Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

remove broken swaybar link

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Old 03-30-2011
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remove broken swaybar link

Can't seem to be able to remove this on 99 4X4. The top is broke off and can't hold the black tube so as to loosen the nut on the bottom. It just spins. Is there a way to pry the bolt from the plastic?
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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Can't you just drive the link out the bottom then? The middle part is just a spacer and it's more or less a bolt inside if I remember correctly.
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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if you have a grinder you can just cut the nut off the bottom and then thats what i had to do on mine
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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yeah i had to take a sawzaw to mine yesterday.....much easier to cut than to try to hold it
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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grind it off or drill the top of the nut then punch and hammer
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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sawzall
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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vise grips and undo the bolt?
 
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Old 03-30-2011
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Finally got it. I did as littlered said and used vice grips and clamped it good enough to undo the nut. I then had to get a floor jack and push the bolt through the plastic bushing to free it. Putting the new one in was a piece of cake. Thanks for the replies guys.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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While on the subject of broken sway bar links, I believe mine is broken but I'm not 100% sure if it is in fact the sway bar link. I have attached a photo of the broken bar.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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yep thats it.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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Any recommendations for a good deal on a replacement part? Or did you go to the local auto parts shop.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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Yep, that the same thing that happened to mine. Swapped right at the top. I just beat it and loosened it till it came off. Couldn't get vices to bold onto the black bar.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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Just did mine the same way last weekend. Angle grinder + cutting wheel is your friend!!
Nice set at NAPA with poly bushings. Steel is black phosphate coated to help hold off the inevitable rust.
 
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Old 04-01-2011
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You can get Energy Suspension brand replacements at Advanced Auto. One of my bushings was missing and it was making a clunking noise so I bought just the bushings to replace them with, they had to be reamed out a little but they're much nicer. They sell the whole kit with the links themselves as well for a few bucks more.
 
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Old 04-12-2011
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I need to replace mine. How do I find out what size sway bar links I need?
 
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Old 04-12-2011
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Wirelessly posted (Timberwolf)

Removing the sway bar/links is also a option. Unless you invest in good aftermarket links, like Moog. Stock links are like **** on a bull.
 
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Old 04-12-2011
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Originally Posted by kellernr
I need to replace mine. How do I find out what size sway bar links I need?
They're all the same size whether you're 2wd or 4wd, 2.5, 3.0 or 4.0.
Get moogs, they'll last longer.


I just took the swaybar off completely on my old truck and now on this one. You only need to know the size of the swaybar if you're actually replacing the swaybar bushings.
 
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Old 04-12-2011
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the links are the same, only the bushings are different. If you are doing end links, do your bushings as well...you are halfway there and only 10 bucks at RockAuto.
 
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