[Black94ES]

Can anyone tell me how you know if the sway bar links have gone bad without actually having a mechanic look at them?

I've got 4 different mechanics, 2 of them say they're bad, and 2 of them say they're ok

How could you tell just by the handling of the car or by any noises the car may make.

I'm getting Eibachs/KYB's put on on Saturday, so if the sway bar links do need to be replaced the guy won't charge any labour 'cause he's taking everything apart any ways.

[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: Black94ES ]

 

[mgkuhn20]

Good question, I have a 96, and everytime I go over a bump I can hear thump,thump in the front end. I was not sure if it was the sway bar or the struts. I was wondering if anyone else had the same experience and knew what to look for.

 

[ATFCharger]

I had a similar problem when I first got my car. At any speed, hitting bumps would cause the front of the car to make a thumping noise, or knocking sound.

My cause was the gas struts were out of gas, so the pistons inside where hitting the top of the cylinders. Easy fix, fair cost, too.

 

[Black94ES]

I don't have thumping, I have soft knocking sounds, 3 or 4 at a time when I go over bumps and it's happening on the left and right sides.

 

[swartlkk]

That is caused by bad swaybar links. I replaced them on my car myself. Just go to your local autoparts store and pick up a set. I would recommend replacing them both (front or back) at the same time. One way to tell if they are bad is to turn your wheels all the way to the side so that you can get to the thing and YANK!!! on it. If there is any play in it then it is bad. If not then it should be good to go. When you buy new links you should have a choice of sealed or zerked. I went with the sealed ones cause the originals lasted 125k and I don't want to have to take the wheel off to get the top zerk greased everytime. It is all up to you. If you keep the zerked ones greased properly they should last forever I would imagine.

When you go to replace them, if you do it yourself, all that you have to have is the car up on a jack on the side that you are working on and the proper wrenches (one pretty small one & about a 15mm, I think). They were a little bit of a pain because the small hex is actually forged into the bolt end. At any shop they will just torch them off, however I have seen many swaybar ends messed up by this procedure and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are good with a torch.

Good Luck,

 

[Lafrad]

yea.. the sound can also be the lower ball joints..... but lets not talk about that

 

[viprman]

99.9% sure its he links. It happened to mine and it was fixed very easily. It probably isn't the struts. They last a while. The links, according to the guy that did mine, are usually the problem when you hear the clunk over bumps. You'd notice if the struts were bad.

 

[Black94ES]

Thanks for the info guys, I guess I will have them changed.

 

[ViatiminJ]

I did the links on my 95 intrep after I went to get an allignment and the tech said they were bad. As was already stated, just grab the link and shake it, any movement bad link. I think the only company that makes the aftermarket links is Moog. They call it the problem solver and it comes with grease fittings (very nice). I believe that the lower nut is a real pain because it rotates at the joint. So you have to use 2 wrenches. There is a noticable difference after replacing them.

 

[Black94ES]

Thanks guy's, I got them replaced and got the eibach's and KYB's put on, I also got them to put on greasable links, they said just grease em up every oil change and they'll last forever

The knocking sound is gone too

 

[Si]

I am going to put a wrench in the works here

My Corde had the same problem as mentioned, the Tie-rods where shot, replaced them and its all good now.. Pull the outer tierod up and down, if there is any play there then that baby needs changing..

Si

 

[LiqTenExp]

I'm going to put the final wrench into the works. Most of the time with first generation intrepids when you hear bumping and clunking coming from the front two wheels its the rubber spacers between the struts and the coil. They squish out over time and leave a metal to metal contact. the one end of the coil causes the clunk. It is not expensive to have fixed and while your at it have new struts put on.

Brad

 

[TREPID 2XIST]

coils on struts

I have 97 3.5 sport and mine has a knock when you enter a drive bump. I looked under and noticed that it is where the rubber pad between the spring and the bottom of the strut housing is rotted. I think replacing the rubber, should fix things!

 

[1mz-fe]

Re: coils on struts

I looked under and noticed that it is where the rubber pad between the spring and the bottom of the strut housing is rotted. I think replacing the rubber, should fix things!

this is a common problem on these cars. it's also a fairly easy and inexpensive fix.