Sway Bar (Anti Roll Bar) Problems, Symptoms, Cost

A sway bar (a stabilizer bar, anti-roll bar, and anti-sway bar) keeps the car body from leaning excessively to the side. Stabilizer bar bushing and links can be easily checked. If you notice they are loose or have any play, they need to be replaced. The sway bar itself rarely gets damaged. The sway bar bushings and sways bar links often wear, sometimes as early as 60,000 miles.

A sway bar is designed to twist. Rubber bushings are usually fitted between the sway bar and the control arms. Brackets and bushing secure the bar to the control arms or connect the sway bar end links to the strut or control arm.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of bad sway bar bushing or sway bar links going bad are:

• Clunking noise
• Rattling noise
• Knocking sound on uneven road
• Lack of stability when driving
• Noise going over speed bumps
• Poor handling when turning

If your sway bar end links are broken, you can still drive the car. The problem is that you will notice excessive body roll when turning at speeds over 30 mph. This can make the vehicle unstable. If your sway bar bushings or links broke while driving, drive the car home or to a mechanic.

You should drive carefully but, more importantly, slow down when taking a highway exit ramp. This is when you will notice the body roll the most. You will not see the missing sway bar link at slow speeds or neighborhood driving.

Troubleshooting Sway Bar Problems

First, determine where the noise is coming from. Do not confuse deteriorated sway bar bushing noise with surrounding suspension noises. Lift the vehicle with a floor jack and safely place the car on a jack stand. Be mindful when doing this.

Locate the sway bar and inspect the bushing. The bushing should not be torn and should be in good condition. Next, grab the sway bar and move it. If there is a slight movement, the sway bushing has deteriorated. Moreover, inspect the sway bar link for deteriorated rubber.

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between bad sway bar bushings and lousy sway bar end links. Remember that sway bar bushings produce squeaky noise when you go over speed bumps. While the sway bar links will make a clunk or thump when you hit a pothole.

Replacement Cost

The typical cost to change the front sway bar bushings and links is between $450 and $900, depending on the make and model.

The good news is that the parts themselves are very cheap, especially if you buy them online.  The typical cost of front sway bar links and bushings is under $100. Sometimes, you can upgrade the stabilizer bar and links for better handling.

Replacing the sway bar bushings yourself is easy and can be done in your driveway. It is not required to perform front-wheel alignment if you only replace the sway bar parts.

We hope you find the Sway Bar (Anti Roll Bar) Problems, Symptoms, and Cost guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.