Hey guys, had a bad ride into work this morning. I was all of two blocks from the parking lot and all of a sudden the truck started to violently hop like a tire was about to come off. Stopped immediately and checked the tires and lugnuts and did a quick look underneath the truck, nothing appeared to be broken. But I was on the side of a busy road, so I babied it into the parking lot. Parked it and did a more thorough inspection. That's when I saw it, the passenger side sway bar was missing the drop down piece to the lower A-arm, completely GONE!!!! My immediate help question is, what is that piece called, is it something I can easily fix in the parking lot here at work (I have all the necessary hand tools but just the basic jack in the truck, Or do I need to call the stealership and have it towed? Thanks for any help you guys can provide, I can take a few quick pics if needed.



I just told a guy here at work as well about my mishap, and he said it might be possible to remove the drivers side, and then just take it easy on the drive home, where I would have all the necessary tools...Ideas?

Edit: Just took an even better look, not sure what went first, but that is the tie rod laying down in the lower A-arm, looks like it popped right off that upper mount...

 

Sway bar link

Edit: It's not a big deal, just call the dealership and get a new one. Definitely don't have it towed for just a link.

 

What is the deal with this? I'd never heard of this happening to anyone and now this is like the third post this year.

 

Didn't see your tie rod laying down there, that's a lot bigger deal than the sway bar and is undriveable without it.

 

Yep, if it was just the sway bar link you could drive it-but it looks like the tierod end sheered right off. I am with Kanas, tow it to the dealer, it is way to dangerous to drive. Thankfully you caught it right away!

 

Tie rod ends aren't bad to replace, I'd grab the part and install it in the lot - then get an alignment. The swaybar link would be almost unnoticable, just more body roll in corners. The tie rod end... ouch!

 

Indeed, the tie rod end is busted, and the sway bar link is missing. You'll want to replace both of them at the very least. If it was my truck, I'd go ahead and replace both inner and outer tie rod ends, since it's going to cost you an alignment anyways.

-Joe

 

Thanks guys, towed to the dealership, the master mechanic there I went to high school with, so he took care of me. All parts at his cost, only one hour of labor and the alignment all done right away, no waiting. New tie rods and sway bar links on both sides. I still can't believe I didn't notice the tie rod at first. I guess when I saw the link missing, I just "ignored" the fact that there should have been a tie rod in front of it! Anyways, it's all fixed and luckily it wasn't worse...

 

yeah the whole sway bar link falling off is actually very common on the 98-03 F150s and expetions. i use to work at a oil change and at least 2-3 times a week i would see them come in with one or both gone and it happened twice on my moms expedtion (180K miles), but you guys are right its no big deal if they fall off just put new one on when you have time, i drove my jeep around for 1 1/2 years with no front sway bar, just need to be careful its a little sloppy.