What happens when a sway bar goes bad?

If your sway bar end links are broken, you can still drive the car. The problem is that you will notice excessive body roll when making turns at speeds over 30 mph. This can make the vehicle unstable. If your sway bar bushings or links broke while driving, drive the car home or to a mechanic.

Is a sway bar worth replacing?

They’re usually very strong and will last a lifetime. You will only need to replace a sway bar when there’s major damage to it. Such as when you get into a terrible accident that affects the sway bar’s structure and strength. However, the sway bar links will need a replacement over time.

Can you drive a car with a broken sway bar?

If you suspect that a sway bar is broken, you can still drive the car, but you must use caution. It will feel “looser”, particularly when driving at high speeds. It’s very possible that this will cause you to lose control of the car, resulting in a serious accident if you’re not prepared for it.

What are the symptoms of bad sway bar bushings?

If your sway bar bushings are going bad, you will likely feel it when you turn — the car’s handling will feel sluggish or less stable. Knocking noise: Typically, the first sign of a bad sway bar bushing is a thumping or knocking sound when you go over bumps. The noise may also be heard when the vehicle takes a corner.

Is it hard to replace a sway bar?

Replacing the sway bar links is a repair process that can be done with a few basic tools. If you don’t have access to the correct tools or are short on time, ask a certified mechanic from YourMechanic to replace the sway bar links for you.

Does changing sway bar end links affect alignment?

Basically, if the steering rack, tie rods, subframe, or control arm bolts have been altered or the car has been lowered, you need an alignment. Removing the sway bar, and replacing it would not require an alignment, unless something that I mentioned above had to be moved to access the sway bar.