Stabilizer Links

Stabilizer Links

The stabilizer, or sway bar as it’s more commonly known, is in charge of keeping your automobile steady and behaving smoothly under a variety of driving circumstances. The stabilizer links, which connect to the lower control arm of the front suspension and include bushes along with the link for protection and to guarantee a smooth ride, are used to secure this mechanical unit to the body of the vehicle. The body mount also has stabilizer bar bushes.

If you don’t have your stabilizer links replaced, it could lead to catastrophic damage to the front end of your car and even an accident. The symptoms of stabilizer link wear can range from barely noticeable to significant.

1. Rattling noises from the tire area – The stabilizer bar links should fit exceedingly tightly, with no play or movement other than that caused by the rubber bushes. The stabilizer bar will start to make these noises when the links are worn down, especially while you’re going through corners or over speed bumps.
2. Poor handling or loose steering wheel – The lower control arm is connected to the stabilizer bar links, so when they start to wear down, steering and handling are also hampered. The bushes, which are intended to absorb the majority of the impact and prevent the metal components from corroding, are usually the real problem. But the bushes can also seriously corrode metal, particularly if oil, grease, or other debris gets stuck on the stabilizer bar. All of these problems together have the immediate effect of making the car handle very differently from how you’re used to. The body will swing more from left to right, and the steering wheel will look to be “loose.”