DIY - Sway Bar End Link Replacement
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 49
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From: Denver Colorado
DIY - Sway Bar End Link Replacement
This DIY is for the front sway bar links.
Symptoms - Clunking noise in front or rear of car most noticeable on small bumps at 20-35mph.
Sway bar test.
Remove the sway bar and end links to ensure this is the problem. Drove the car on a road by our house that produced the noise every time. I do not recommend you drive the car without the sway bar aggressively this does impact the handling of the car. The clunking noise was completely gone and when I got these out on the bench I could feel some play in them.
Tools needed:
Car Ramps
1/2 socket or wrench
11/16 or 18mm box end wrench
6mm allen wrench
1. Put the car on the ramps so you can get under the front end.
2. Remove the lower sway bar link bolts near the inside of the wheels with 11/16 or 18mm to do this you will need to insert the 6mm allen wrench into the bolt while you remove the nuts. I only took the lower ones off. See photo for illustration.
2. Remove the sway bar from the cradle using a 1/2" socket or wrench. This is only 4 bolts and is very easy to get to.
3. Test drive the car safely and see if the noise goes away.
4. Remove the links from each end of the bar replacing with new ones. 2005 Corvette Z51 GM - Link part # 20822934 Found online for $24.17 same for both sides. It's much easier to put the new ones on when you have this out.
5. Install one of links onto the car. I left it loose until all bolts were in.
6. Install the 4 sway bar bolts loosely - ensure your other link can get to where it needs to go first. This will allow you to bolt the other link in.
7. Tighten all 4 sway bar links
8. Tighten both end links
9. Test drive the car safely before driving aggressively
10. After test drive I recommend checking all bolts to ensure nothing loosened up.
Symptoms - Clunking noise in front or rear of car most noticeable on small bumps at 20-35mph.
Sway bar test.
Remove the sway bar and end links to ensure this is the problem. Drove the car on a road by our house that produced the noise every time. I do not recommend you drive the car without the sway bar aggressively this does impact the handling of the car. The clunking noise was completely gone and when I got these out on the bench I could feel some play in them.
Tools needed:
Car Ramps
1/2 socket or wrench
11/16 or 18mm box end wrench
6mm allen wrench
1. Put the car on the ramps so you can get under the front end.
2. Remove the lower sway bar link bolts near the inside of the wheels with 11/16 or 18mm to do this you will need to insert the 6mm allen wrench into the bolt while you remove the nuts. I only took the lower ones off. See photo for illustration.
2. Remove the sway bar from the cradle using a 1/2" socket or wrench. This is only 4 bolts and is very easy to get to.
3. Test drive the car safely and see if the noise goes away.
4. Remove the links from each end of the bar replacing with new ones. 2005 Corvette Z51 GM - Link part # 20822934 Found online for $24.17 same for both sides. It's much easier to put the new ones on when you have this out.
5. Install one of links onto the car. I left it loose until all bolts were in.
6. Install the 4 sway bar bolts loosely - ensure your other link can get to where it needs to go first. This will allow you to bolt the other link in.
7. Tighten all 4 sway bar links
8. Tighten both end links
9. Test drive the car safely before driving aggressively
10. After test drive I recommend checking all bolts to ensure nothing loosened up.
Last edited by SledgeHammer32; Jan 31, 2016 at 12:41 PM.
