Mysterious rattle - Front sway bar links

[Nels]

Sharing for the benefit of others. I recently had a rattle/light clunking that was difficult to describe. Difficult to determine where it was coming from. Only heard it on rough roads and railroad tracks. More than the sound, it was a sense of something was loose, like the whole cab. I was at the dealer for new tires so I asked them to look around. Took them 4 hours of research and testing. They put clips on the grill, tightened screws on mudflaps and wheel liners, finally determined the culprit was the front sway bar links. Replaced the links and all is good! Under warranty so I don't know what they would have charged, but I believe the parts are fairly cheap, and it doesn't look like a very difficult job.

 

[darbgnik]

For posterity, it looks like they're already on revision 4 of the end links. Seems the first revision had top lock nuts at the bar and lower control arm. The revision I just pulled off my truck used nylon locking nuts on the sway bar end, with rotating integral washers on them, presumably to reduce friction while tightening to get an accurate threads torque.

The new set I just installed has a different swaybar end nut as well. This one being a top lock(smushed) nut with rotating integral washer, with a thread locker pre installed.

It seems the loose nut is always on the sway bar side, but mine wasn't loose enough to move by hand.

Problem is that is also the nut that is hard to get to....... either way, my clunk is gone, with my new, made in Japan and links with part # ending in AD. The links i took off were fine, and I do believe the sway bar end nut that came with the new links was probably the only upgraded part.

Hope this info helps someone.

 

[NewLove]

For posterity, it looks like they're already on revision 4 of the end links. Seems the first revision had top lock nuts at the bar and lower control arm. The revision I just pulled off my truck used nylon locking nuts on the sway bar end, with rotating integral washers on them, presumably to reduce friction while tightening to get an accurate threads torque.

The new set I just installed has a different swaybar end nut as well. This one being a top lock(smushed) nut with rotating integral washer, with a thread locker pre installed.

It seems the loose nut is always on the sway bar side, but mine wasn't loose enough to move by hand.

Problem is that is also the nut that is hard to get to....... either way, my clunk is gone, with my new, made in Japan and links with part # ending in AD. The links i took off were fine, and I do believe the sway bar end nut that came with the new links was probably the only upgraded part.

Hope this info helps someone.

Any pictures?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[darbgnik]

Any pictures?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Of the different nuts? I can snag pics of a couple of the different types.

 

[Jeffjad]

Anyone know of any aftermarket end links for the front??? Can't seem to find any on the interwebs.

 

[Nels]

Anyone know of any aftermarket end links for the front??? Can't seem to find any on the interwebs.

I do not, but my dealer did tell me they were able to get them from another dealer. Otherwise back ordered.