loose sway bar link - dangerous?

[jacobrjett]

changed the rear springs on my ae111 bzr levin.

damn those nuts on the sway bar drop links are a $&#$% asshole to undo.

anyhow they are like an allen key in the middle with a bolt on the outside - my allen key stripped the shit out of it and now its round and the nut wont come off. it was halfway off when it stripped.

theres about 3-4mm play in the link and now when I am driving I notice a knocking in the suspension at times.

question is - is this dangerous or going to cause any serious damage if I leave it for a while?

I know that a roll bar is not a necessity, but its not going to be lose and then snag suddenly or anything right?

[CAMB01]

Pretty common, you'll have to cut it off and get a new link.
Angle grinder with a cut off disc.
Happen to me heaps of times on customers vehicles.

[jacobrjett]

gah f***

ok, im guessing the clunking and knocking its making is damaging it, but if im going to replace it then it shouldnt matter for a while though right?

as in, if i leave it for a couple of weeks, im not going to cause any terminal damage right?

thanks cam

[whynot]

I hardly ever use the allen key to undo them. Try gripping the base of the joint on the other side with something like a thin pair of vice grips or similar and having another go.

[jacobrjett]

ok. I will try that one tomorrow cheers, I wasnt aware you could hold it from the base.

[captain crescent]

I hardly ever use the allen key to undo them. Try gripping the base of the joint on the other side with something like a thin pair of vice grips or similar and having another go.

This!

Mark(1I1) here - had the same problem and used a narrow pair of vice grips inbetween the sway bar and boot on the link to stop it from spinning. Makes it real easy

[jacobrjett]

ok sweet cheers. will get onto that tomorrow

[Mr Ree]

Awesome info for upcoming end link swap

Thanks

[Snaps]

^ Be VERY careful Reith, my ones stripped the hex as well, when I was changing coilovers (don't ask why I was trying to remove them ). I recommend a lot of penetrating lube (WD40, etc.), and also scrubbing the thread you can see with a wire brush - it wasn't getting the nut loose that was the problem, it was that the nut jammed when it was halfway-off (due to dirt buildup or rust on the threads).

[wordnz]

Took me about 2 hours to undo a link in my AE101. Other side came off easily though.

I did the "gripping the base of the joint on the other side with something like a thin pair of vice grips" squeezing like a mother $&#$%, and my Dad undid the nut.

If you're going to use an allen key next time, you need to get the best quality key you can find, get someone to hold it, make sure its all the way in, then crack the nut with a spanner in one big pump, don't slowly apply pressure or it will strip out.

Also, try rattle guning it off, that worked another time for me. Also soak it with penetrene for a couple of hours before.

[Emperor]

^ This. Rattle gun has got them all off any of the cars ive done

[Grrrrrrr!]

also, use anti-seize when installing them. Anti-seize is your friend!

[tsoob]

gah f***

ok, im guessing the clunking and knocking its making is damaging it, but if im going to replace it then it shouldnt matter for a while though right?

as in, if i leave it for a couple of weeks, im not going to cause any terminal damage right?

thanks cam

I may $&#$% the bushes in the middle of the bar if you leave it for 2 long.

[RomanV]

This childish post isnt helpful at all sorry:

nuts ... $&#$% asshole

stripped the shit out of it and now its round and the nut wont come

I recommend a lot of penetrating lube

Try gripping the base

I wasnt aware you could hold it from the base.

I may $&#$% the bushes

[sergei]

This childish post isnt helpful at all sorry:

nuts ... $&#$% asshole

stripped the shit out of it and now its round and the nut wont come

I recommend a lot of penetrating lube

Try gripping the base

I wasnt aware you could hold it from the base.

I may $&#$% the bushes

Now illustrate it please in ms paint. it will be best of TS 2012.

[jacobrjett]

This childish post isnt helpful at all sorry:

nuts ... $&#$% asshole

stripped the shit out of it and now its round and the nut wont come

I recommend a lot of penetrating lube

Try gripping the base

I wasnt aware you could hold it from the base.

I may $&#$% the bushes

best post ive seen on here since I joined

[magweal]

All I can say is .... hahahahahahahahahaha