Broke my suspension and question on a bushing.

LaserSVT

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Before I try and order this bushing I want to make sure I am ordering the right thing. I was driving along on a slightly ruff road (gravel) doing 5-10 MPH and then started hearing a loud knocking from the rear. I thought it was 1 of 4 things. Eaither diff mount bushings, broken shock bushings, controll arm bushings or sway bar link.
Turns out I snapped the drivers side sway bar link. :( In my search though I discovered only a single other bushing on the whole car that appers to be shot. Its on the lower drivers side controll arm. Its the foreward bushing but there seems to be several bushings there and wondered which one it is.
Here are a couple pics. The red is the warn bushing. The yellow circle is a cap that I wonder how it comes off because I couldnt even budge the bolt and wondered if there is some kind of locking nut under the black cap.

Last picture is of my freshly snapped sway bar link. :(

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ouch!!!! I know you will get her fixed n the guys will fill in on the how, where and why....they may also harass you to do a search if there is a tech article out there (trying to save you the wrath!!!) lol they get me all the time!!

SMOOCHES!
MsM8
 
The search did not turn up that bushing there, All were about the bushing in the controll arm itself. That bushing appers to be a seperate on and I dont know what its caller.
The end link is no big deal. I have anO'Reilly gift card I have yet to use. :nice:
 
Well this sux ass. None of the parts stores carry that damn part! :(
Sure does look identical to a Mustangs front one.

So how bad is it gonna be to drive with no rear sway bar? Bet its gonna handle like crap. :cry:
 
The part you're looking for is called "toe compensator link" not a sway bar endlink as in above post. It's not really damaged per se, just the boot is split. If you take a close look at any mark viii with some mileage, you'll see exactly the same thing. Parts can be bought from Ford, or rockauto.

The sway bar endlink is a no brainer.
 
I think you are looking at the sway bar end link that is broken...see pic...and the toe compensator link is the one in you pic with the worn bush. Year of car can get the correct P/N's and pricing.

Max
 
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m maker: You hit it just right. The part thats snapped is the end link and part #5664 in your post. The car is a 97. None of the parts stores seem to carry it but damn it looks identical to a Mustangs fron one.

nolimit94VIII: Thats the front ones, which oddly enough are avaliable everywhere.
 
Cool! O'Reilly has front end links for a Mustang GT which just happen to be the correct length and thickness! :D
Gonna go down in a bit and grab a set. Hope it works.
 
The bend really bothers me. The other side seems to have a very slight bend too, about 1/3 as much. Really wonder if I need to get the shorter ones for lowered cars. Pretty straight snap though.
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For future refrence a 99-04 Mustang GT uses the same sway bar end links in the front that the Mark VIII uses in the rear. Same length, diameter and bushing size. $15 and I am good to go. I will slap them in tomorrrow morning.
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Well I got her back together this morning and it was pretty easy. I did have to redo it as I learned that you have to get them in place then LOAD them before tightening them up. If not you distort the lower bushing.
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So remember, lower the car first! LOL!
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I also noticed the passenger side was getting pretty bad too. Glad I did both.
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The first picture shows what it looks like if you dont load it before tightening it first.
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Second picture shows a proper seat. The last picture shows just how bad the other side was.
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I think you are looking at the sway bar end link that is broken...see pic...and the toe compensator link is the one in you pic with the worn bush. Year of car can get the correct P/N's and pricing.

Max

/\ /\ HES SO HOT!!!!!!!


This is a good thread - if it's not a tech article, you should go ahead and make one!

SMOOCHES~!
 
For future refrence a 99-04 Mustang GT uses the same sway bar end links in the front that the Mark VIII uses in the rear. Same length, diameter and bushing size. $15 and I am good to go. I will slap them in tomorrrow morning.
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good to know, thanks! dont need them just good info.
 
This makes me wanna go outside on lunch and look at the rear of my car... my Mark's right rear sounds like it's bouncing like mad while going down the road... and I know I just had the sway bar, and links replaced...
 

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