Advice on purchashing sway bar end links for an '03

[Torx]

getting the clunking at all for corners on slight dips in the road, and most of the time its constant.. with feedback into the steering wheel. ive let it go on for far too long, and i hope its not gonna wear my new tires down??

ive gotten a dealership estimate @650.00, and while i think its kinda worth the parts and labor, as i know it can be a pain to do.. im also just curious where i can buy the parts myself and take a chance on doing it myself.

i noticed ppl are buying moog brand?
is ebay a worthwhile gamble?

i havent looked under the car personally, but do you think it could just be a case of retightening them up?

i also might consider replacing the sway bar bushing (with an oem bushing), but im confused on how and where to buy just the bushing. I know alot of ppl are buying energy suspension brand, but doesnt that require constant greasing?

thanks for any input.

edit: also i couldnt find NOT ONE mobil1 oil filter anywhere in town. whats the exact model number everyone is using?? i was gonna do a mobil1 oil change myself, but i said eff it and went with the $30 dealership coupon.

 

[M4rk]

Can't buy OEM bushings for Gen II (front anyway). Have to buy the whole bar. Rears might be sold individually though.

I use Moog end-links. I wouldn't buy them again as it's easy to blow the boots by putting in too much grease if you're a noob, which I did a few years back. They also need re-greasing every once in a while. Install is very easy.

 

[tireman]

End links

Removal and install of end links is a breeze. Go to Oreilly's auto parts and get there inhouse brand of end links about $20, grease them, install, forget it. Really you're just wasting your money on the expensive ones. Are you going to keep the car forever?

take the old link off to test it, once removed, move the arms around in the socket, if loose then replace.

 

[RigsLS]

Can't buy OEM bushings for Gen II (front anyway). Have to buy the whole bar...

Come on M4rk !
You know they are molded in place on Gen II's but can be cut off and replaced with Energy Suspension replacements.
Thickness of the sway bar determines part required.

 

[Torx]

Bought the moogs, 150 complete set, i culdnt find any for $20, lol?
bought 30mm sway bar bushings
gonna buy inner outer tie rods tommorrow, theres play in them.
rear sway bar looks incredibly impossible so imma save those 18mm last. Theres play in the rear sway bar. Lots of boots have been split open and leaking grease (normal for 89k miles?).
no play in the wheels vertically as in ball joints, but imma double check.

imma tackle this next week while im on vacation. It all looks like a nightmare i hate it, but its gonna save me thousands of dollars.

/dear diary

 

[tireman]

notes

if you don't have these and enjoy working on cars, get them, it makes the job so much easier.

3 ton jack, jack stands, ramps

impact wrench, air or electric this is one of the best tools to have.

 

[Torx]

thanks, yea i have all the stands and jacks
no impact or air though. i dont have any rust under the car, everything is clean and silver.. im sure wd40 or pb blaster will do the trick for most of the work.

im looking at the tie rod inner links, and moog apparently has 3 different sku's
MOOG-EV452
MOOG-EV453
MOOG-EV454

the ebay store im buying from lists the ev454 as being my 2003-2006 ls.
can anyone confirm the right model number to buy?

 

[M4rk]

Confirm on RockAuto. I always check the part numbers for 03-06 to see if they made any mistakes.

 

[Torx]

ev454