Sway bar links...

[DrDemented]

I need to replace the sway bar links on my '92. I can't find them anywhere except for at the dealership. I need one on the front bar and one on the back. The ones on the front run about $50 and the rear links are $80. Does anyone know of a parts store that actualy sells these things that might be cheaper??? Also on a earlier post I read that strut bars are an equal replacment for a sway bar... is this true?? I am not a racer or anything like that although I must say that I have a lead foot. Will this be a good switch or not worth the trouble????

[bubbaflaat]

strut bars are in no way equal to sway bars. I work at advance auto parts. We have the rear links there, but they are the same price as dealers. I just got some Heim Joints from a guy on this board and used them. They work great. And are alot cheaper.

[DrDemented]

Heim Joints?????

[Yoda]

Originally posted by Bubbaflaat:
strut bars are in no way equal to sway bars. I work at advance auto parts. We have the rear links there, but they are the same price as dealers. I just got some Heim Joints from a guy on this board and used them. They work great. And are alot cheaper.

It depend on the quality you get the general purpose grade would that work out to be cheaper that the OEM end link work great for about 5000-8000 miles then the eye of the spherical bearing is stretched which and cause the ball stop rotating which in turn may cause the shank to snap. If you live where it is dusty or they use salt on the road in the winter this will also damage the spherical bearing.Heim Joints or rod end has they are properly called are also meant to be service frequently if you drive the car daily. that should be cleaned and greased once a week. I believe the once that were being sold were threaded 3/8" to look the same size as the OEM piece. Looking at the bearing catalogs here at the office GP grade rod ends are strong enough to handle the stress of the OE anti roll bars. The second issue here is a 3/8" is only 9.5mm in a 10mm hole. Over time no matter how tight the nuts are it will slip around the hole. over time the hole become bigger then when it come time to replace it again you have another problem to fix. For the price of the OEM endlinks you will have to replace they GP rod end at least 3 or 4 times or if you buy the more expensive 10mm motorsport/avation rate rod end you will be paying more that the OEM price and still end up replacing the twice for the life span of the factory piece. they may be cheaper now but in the long run you will probably still be cheaper to replace it with the original parts in the long run(+45000-60000mile).

[bubbaflaat]

true dat.. damn myself for being cheap!! LOL

[TsiMiata]

I'm making myself a set of front end links tomorrow using aluminum rod ends. I use the same ones on my atv for the steering. Those see a million times more abuse than these will and they last a very long time.

I'm also using the 3/8" end links. There is no way the hole will loosen up with time. Every hole has clearance. The 3/8" vs. 10mm is only .015". Maybe a little larger than what I'd like to see but in no way excessive. Just check some of the clearances that mazda has on the suspension bushing to bolts. They are well over .020" in a few spots.

[93SOHC]

hey bubba, I went to my local advanced auto parts and they said they're like 200 bucks and they werent even sure if they could get them. I need sway bar links as well this is why i am posting here

[bubbaflaat]

Wow, I was looking at them in the spring. I'll check the pricing and availability tommarow. That seems quite steep.

[TsiMiata]

Originally posted by 93SOHC:
hey bubba, I went to my local advanced auto parts and they said they're like 200 bucks and they werent even sure if they could get them. I need sway bar links as well this is why i am posting here

$154 from their website, and ships within 2 days-
http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDetails.asp?SourceArea=&SourcePage=SEARCHRESULTS&MfrCode=BAR&MfrPartNumber=1014484&PartType=78&PTSet=A

[93SOHC]

so the guys guess wasn't too far off. I can get them through the dealer nearby for $76+tax, but I thought that was too much. What a pain...

[Gro Harlem]

buy some balljoint thingys from an industrial supply place and fabricate your own links. I made some adjustable links for my car and it didn't cost too much.

[93SOHC]

ball joint thingys???

[Gro Harlem]

lmao....i'll try to remember to take a pic of the spare one i have and i'll see if i cna get part numbers from the supply place i bought em from.

I dunno the proper terms for this stuff...but i think the terms are on the baggie that the parts came in.

[93SOHC]

That would be awesome, Gro... I have been thinking about making my own adjustable ones, but have no idea where to start. I also have a buddy who works at a cnc place and he said he might be able to make them. If I could find enough vendors interested, I might even be able to get them to start making a bunch. Depends on if the demand is high enough. Currently this company makes steering wheel hubs, bushings, and a bunch of aluminum bits and pieces. Keep me posted on that stuff Gro. If you could take a pic of the finished product That would be sweet!

[bubbaflaat]

LOL "ball joint thingy" very technical terms!! I love it. Sound like me.