars affect tire wear?

A sway bar will affect tire wear and can even make your car handle worse. IF, there are other suspension bushing that are worn or compromised. Upgrades to the suspension and chassis are only a benefit if the rest of the car is healthy.

What does a sway bar do on a Subaru Outback?

Sway bars are a clever way of increasing your Subaru’s roll stiffness without having to resort to super-heavy springs. Upgrading your sway bars reduces body roll and increases cornering grip. You can also use aftermarket sway bars to adjust oversteer/understeer balance.

Can you replace front endlinks with aftermarket sway bars?

Replace mushy or broken endlinks to get the most out of your stock or aftermarket sway bars. RalliTEK designed these direct replacement front HD endlinks that will work with factory or aftermarket sway bars. Steel construction ensures your heavy aftermarket swaybar won’t destroy your endlink.

What kind of front sway bar does a WRX have?

Whiteline makes this front sway bar specifically for the WRX wagon. The narrow front track of the wagon also demands a narrower front sway bar. If you put a sedan… Whiteline Front Sway Bars 2002-2007 Impreza/WRX/STI Sedan from $197.91

How does a larger rear sway bar affect steering?

In general, adding a larger rear sway bar increases over steer, and adding a larger front sway bar increases under steer. Upgrade both front and rear sway bars to reduce body roll and tune vehicle balance to your preference.