I was washing off my truck from my recent offroading trip and i saw this


at first i thought i finally broke something. But at closer look you can see that it isn't broken and it looks like it was never done during install at 4wheelparts. First of, what part is this? It doesn't seem to have effected anything since i have had this lift for almost 2 years and taken it on 4 wheeling trips. The drivers side is attached.

 

That is the sway bar end link and it does need to be connected.

 

THanx. The sway bar does not seem to move at all. I'm thinking they had problems so they were just lazy and just left it as is. I guess that's what you get for not doing it yourself.

 

At least they where nice enough to leave you the nut.

 

You're missing a bushing and a washer

 

also that's what you get for not checking someome elses work glad it's only the sway bar link

and KansasJoe is right you are missing a washer and a bushing

 

After further investigation i don't think 4wheelparts did it. I think i would have noticed this earlier over a course of a year. What i think happened was the washer and bushing were torn over the lug nut when i crossed a little creek bed. The flex was probably to much and ripped them right off. The nut is small enough to fit throught the hole in the sway bar with out the washer there. As you can see from the pic it was about as flexed as one of these trucks can get. After experiencing this, i wish there was a way to disconnect the sway bar when wheelin. I think it's time to get a cheap jeep for wheelin.

 

BIG50 thats the stabalizer end link.

And just for your reference i have ripped mine out just the same way you did twice. (Ranger, F150)

and you wont really notice a big difference until the other side is gone then the tires will toe-out and the truck will be squirly on the highway.

and they make quick disconnects for the front sway. when disconnected it allows for better flex. you can always just take the endlinks out its an easy enough thing to do!

 

Trimble,

Where can you get the quich disconnects? That would be great if i could get some.

 

ill look around and see what i can find! I know for a fact they mde them for jeeps and my buddy had them on his old B2

 

Ya, my buddy has them on his jeep. I just figured they didn't make them for our trucks. Thanx for your help

 

ok i looked around and count find them! Im still thinking it would be a very easy thing to make! Ive seen some home made ones that worked great! id try to custom fab some up couldnt be that hard!

If there is a reason they dont make them for the F150's someone chime in but i highly doubt it would cause any problems!

they dont hold much weight and are already easy to break. this is what id do! Go get new bushings (poly) for both sides or just get a complete new set up it will run 20-30 bucks. then get some hood pins 8 of them. now instead of putting the nuts on them drill holes in the end link then take the push pins and push them though to hold it tight. when you tighten them they arent all that tight to begin with! so this would work and im gonna do it on my truck! when you put the pins in you need to do 2 on the bottom 2 on the top that make a cross though the end-link! then maybe even another on on the very top so if for some reason the 2 beak you dont loose your set up!

 

Thanx trimble for the effert. I'll see if i can rig something up. If i just take the time to unbolt them when offroading you don't think i'll cause any damage?

 

you can definitely unbolt them it will take close to 10-30 min. My dads powerwagon has a electronic disconnect but thats also a straight axle. I dont see why it would cause any problems, and havent heard of anyone doing it.

you might want to ask a local 4x4 shop just too make sure.