Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Topic: Sway bar links done...ABS light on.... (Read 4108 times) previous topic - next topic

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #15 – February 15, 2009, 09:51:10 PM

Cool, thanks for the help

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #16 – February 18, 2009, 05:38:43 PM

OK, I dont know if i should have started a new thread for this, but how do you tell if the struts are bad? I get a clanging noise in my front end sometimes when i go over bumps in the road, and sometimes it happens on clean paved road??? I have talked to some mechanics and have about narrowed it down to either the struts or the ball joints. Is there any way to distinguish which could be the problem?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #17 – February 18, 2009, 06:18:14 PM

I took my tire off and took some pictures of the upper ball joints, lower ball joints, and of something that i have no clue what it is but it looks like it may be either the problem or a problem.

upper ball joints/control arms

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #18 – February 18, 2009, 06:19:54 PM

Lower ball joints

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #19 – February 18, 2009, 06:20:56 PM

And this picture i have no idea what it is but it looks bad...

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #20 – February 18, 2009, 06:22:40 PM

Its the two torn up bushings - one on the top by the brake line and one on the bottom connected by that rod. I have no idea what it is, I do know it seems to be connedcted to the swaybar though.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #21 – February 18, 2009, 08:07:23 PM

Anybody know?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #22 – February 18, 2009, 08:12:45 PM

stabilizer bar link?

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #23 – February 18, 2009, 08:19:05 PM

It seems to be connected to the sway bar and the bottom part of the strut im completly clueless

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #24 – February 18, 2009, 08:31:58 PM

Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;257555

And this picture i have no idea what it is but it looks bad...

This looks like your sway bar links. The bushings do look pretty bad. If the sway bar is really loose its possible that it could be hitting something whenever you go over bumps and making the noise you hear.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #25 – February 18, 2009, 08:36:42 PM

Well sometimes it happens even when i dont go over bumps, it kinda feels like the wheels start to shake and i hear the noise......is that bar supposed to be able to be moved freely by hand? I can turn it back and forth with my hand.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #26 – February 18, 2009, 08:45:43 PM

It is tough to tell from your pics but you may have a bad sway bar end link. Bad ball joint, a possible source of clunk noise. Above all DO NOT undo your top strut nut without something to hold that spring. The advice you were given was for a fox car. The car you are working on has a different design, and the strut is holding the spring under compression. Loosen the nut the retaining the spring pressure and that spring may hurt you very badly, or worse.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #27 – February 18, 2009, 08:52:12 PM

Quote from: mjbtbrd;257581

The advice you were given was for a fox car. The car you are working on has a different design, and the strut is holding the spring under compression. Loosen the nut the retaining the spring pressure and that spring may hurt you very badly, or worse.

+2 I think we all thought you was talking about ur cougar and not the new bird. anyways..

Here is what ur sway bar link should look like and it shouldnt be able to be moved by your hand or at least mine doesnt.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #28 – February 18, 2009, 08:56:04 PM

Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;257580

Well sometimes it happens even when i dont go over bumps, it kinda feels like the wheels start to shake and i hear the noise.....

You are describing a symptom of a bad ball joint. If the wheel feels loose under you when you are driving.

If you doubt your ability to diagnose a ball joint have it checked. If it really is very bad the wheel may detach from the suspension when driving if the ball joint fails.

Sway bar links done...ABS light on....

Reply #29 – February 18, 2009, 09:00:48 PM

Well the ball joints *looked* like they are in pretty good shape when i took the wheel off, and i know that the strut has been replaced, and the sway bar link looks like . It moves very easily and the bushings are pushed all the way in.