How much should it cost to replace sway bar links and bushings?

The actual cost of replacement sway bar links ranges from $20-$100 (replacement – premium) and sway bar bushings from $10-$30 with most of the total replacement cost being labor, which averages around $70-$100 per hour.

How much does it cost to replace sway bars?

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The average cost for stabilizer bar link kit replacement is between $105 and $149. Labor costs are estimated between $44 and $56 while parts are priced between $61 and $93.

How much does it cost to replace both sway bar links?

The average sway bar link replacement cost is usually between $125 to $160 including labor. The links themselves cost between $40 to $110 each, while the labor will set you back anywhere between $50 to $70.

What happens if you don't replace sway bar bushings?

When a vehicle's bushing goes faulty, the stabilizer bar becomes unstable, and this will cause your car to make sounds while driving; these sounds are best described as squeaking, rattling, or clunking. The noise gets louder as the driving progresses, especially when going on a rough road.

Do you need an alignment after replacing sway bar bushings?

Basically, if the steering rack, tie rods, subframe, or control arm bolts have been altered or the car has been lowered, you need an alignment. Removing the sway bar, and replacing it would not require an alignment, unless something that I mentioned above had to be moved to access the sway bar.

What A Bad Sway Bar Bushing Sounds Like

What Will Bad sway bar bushings do?

When the bushings become torn, worn out or completely break, the stabilizer bar itself will become unstable and cause a rattling or clunking sound while you are driving. The noise will get progressively louder when you steer the car in either direction or when you are driving on a rough road.

Can you drive with bad sway bar links?

It is possible to still drive a vehicle with broken sway bar links, but handling performance will suffer so use caution by driving on paved roads, taking turns slowly, and staying off high-speed highways and/or interstates that require lane changes.

What makes sway bar links go bad?

The sway bar link maintains the camber angle of the inner wheels to control motion. Like many automotive parts, over time the sway bar links will wear out. Water intrusion that leads to rust, age, and lack of lubrication all contribute to deterioration over time.

How do you know when sway bar links are bad?

Warning signs of a broken or bad sway bar link include clunks and squeaks. Over-steering or excessive lean through turns are also symptoms of worn sway bar links, but they can also be signs of larger problems with your vehicle's suspension system.

How often do sway bar links need to be replaced?

The good news is that most owners will only need to replace their stabilizer bar links maybe once during their ownership, unless you're one who really puts their car through its paces on a regular basis (racing, tight corners at high speeds, etc.).

How long do sway bar bushings last?

On average sway bar bushing lasts around 14 years.

Can you change sway bar links without lifting vehicle?

As long as both wheels are at the same height, there's no tension on the bar or endlinks. Yes you can.

How long does it take to fix a sway bar?

A good tech can do both in about an hour on a lift. Both front and rear sway bars take no more than about 45 minutes each, less if you use a lift. A dealership bills for the labor hours that the book tells them bill, no matter how long it actually takes. A good tech can do both in about an hour on a lift.

Can you replace sway bar links yourself?

Replacing a sway bar link is not very expensive. Typically, it costs $75-$140 per side in a repair shop. If you want to replace the sway bar link yourself, soak the thread with oil or WD-40, as the nuts could be seized and very difficult to come out.

What kind of noise do bad sway bar links make?

If the sway bar link breaks and loosens, it can make a rattling or clunking sound as it taps other parts of the suspension.

How do you tell if your sway bar bushings and end links are worn?

If you can see looseness in the end links when you move the bar then they should be replaced. If the bushings are showing signs of deterioration (cracking or brittleness) or they have a gap or are misshapen then they also need to be replaced.

What happens if you don't replace sway bar links?

When the stabilizer bar links are starting to wear out, the symptoms can range from barely noticeable to significant, and if you don't have your stabilizer bar links replaced, can result in catastrophic damage to the front end of your vehicle and potentially an accident.

Can Bad sway bar bushings cause death wobble?

Registered. Sway bar will not cause death wobble.

Is it worth replacing sway bar?

If you notice squeaking or knocking sounds during cornering, the bushings, and links likely need to be replaced. But, if you want to improve your car's handling, stiffer sway bars do have tangible benefits. They reduce body roll and lean, making your car feel more agile and stable.

How do I know if my bushings are bad?

When bushings wear, they allow more movement. The driver may feel a shimmy from the front of the vehicle, or hear clunking or rattling noises on rough roads, when turning the wheel or in hard braking. Drivers may also experience poor handling or loose steering.

How long can you drive with a bad sway bar?

As long as you keep your speed down and don't take turns too quickly, you should be safe driving until you can have it replaced. Note that a broken sway bar doesn't make your car “un-driveable”.

How much does a sway bar bushing cost?

Typically, a car requires new sway bar end links or stabilizer bushings. The stabilizer bushing replacement cost is between $125 and $160, with labor making up $95 to $120 and the part costing $30 to $65.