Subaru: How to check sway bar links?

Nicolas Dore <com> wrote in message
news:google.com... 
use a hydraulic jack and axle stands.
most cars are heavy to lift ))))))

 
L

Hi,
Just replace them dumb plastic POS, with metal links with Teflon
bushings. That's what I did.
Tony

Subaru wrote: 

com (Nicolas Dore) wrote in message news:<google.com>... 

Howdy again!

Well, I still don't know how to check my sway bar links... :-/

So, anyone have a tip?

Nicolas

com (Nicolas Dore) wrote in message news:<google.com>... 

You shouldn't need to raise the car for this sort of inspection. My
2002 Legacy has enough ground clearance for lift-free oil changes,
etc.

-Zippy

Hi Nicolas!

On 27 Oct 2003 12:05:42 -0800, com (Nicolas Dore)
wrote:

 

Basically you want to check for excessive play at the rubber bushings
on either end of the end links, and for play and metal fatigue
(cracks) at the bar mounting bushings, and possibly also where the end
link connects to the suspension.
This is much easier if you put the car up on jackstands, as this will
unload the suspension/sway bar, in addition to allowing enough room
for you to slide under and have a close look at the parts. If you can
feel (or hear) any play in the endlink or bar bushings (up and down,
not side to side necessarily) it's time to replace them, likewise if
you notice cracks (could be as subtle as a hairline defect in the
powdercoating).
One could argue that once you've gotten this far, the work to replace
the bushings is fairly trivial, and new parts are pretty cheap . . .
YMMV.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101