Broke my OEM Sway Bar Link

[chmura]

Well I did not know the sway bar link can break while wheeling. I was crossing a big rut with two wheels of the opposite sides up in the air causing maximum flex in the front suspension. This caused the link to bend like a 'U' shape. I kept driving but minutes later it broke in half. Once broken in half the bottom half of the sway bar link rotated down and caused my outer CV boot to tear.

Pulled over and disconnected the front sway bar link on both sides so I do not cause further damage.

I did not know the oem sway bar link can potentially fail while off roading. A quick search online and this happened to FJ and Tacoma owners as well.

Below is a picture of the broken link and a unbroken link.

I purchased two Deeza aftermarket links, hope these are stronger than the OEM's.

Anyone that wheels their vehicles I would recommond to purchase some stronger front sway bar links.

 

[Bumbo]

How much lift?

If you do a lot of wheeling you might want to consider not running a sway bar at all.

 

[chmura]

How much lift?

If you do a lot of wheeling you might want to consider not running a sway bar at all.

Standard Icon lift.

I drove without the front sway bar home. I have a roof top tent and I did not like how the vehicle handled with the front sway bar disconnected.

Just need stronger links.

My axle came in the mail, I'm replacing my front drivers side axle with a brand new one from Toyota tomorrow. I am fixing my other axle with OEM boot and grease. If anyone wants a 60k mile axle with brand new oem boot that is in So Cal let me know. Selling for $100. New oem axle I paid was $350.

 

[ExCabSwap]

You should disconnect the sway bar before any sort of wheeling. Check out wabfab. He makes quick disconnects so this sort of thing doesn't happen

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[BlackWorksInc]

You should disconnect the sway bar before any sort of wheeling. Check out wabfab. He makes quick disconnects so this sort of thing doesn't happen

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I run 35" tires on mine with a 3" suspension lift and aside from a relocation bracket I have stock links on and haven't had an issue.

I have yet to see a design for front disconnects that really isn't cumbersome or does not address key issues with the disconnect feature. Can you link the thread/person you are talking about?

 

[ExCabSwap]

I run 35" tires on mine with a 3" suspension lift and aside from a relocation bracket I have stock links on and haven't had an issue.

I have yet to see a design for front disconnects that really isn't cumbersome or does not address key issues with the disconnect feature. Can you link the thread/person you are talking about?

http://wabfab.3dcartstores.com/mobile/End-Links-or-Quick-Disconnects_p_753.html

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[ExCabSwap]

Well shoot, I thought he had all versions with quick disconnects my mistake.. looks like he's got quick disconnects for the older models and tundras

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[BlackWorksInc]

[MENTION=148323]ExCabSwap[/MENTION]

I don't see how they disconnect, also it wouldn't address the potential of the sway bar wobbling around unless you strapped it in place and hoped it wouldn't interfere with turning and compression.

 

[Pylot]

You probably had the suspension flexed to the point where the one that bent went over center and came back down backwards and it bent. That happens with Jeeps that have the sway bar disconnect too, one side over centers and they bend the link.

The way to get the suspension to really flex is to disconnect the sway bar. I am not familiar with any quick disconnects but I am sure there must be some available.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

You probably had the suspension flexed to the point where the one that bent went over center and came back down backwards and it bent. That happens with Jeeps that have the sway bar disconnect too, one side over centers and they bend the link.

The way to get the suspension to really flex is to disconnect the sway bar. I am not familiar with any quick disconnects but I am sure there must be some available.

The problem is that the sway bar then has the possibility of jamming into the CV axle boot because of how tightly the sway bar hugs the suspension. I attempted to make my own disconnecting sway bar link design by improving an idea a guy on the FJ forums had.

Basically you need to either tie the sway bar up and away from the suspension when you disconnect it or have half of the arm on one side come off while leaving the other half connected to prevent it from jamming into the CV Axle boot under certain flex.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I ran quick disconnects for a short time on my 4th gen but I couldn't put up with all the noise for just a little gain. This platform just isn't meant to run disconnects.

I reluctantly went back to the OEM links on the front and some HD links from a member on here for the rear links. At some point, when I get my plate bumper installed, I'm going to go with some 700 lb springs up front and ditch the front sway bar. I may even remove the rear swaybar at that point as well.

Also, I may be interested in that axle.

 

[chmura]

The problem is that the sway bar then has the possibility of jamming into the CV axle boot because of how tightly the sway bar hugs the suspension. I attempted to make my own disconnecting sway bar link design by improving an idea a guy on the FJ forums had.

Basically you need to either tie the sway bar up and away from the suspension when you disconnect it or have half of the arm on one side come off while leaving the other half connected to prevent it from jamming into the CV Axle boot under certain flex.

Very true.

Here is a picture of my sway bar zip tied to the frame. If not zip tied when disconnected the sway bar will rotate down and hit both outer CV boots and tare both of them. I think That's why I think we do not have disconnects because once the sway bar links are disconnected the sway bar itself needs to be anchored in place so it does not move.

Does anyone know any front sway bar links that are stronger than the OEMs?

 

[pearlj10]

I've read a lot about the FJ and Tacoma link failures, and most owners suspect their sway bar shifted while flexing, impacting the link and causing it to break. Like many of those owners, I recently installed some sway bar "collars" (also called "locks" or positioning clamps). So far so good. I have yet to hear of a link failure from anyone running these.
Sway bar positioning clamps

 

[chmura]

I've read a lot about the FJ and Tacoma link failures, and most owners suspect their sway bar shifted while flexing, impacting the link and causing it to break. Like many of those owners, I recently installed some sway bar "collars" (also called "locks" or positioning clamps). So far so good. I have yet to hear of a link failure from anyone running these.
Sway bar positioning clamps

Interesting thank you for the link.

Do you have a picture of you sway bay link? I am having a hard time understanding how these are used. You use them with your OEM sway bar link?

I replaced my front axle last night and I am still trying to decide which front links to use. I do not want to run without a sway bar. I off road a lot but its not very technical, maybe 10 percent of the time is more technical stuff.

*Edit*

I understand what the collars are there for. I am going to definitely get them and upgrade the bushings as well.

Pics here.

http://allprooffroad.com/shop/sway-bar-collar/

Bushings.

http://www.energysuspensionparts.co...fJzMgodqV0A-Q&PARTNER=gbasesecname&Sec=135606