Bent rear sway bar links

Hey all. I put the TRD rear sway bar on my ‘18 limited crewmax right away when I bought it, so it’s been on for over 5 years. I’ve been noticing a knocking sound when turning left over elevation changes. It seemed to be coming from the front end, but with the nicer weather and windows open I’ve noticed it’s actually coming from the back. I checked the sway bar today and noticed both end links are bent. No idea how that could have happened. I don’t routinely haul anything except for my drums to and from gigs, and I’ve pulled a motorcycle trailer a couple times and have had a couple yards of mulch back there. Anybody else have this issue? Do they only last 4-5 years? Can I get just the end links or should I look at the beefier Hellwig bar instead?

 

Is there paint scuffs on the underside? Looks like they buckled. Maybe you smacked a speed bump hard with a load in the bed or a trailer. It looks like you had some play at the main bushings too.

Never seen that. You can rotate the whole assembly 90 degrees up to get you more clearance underneath

 

You could order just the end links, or go hellwig but nothing going to help if you bottom out or hit something. Your passenger rear shock look bent too.

 

Sheesh I didn't even notice that. I have no idea how this all could have happened - I don't off-road, this is my daily driver and I don't run it hard. I did have it towed at a ski mountain this past winter because I apparently parked in a stupid place when I got to the condo at night, but I wouldn't think they could have caused that much damage.

 

I don't see any scuffs, just the rust and the chipped paint at the bends. I should find out how much my drums weigh, but it can't be more than 500 pounds and I definitely take it easy when I'm hauling them. Besides the drums I've only pulled a motorcycle trailer a few times and I've had some lumber and mulch for different projects. Nothing crazy at all.

 

So the truck was towed, probably drug out of the parking spot by the rear axle? It's possible the tow truck caught the sway bar and pushed up on it, and not the wheels or axle, bending the end links. Of course who knows for sure, but I really can't see how having a heavy load in the bed or towing caused this. Tons of us have sway bars and tow heavy, probably too heavy lol, and don't have this issue. I think this was actual damage from your towing event.

I would simply replace them, check that shock too, although that may just be the splash guard is a little damaged and the rest of the shock is fine. Clean and re-grease those bushings, and simply keep driving it while keeping an eye on everything.

 

I wonder if the tow truck put one of those lift bar things under the rear and raised the rear of the truck by pushing up on the ends of the sway bar where the links connect to it. I'll bet that would be enough to bend the links.

 

Yeah That's gotta be it - I wonder if they just put a recovery strap around the rear end and then picked it up with a loader. It wasn't a towing company, they just moved it out of the way with their own equipment.

 

Any idea on where I can get replacement end links? Is that something Roman could help with?

 

Sounds to me like it was lifted and dropped. Sudden harsh impact and weak factory springs don't exactly make a good match. Usually when someone takes the cheap way out, it ends with an even bigger expense.

 

I'd trash the sway bar and apply that money to a Roadmaster Active Suspension system. Money better spent for the way you use the truck and it will prevent sway.

 

Get an alignment too, that back end is all out of whack.

 

Oh wow, yeah, they definitely did this damage then. Who knows how they actually moved your truck, but they absolutely caused this. So long as the rest of the bar is okay you should be fine replacing the links. But I would certainly inspect everything else back there. If you have a mechanic you trust to not rip you off have them give it a look over.

 

I have a set of these if you want em.

 

Oh shit yeah if you have them available....

 

I’ve had my truck pretty squatted out before and never bent an end link on my TRD sway-bar. That had to happen from the tow truck.

 

I only know that tow truck ain’t a flat bed

 

Yep, boxed up in my garage.

 

What do you want for them? Is it the full end link kit with the spacers and fasteners? I did put the nickel stuff on everything when I first installed it, but would be good to replace them as well.

 

I may or may not have scavenged the bushings from them to put in my longer links. I'll look at em when I get home this afternoon.

If they are sans bushings, do you still want em?

 

Not sure .... I think I'd feel more comfortable replacing the bushings and fasteners if I'm touching it at all. I did find a couple places online where the kit can be purchased (PTR11-34092)

 

They have the bushings

 

Thanks - but I ended up finding new ones with the fasteners. If I'm doing anything at all I'd rather replace all the hardware at the same time.

 

So I was able to get the end links replaced yesterday and no more knock. I'm happy that's all it was and no other damage. I'm also happy I had found that YouTube video where the guy insisted on using the nickle-based anti-seize on all of the hardware, as I was able to get everything off with some beefy 1/2" breaker bars.

 

Did you assess that rear passenger shock as well? Could be the angle of the dangle but it looks a little bent and a dent up top.

 

I took a look at it and it only appears to be in the cover - underneath seems fine and it rides fine as well.

 

Where on earth did you park?

 

Ha ha get ready to laugh....

So I was meeting up with my in-laws for a ski weekend up at Jay Peak. The weather was coming in and the last 30 minutes of the drive took over an hour. Didn't know it at the time, but my wife was also suffering from early Covid symptoms and basically dying in the passenger seat. We got to the condo, and we're only allowed 2 vehicles parked, so I had to unload the truck and then move it to the regular visitor parking area. It's like 10pm on a Thursday and it's dark and there's nobody there, no markings in the lot because it's snowy. All I see are some poles mounted to some surface concrete footings. I park in front of those poles, way back in the lot and figured it was good for the weekend. Come to find out those poles were marking one side of the exit lane, so my truck was halfway in the narrow single-car exit lane for the parking area - at Jay peak - during a busy late-January ski weekend when it's snowing. Epic facepalm.