Broken Sway Bar End. Unsafe to drive?

[RoofRack]

Hello,

I'm new to this type of rear end and I'm wondering it it's safe to drive my 1999 4Runner with the Sway bar end sheared off at the nut.

I replaced the springs a few weeks ago and didn't tighten the sway bar end enough. Guess the threads were chewed up and I thought it was tight. When I went to back it off just now to clean the threads and try again I broke it off. I have been working out so I guess the amount of torque I can put to a 12mm wrench is pretty extreme...

Anyway. The sway bar end is broken just above the upper bushing where it attaches to the frame.

Safe to drive? or keep it parked?

Hopefully this is an easy part to find. First try on the lower bolt, where it attaches to the sway bar yielded no results. Hopefully liquid wrench will help.

Thanks,

-Mike

 

[s20004runner]

i will bite...

You can drive but take turns and corner slowly as the body will lean(sway) more than before, sway bars are also called anti-sway bars.

sway end links are easy to find and fix. if the bolts are seized, cut them off.

good luck!

 

[Kanger328]

Exactly what s20004runner said above. You'll be fine...just be careful on corners as well as on highways in case you have to do an "oh sh!t" maneuver. Cheap replacement.

 

[RoofRack]

Thanks!

-M

 

[BrianSD_42]

if it is half attached right now i would consider just removing it until you buy the new bracket and bushing from Toyota.

 

[LGR]

Yeah, you'll be fine driving it, like they said above just take it slow until you are used to it.

Can normally find away at endlinks in stock at your local auto part stores

 

[D Farms]

I run no sway bars and take turns at full speed, you will be fine.

 

[JayRolla]

I tore my stock end links first day I tested her out on the trail. The fronts really hold back the flex. Ive been running without for about 5 years now. Dont recommend removing the rear though. It gets pretty unstable on mountain passes at high speeds with both removed, especially with a lifted rig.

 

[slapdappy]

until you replace them, remove both end links and rotate the bar up out of the way. should stay in place, held by grip of rubber bushings in bar brackets.
do some sharp slow speed turns to get a feel for the looser steering feel and more pronounced lean. it can be dramatic.
not dangerous, but wobblier.

 

[RoofRack]

Fixed

Got it fixed. New ones from Napa have a grease fitting. No bracket to get the nit tight on the sway bar though. Gets tight and spins. Not to worried about it though.

Will take the sways off once this is done as my daily driver in a few years.

Thanks.

-Mike