Sway bar end link what are differences/where to buy

[mohammad]

I remember seeing a thread on here about how to buy cheap sway bar end links in canada but cannot seem to find it?

In general is their any meaningful difference between the cheap(15 ish each) and expensive (44+) options at a place like NAPA?

Mine look rusty AF are they going to be easy to remove?

If I replace end links should I also replace bushings? can bushings be replaced without removing the end links? Id like to do both if they can't be as the thread locker on end links is "one time use"

[mohammad]

1 other question. Does the car have to be in the air for end links to be installed? I no longer have a jack. I was thinking of parking on a very slight slope so the side I am trying to replace would compress slightly. Is this dumb?

[mohammad]

Is the hole not aligning because the car is on the ground or is the bar bent?

[Fummins]

I remember seeing a thread on here about how to buy cheap sway bar end links in canada but cannot seem to find it?

In general is their any meaningful difference between the cheap(15 ish each) and expensive (44+) options at a place like NAPA?

Mine look rusty AF are they going to be easy to remove?

If I replace end links should I also replace bushings? can bushings be replaced without removing the end links? Id like to do both if they can't be as the thread locker on end links is "one time use"

Find a few part numbers and use google. Or try partsavatar. As for price, I've never bought cheap and expensive ones and compared the two. I'd go the cheap route because cheap car.

It should be easy to remove those old ones, just cut them off and install new ones. Easy.

I wouldn't bother with the sway bar bushings. If it ain't broke...You could probably replace them without removing the end links if you wanted to though. You can usually reuse the hardware on those end links if they're not a solid chunk of rust like yours. If in doubt use some thread locker.

[Fummins]

1 other question. Does the car have to be in the air for end links to be installed? I no longer have a jack. I was thinking of parking on a very slight slope so the side I am trying to replace would compress slightly. Is this dumb?

No the car doesn't need to be in the air to replace those. And yes putting pressure on your sway bar(compressing one side of the suspension) is the opposite of what you want to do when trying to replace the end links. You want both control arms parallel to each other/no tension on the sway bar. So lift both sides in the air or leave on the ground. If replacing both side don't snug up the hardware until both sides are lined up and installed. It helps to have the bar loose.

[Fummins]

Is the hole not aligning because the car is on the ground or is the bar bent?

They never seem be lined up perfectly at the best of times but in your case the bar might have shifted over to the drivers side a tiny bit since the lh end link is probably still attached and pulled the bar over a little as it moved up and down. It's fine. Install new parts and it'll recenter itself.
Cut the old ones off and install new ones. It's just a couple nuts and bolts with washers, sleeves, and some rubber chunks.

[mohammad]

Cut the old ones off and install new ones.

Might be a problem considering I do not own a saw. Hopefully with some WD40 it will come off.

[Fummins]

When all you have is a hammer everything is a nail. Do you own vice grips? You might be able to just snap the other part of the bolt off down at the control arm. It's hard to tell by your picture but that looks like a solid chunk of rust to me.

[foama]

I would recommend looking at the FSM. These can be a real PITA to change. Just rusty on the outside doesn't mean its broke.

[Fummins]

I would recommend looking at the FSM. These can be a real PITA to change. Just rusty on the outside doesn't mean its broke.

The picture posted clearly shows the bolt is broken. I’ll eat my hat if the fsm states that normal. I wouldn’t be shocked if a dealer claimed it’s within spec though.