Do I have to replace my Sway Bar?

Question

Hi, I have Town and Country 2005, I noticed a knocking sounds in my Car under the hood, when I brought it for checking the mechanic said that I have to replace the Sway Bar and bushing and they billed me of $500. Do I have to agree to replace the entire Sway Bar or just the bushing. How do I know that the Sway Bar is replaced? How much the actual cost of this repair? Please advice

Answer 1

Unforunatly its too late to know if the sway bar really needed to be replaced. The bushings very possably could have. I assume you know nothing about the sway bar so I will explain.
A sway bar is a spring steel bar which is mounted to the frame in two places and the arms that support the vechicle in two places. When the vechicle rocks (or sways) the bar resists. And that lessens the rocking. Because it moves alot and rubber dries and shrinks it is not uncommon for the bushings to need replaced after a few years. If it had been a long time the rubber may have completly fell out and that would cause a knocking as the bar would be free to move in its mounts. The only way the bar itself would need to be replaced is if it had been loose for a long time and had worn in its mounts or it had broken completly. But since it has been fixed already their is no way to tell if it really needed replaced. A piece of advice..always ask to see the failed part before okaying any repair make them show you the part and explain why it needs replaced. If they refuse leave immediatly and go somewhere else!! Sorry missed a piece of the puzzle. A two year old vechicle should never need new bushings unless you drive 100,00 miles a year. It may verry possably been a broken bar. But they should have been able to reuse the bushings at least the ones at the frame. There is one possable way to know if you had a broken sway bar. I have broken one before its not a quiet affair. It would be almost like a gun shot when it happened unless you listen to mega loud music or are deaf you would have heard it.

Answer 2

Sway Bar Replacement

Answer 3

Sway Bar Link Replacement

Answer 4

No. The sway bar is only replaced if it breaks which might happen in a high speed crash. The problem with MOPAR or Chrysler is they are using recycled steel on the suspension and drivetrain it can snap under strain. (Happens too often to be a coincidence)

Most of the time you hear a clunking and it's sway bar related it;s the sway bar link. Parts cost less than $5 or $10 and you can replace it in the driveway. Do both at the same time since they will have the same wear and tear.

If the bushing needs replaced this is an easy fix as well and cheap.

$500 is a rip off. You can buy direct fit Hellwig sway bars (anti-sway bars) from JC Whitney for less than $200.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do I have to replace my Sway Bar?
Hi, I have Town and Country 2005, I noticed a knocking sounds in my Car under the hood, when I brought it for checking the mechanic said that I have to replace the Sway Bar and bushing and they billed me of $500. Do I have to agree to replace the entire Sway Bar or just the bushing. How do I know...

Answer 6

Unless the eye at the end of the sway bar is broken there is no need to replace it. The front sway bar is anchored by two bushings under the cross member (engine support) and the ends are tied to the control arms by stabilizer links. Best guess, one link broke. Replace the links, check the bushings. No further damage? good to go. Make the guy tell you why the entire sway bar needs replacing. Except in collision damage repair I've never seen one go bad.

Answer 7

IF it is your sway bar causing the problem...and IF you haven't been in a front end collision lately.. (to bend it) ALL you need are the bushings. There are stabilizer links at each end also (a Bolt with 4 small bushings going to your lower control arm)

You can do this job yourself...easy! $40 tops for both mount bushings and both stabilizer links at your local parts store.

I find it unlikely that's your problem however. For a sway bar to "knock" it would have to be awfully loose. Crawl under there and grab everything and shake it...If nothing moves...he is full of it.

Answer 8

It's almost unknown for a sway bar to need replacing. It's almost always just a $25 bushing kit that's very easy to put in.
However, it's very common for crooked mechanics to do unneeded repairs. It would be much better to take it to a tire store of front end shop that specializes in that kind of thing.

Answer 9

I have a 1996 ford explorer and it's been knocking up under the left fender while driving this last week , and come to find out my sway bar pin completely fell out. The passenger side is still in place , but need to no if its still safe to drive that way ? I don't want to have an accident , but i have to go to my appointment tomorrow some way some how. I'd appreciate anyone who can give me an answer.

Answer 10

The time to ask this question was before you agreed to have the job done.
Write this one up to lack of experience.
But I think only the bushings need replaced. To verify this check with a parts man to see if the make of the bushings requires a total replacement of both.