suspension problem??

[ascharnberg]

suspension problem
Help...I have a few questions about my 2001 L200:

-What is the bar that goes from the strut to the sway bar called?

(This bar is causing a clunking noise in my front suspension. My father took a strap and tightened the sway bar to the frame of the car and the noise went away)

-What needs to be replaced? Are there bushings or pins in this bar?

-Can these be easily replaced?

-Is this bar pressed into place and therefore needing a mechanic to replace the problem?

-I am very handy with cars, and would like to fix this problem on my own? I am just confused as to what is causing the noise?

Thanks

[amazinghl]

Isn't your car still in warranty? If so, take it to the dealer, have them fix it for free.

[ascharnberg]

I wish it was. I have almost 50,000 miles on this car. I drive to work 150+ miles a day. I did take in while it was under warranty about 8 months ago and they could not find this problem. Now that time has past...I found it too late.

[ssicarman]

Originally posted by ascharnberg
suspension problem
Help...I have a few questions about my 2001 L200:

-What is the bar that goes from the strut to the sway bar called?

(This bar is causing a clunking noise in my front suspension. My father took a strap and tightened the sway bar to the frame of the car and the noise went away)

-What needs to be replaced? Are there bushings or pins in this bar?

-Can these be easily replaced?

-Is this bar pressed into place and therefore needing a mechanic to replace the problem?

-I am very handy with cars, and would like to fix this problem on my own? I am just confused as to what is causing the noise?

Thanks

The piece from the sway bar to the strut is the sway bar link. Replaceble as a unit. Held in place by the nuts at the sway bar and the strut. When you order the link make sure that you get replacement nuts as well. To remove just remove the nuts, use a wrench on the link side to stop things from turning, there are flats.

[Maritime Storm]

Slightly confused here, are you refering to where the sway bar mounts to the control arms or where the sway bar mounts to the frame? . I can't remember off the top of my head, but memory serving me correctly{and it rarely does} both have rubber bushings and are just bolted into place. If they're are the type I'm thinking of, both could be replaced in less than 20 minutes{cursing figured into the number }

[bennett9000]

Originally posted by Maritime Storm
Slightly confused here, are you refering to where the sway bar mounts to the control arms or where the sway bar mounts to the frame? . I can't remember off the top of my head, but memory serving me correctly{and it rarely does} both have rubber bushings and are just bolted into place. If they're are the type I'm thinking of, both could be replaced in less than 20 minutes{cursing figured into the number }

This is an L-series- the sway bar doesn't connect directly to the control arms like it does in the S-series. The sway bar is instead "linked" to the body of the strut by a small bar with a joint on either end, called a sway bar link. I replaced the link on my Cougar for about $12. Not a hard job.

And yes- it DOES get noisy when one of those joints blows.

[TedL]

You can look at a diagram of the parts at awgolden.com

You'll have to drill down from the home page to find the proper line drawing of the parts.

I believe you're talking about item 13 in the diagram, called a "LinK", $21.17 list, $16.51 discounted plus shipping.

[bennett9000]

The link is #13 in this diagram: