Replaced sway bar link

I've had some handling and general vehicle feel issues with my Windstar (98 3.8) that have recently got kind of annoying. So I started poking around in the suspension to see if anything was out of order.

Most everything appeared to be solid and tight, except the boots on the sway bar link joints. They looked grody, so I figured I would replace the links ($20 at advauto) and see how things improved. They weren't that hard to replace, just wheel off, unbolt the old, bolt on the new. When they came off, the old links looked pretty awful. Each joint was either frozen solid or completely loose.

The difference is amazing, the ride quality, noise, handling, everything is improved. I even had some strange vibration when the auto trans shifted, especially in and out of OD. That even seems to have gone away.

If you have any problems with the ride on your Windstar, I highly recommend inspecting and/or replacing the sway bar links.

your post is very helpful and I'll be sure to check this if my handling starts to fall apart. Thank you.

From my experience on two vehicles with these things, when the white dog bone socket was very worn, you could hear it clunk or rattle every time that side wheel hit a hole, bump, manhole cover, etc. Every one of mine that I replaced also had the rubber boots torn up. Removing them was not easy by conventional means, but after heating the nuts to loosen them, the metal ball easily pulled out of the nylon socket, which I found to be the easiest approach for all of them. I think Northern Piper found the sway bar bushings also needing replacement, which probably contributed to reduced handling. I haven't needed to replace mine.

Keep a close eye on these. Mine broke completely off last week. The knuckle separated. The innards were completely dry and corroded, so it was only a matter of time before it went. I can't believe that they did not put grease fittings on these things. I replaced with Napa parts that include fittings. Took about 45 minutes to replace as I had to cut off what was left of the old one. The other side was replaced a couple years ago. I now have a pretty good clunk in the front end which I am assuming is caused by the disintegrated sway bar bushings that I have not gotten around to replacing yet.

yep, I've had the "clunk" too and it was sway bar bushings. I've replaced both once and R side 2 times. Really "potholey" where I live unfortunately. Your clunk could also come from the sub frame mount which breaks off. I think wiswind has pictures of a weld job which corrects this. Right now I too have this sub frame clunk as I've just finished refreshing all the suspension components.

Piper