Vehicle suspension consists of many parts one of which is the sway bar. A sway bar, also known as a stabilizer bar, main purpose is to keep the vehicles body stable while going around turns. Sway bars are located in the front of the car and are a component of the front suspension. In some cases cars also have rear sway bars for added stability. Sway bars vary in thickness: the thicker the sway bar the more rigid the suspension. Sway bars are connected to the frame of the car with rubber bushings and in most cases ball joints secure the ends of the sway bar with the sway bar link. With a little background on the part and how it is secured to the vehicle here are the two main symptoms that show the warning signs of worn out sway bar links:
Knocking: this is the first tell tale sign that the sway bar link is worn. It is most noticeable when driving over bumps.- Separation: When badly worn the sway bar link will actually separate. This can be felt while driving. The vehicle will lean excessively and feel less stable.
These symptoms need to be addressed as soon as possible. When a sway bar doesn’t work properly there is a risk of a vehicle becoming overturned. The sway bar creates stability and rigidity in the vehicle suspension without this component a vehicle can become unsafe and difficult to control at high speeds and around turns. Have your local technician perform a bushings test to determine if they need to be replaced. #safedriving #carguy
