If you’ve noticed some clunking, rattling noises coming from the front of your vehicle when going over bumps, there’s a good chance your sway bar links are worn out and need replacing. Sway bar links are an important suspension component that help improve your vehicle’s handling and stability by connecting the sway bar to the control arms or struts. When they wear out, it can cause some pretty annoying sounds and also negatively impact your car’s ride and handling.
Replacing worn out sway bar links is a fairly straightforward repair that can easily be done at home for most vehicles. And using high quality aftermarket parts made in China can save you quite a bit of money compared to buying from the dealer. In this article, we’ll look at what sway bar links do, symptoms of worn links, and why China sway bar links offer an excellent value upgrade.
What Do Sway Bar Links Do?
Sway bars, also known as anti-roll bars, help reduce body roll when cornering. As a vehicle leans during cornering, the sway bar twists and acts to transfer load from the inside wheel to the outside wheel. This counteracts body roll and keeps the vehicle flatter through turns.
Sway bar links connect the sway bar to the lower control arms or struts on either side. They allow the sway bar to twist as needed while also firmly holding it in place. Sway bar links are fitted with flexible rubber or polyurethane bushings to isolate vibrations and allow for suspension movement.
Over time, these bushings wear out which leads to play and looseness in the sway bar links. This allows the bar to move too much and reduces its effectiveness for counteracting body roll. Worn links will also start to clunk over bumps due to the excessive movement.
Symptoms Of Worn Out Sway Bar Links:
- Clunking or rattling from front suspension over bumps
- Reduced handling and increased body roll in turns
- Excessive vibration coming through steering wheel
- Visible torn or cracked rubber bushings
- Looseness or play when prying on the links
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s advised to replace the sway bar links right away to restore proper suspension function and road handling. Driving too long with damaged links can lead to further wear of other suspension components.
Why Choose China Sway Bar Links?
Aftermarket sway bar links from China offer an economical way to replace your worn factory links while getting parts of equal or greater quality. Here are some benefits of choosing Chinese aftermarket sway bar links:
- Significant cost savings over OEM dealer parts
- Made from strong steel for durability
- Use high quality urethane or rubber bushings
- Come with all necessary hardware for installation
- Offer exact fit replacement for your vehicle
- Covered by a manufacturer warranty
One of the best things about Chinese aftermarket suspension parts is the cost – you can pay up to 50-70% less compared to OEM dealer prices. Yet the materials and build quality are just as good, if not better in some cases.
Manufacturers such as Mevotech and TRQ have sway bar links made in China that meet or exceed OEM specifications. They use solid steel for the bars with thick urethane or rubber bushings bonded securely in place. This results in parts that hold up extremely well to daily driving conditions and can last just as long as factory links.
The hardware and fittings are also made to precise sizes so you get an exact direct fit for your make and model vehicle. And most China sway bar links come with at least a 1 year manufacturer warranty for added peace of mind.
Overall, sway bar links from China offer unbeatable value and quality at very affordable pricing. They are a great choice for restoring proper suspension function when your existing links have failed.
Installing China Sway Bar Links
Replacing sway bar links is a relatively simple job that most DIYers can tackle at home with basic hand tools in well under an hour. Here are the basic steps:
- Lift the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands.
- Locate the sway bar links which connect the sway bar to the lower control arms or struts.
- Use a wrench to remove the outer nut from the ball joint or bushing pin. You may need to spray it with PB Blaster if corroded.
- Use a ball joint separator tool or a hammer to separate the ball joint from the knuckle. Remove outer bushing bolts if equipped.
- Remove the sway bar link assembly and save any hardware to be reused. Inspect the ball joints and bushings for damage.
- Install the new sway bar link by reversing the removal process. Make sure the new bushings and joints are well greased before installing.
- Torque all nuts and bolts to the proper specs – don’t overtighten.
- Reinstall wheels, lower vehicle, and take it for a test drive.
Be sure to get a professional alignment done after link replacement to restore proper suspension geometry and tire wear. This finishes the job and gets your vehicle handling great again.
The ease of sway bar link replacement makes them an ideal repair to tackle in your own garage with basic tools. And choosing affordable aftermarket China links that meet OEM specs allows you to save money without sacrificing quality or durability.