Can I drive with one sway bar link disconnected?

[atalarico]

Trying to track down a mystery clunk and I want to rule out a thrashed end link that disconnected on me while off-roading last summer and trashed my CV boot.

Can I remove just one end link and drive around for a little while like that without risking the end of the sway bar crashing into my CV boot (again)? Or should I just take the whole sway bar off and work my way forward with new sway bar bushings and, if the noise isn't gone, replacing that end link?

 

[JVC8790]

It's only 4 bolts to remove the whole sway bar once you have the end links disconnected. I'd just pull it completely.

That being said, if you're trying to diag a small clunk that you know you can replicate within a few blocks of driving, I'd just pop the one off and send it. But if you think that you'll have to drive a lot to diagnose it, then I wouldn't risk it.

 

[atalarico]

It's only 4 bolts to remove the whole sway bar once you have the end links disconnected. I'd just pull it completely.

That being said, if you're trying to diag a small clunk that you know you can replicate within a few blocks of driving, I'd just pop the one off and send it. But if you think that you'll have to drive a lot to diagnose it, then I wouldn't risk it.

Yeaaah, trust me, I know all too well what happens when the stupid sway bar impacts the CVs. It happened to me twice...

It would just be a few blocks of driving, but I think I'm so paranoid that I just want to play it safe so I might as well pull the whole thing. I guess I don't even need to pull the end links off completely since I can just pull the bar and take off the two nuts that hold the links to the steering knuckle arm.

I'll stop being lazy about it. Hah.

 

[cjimen31]

Remove the link and zip tie it so it doesn’t contact the cv boot if you’re just going around the block

 

[atalarico]

I just pulled the whole thing figuring if it is the source of the clunks then it's easier to work on anyway off the truck. Turns out, it is the source of the clunks, so new bushings and a new left link are on their way. Meanwhile, I'll try to avoid any sudden braking maneuvers. Hah!

Cheers!

 

[Ed_C]

Yes you can. I was driving around with a broken one on my 1st-gen Tundra, didn't even know it was even broken until I took the front wheels off to inspect the brakes LOL

 

[atalarico]

Yes you can. I was driving around with a broken one on my 1st-gen Tundra, didn't even know it was even broken until I took the front wheels off to inspect the brakes LOL

Now that I think about it, my 3rd gen had one snapped in half and I drove around like that for a lot longer than I realized. I don't think it ever impacted the CV boots, but man alive, I had two of them come out on the 4th gen and impact the (then new) CV boots and make a real pisser of a week for me. I don't know if it's just a different position with the the sway bar ends or something, but I just wanted to play it safe this time.