sway bar link?

[dreger]

hey everyone, i'm new to the site and forums. just found out recently that my sway bar links have to be changed. is this an easy job? my friend is mechanically inclined and said he'd do it with me if i needed help.
i'll list the problems it has just to see if anyone can identify it from my description.
whenever i run over any kind of bump, big or small i get a loud knocking noise from under the front of both tires. when i turn it feels loose and wobbly and when i'm driving straight it almost feels like it pulls me into directions that i'm not going. is the the sway bar link kit? how can i fix this? is there a manual or step by step to go?

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

The sway bar end link design changed slightly over the years of the Taurus. What year is your car? For future reference, please include all relevant information such as year, model specifics (wagon, SHO), and engine (SOHC - Vulcan, DOHC - Duratech, and in some cases 2.5L or 3.8L), etc. I'm sure the omission was just anxiety from being your first post.

Since you suggest you feel looseness in the front end of the vehicle rather than just hearing a noise that sounds like something's loose, I suspect you have an issue other than or in addition to the sway bar end links. Worn end links will rarely cause drifting or looseness in the steering. That sounds more like a ball joint or tie rod end issue. You should have your front end checked by a professional, or someone with more experience than who already looked at it.

Be warned as well that worn sway bar bushings can also cause the clunk noise in the front end, but like the end links, would not cause looseness or instability.

-Rod