Sway bar end link dissapeared

Was driving around the other day and started hearing a not so good noise coming from the front driver's side whenever I hit a nasty spot in the road (lots of those in Seattle). Jacked the car up when I got home and right away it was obvious what the problem was. The driver's side sway bar end link was gone. Not sure why. I put all the suspension together myself, new bushings everywhere, balljoints, all new steering. Had an alignment done on the car after breaking that new stuff in a bit (towed 2 inches they told me, wow). Would they have removed the end links when they did the alignment or is that not part of it? Oh wel it's only a few bucks for a new one but I want to make sure it doesn't come out again. Any recommendations? Loctite? Nylon nut?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/0705081522.jpg

If the end link is completely gone, i.e. the bolt and everything, usually that is because the bolt wasn't properly tightened. When you assemble the end links, you tighten it until the bushings start to distort, urethane included.

If the end link is completely gone, i.e. the bolt and everything, usually that is because the bolt wasn't properly tightened. When you assemble the end links, you tighten it until the bushings start to distort, urethane included.

That's what I did, I remember specifically because this was the first time I'd ever took a whole suspension apart and I did it buy the book (literally, I've got the '87 factory service manual). Unless they take them off when they do the alignment I can't understand how it came apart because I know I put them on properly.

Most of the end link kits I've worked with have locking nuts, for this purpose. If you're properly adjusting the preload on the bushings, and it's backing out, try a locking nut or even Loctite.

A jamb nut should solve that.

A jamb nut should solve that.

What's a jamb nut? One of those ovalish nuts? Or one of those nuts with nylon in them?

What's a jamb nut? One of those ovalish nuts? Or one of those nuts with nylon in them?


on these link studs I use a double nut with lock washer between the two nuts.....that way in the future you will be able to make adjustments if necessary....use of nylon self locking nuts is also a good .....oval self locking nuts are not good because they will damage the stud if you remove/adjust at a later time.....


the reason it fell out is you may have used too much torque and the stud broke...another is the frame holes are worn and chaffing caused the stud to wear...


another is the repair/alignment shop screwed with your rod hardware...

...another is the frame holes are worn and chaffing caused the stud to wear...

I took the passenger side link out to compare the holes in each control arm. I noticed the hole's look identical. But neither is a perfect circle. They have a slight (maybe 1/8") possibly worn section on one side of the circle. Maybe it's supposed to be this way or is it supposed to be a perfectly circular hole?

I took the passenger side link out to compare the holes in each control arm. I noticed the hole's look identical. But neither is a perfect circle. They have a slight (maybe 1/8") possibly worn section on one side of the circle. Maybe it's supposed to be this way or is it supposed to be a perfectly circular hole?

the hole should be perfectly round...if elongated you [may] need to weld a washer to get the round hole back....the right side usually is more damaged than the left drivers side......


did the side that did not break have stud chaffing....was the good side torqued as you torqued it ?????

The good side looks good and was on good still. Got a nylock on there now though just in case. And a new end link on the other side. I'll check them in a few hundred miles and see how they look.

Upon further inspection, my left side shock's top bushing, washer, and nut are missing. Anybody know what exactly is removed when you get an alignment done? I'm curious to know whether these problems I'm having are my fault from when I installed all this suspension or the dealer's fault from the alignment.

No removal of parts is done during an alignment. The only things that may be removed (or added) are shims between the control arm and the frame.

Upon further inspection, my left side shock's top bushing, washer, and nut are missing. Anybody know what exactly is removed when you get an alignment done? I'm curious to know whether these problems I'm having are my fault from when I installed all this suspension or the dealer's fault from the alignment.


I can't believe that you installed the shock and did not put the nut on ,I think that someone is messing up you ride...the shocks I use all have nylock nuts,,,,once installed it takes a lot of effort to remove...same with the sway bar hardware....you best recheck all that hardware for security....also why didn't the alignment shop see this????