what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

recently discovered that bottom boot on passenger side front sway bar link is torn on 5s-fe. car still drives not bad, but I noticed it wanders a little bit more on highways.



should I replace both sway bar links (will be going with MOOG) immediately or it is rather not time sensitive? I mean it can cause some dangerous car behavior, right? anything bad can happen to an end link when there is no grease left in boot?



thanks for suggestions.

Reply 1 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

Only impact cornering. Straight line driving they do nothing. Thats not to say if you yank it lose and fly down the freeway it will drive normal it wont if you have to swerve. That could be dangerous as body roll will be ecxessive.



It should be fine. with a torn boot for a while. . . but get it replaced. Torn or cracked? Cracked = age. Torn is another source of injury. . . You by chance run anything over?

Reply 2 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

ok thanks. I think there was side wind included when I drove tested it so some body roll might have been in play too because of that.



it was actually cracked (rubber split open).

Jersey Winter (and road salt) is harsh on such rubber parts. both sway bar links on that car at 80k miles (11 years) look MUCH worse and older than on 02 V6 with 125k miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73sport Only impact cornering. Straight line driving they do nothing. Thats not to say if you yank it lose and fly down the freeway it will drive normal it wont if you have to swerve. That could be dangerous as body roll will be ecxessive. It should be fine. with a torn boot for a while. . . but get it replaced. Torn or cracked? Cracked = age. Torn is another source of injury. . . You by chance run anything over?

Reply 3 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

Reply 4 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

yeah I want to do both front sides at same time, they are worn seriously, probably just a matter of (short) time before other one cracks open too after taking some sharp corner.

Reply 5 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

I wonder if the "Rare Parts" brand is actually made by MOOG? Need to ask Swagger.

Reply 6 : what can one expect when driving with bad sway bar link?

have no idea. they may be owned by MOOG but it doen't mean the same factory makes them or even that all parts quality is same. it might be some cheap knock off.



MOOGs are about $50 each from rockauto.com or Advance Auto (with proper codes). not so bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmesfun I wonder if the "Rare Parts" brand is actually made by MOOG? Need to ask Swagger.