2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Sway/Stabilizer Bar Link

What Are Sway Bar Links?

The sway or stabilizer bar keeps the two sides of your suspension tethered to help prevent the sway you might experience in the body of your vehicle when turning. The purpose of your sway bar links is to connect the sway bar to the control arm, and help keep the vehicle more balanced and stable when turning or cornering. The sway or stabilizer bar links usually consist of a straight rod with bushings and retaining washers that are installed around the sway bar and control arm, or a Z-shaped bar with studs, ball and socket joints, or bushings on both ends. The type and design of your vehicles sway bar link depends on the design of the suspension, and they should always be replaced if they are severely corroded, if the bushings have worn out, or if they have become loose or suffered damage. If your stabilizer bar link fails or becomes loose, it may cause a clunking noise from the vehicle, your handling may seem loose, or your vehicle may rock or lean more when turning or going around corners. This can be dangerous, especially in vehicles with a higher rollover risk like trucks and SUVs. If you notice that your vehicle seems to be less balanced when turning, it is a good idea to inspect the sway bar links and the rest of the suspension system for loose or damaged components. If you need to replace your sway bar links, check out our complete selection of stabilizer bar links and other suspension repair components at O'Reilly Auto Parts. We also carry complete sway bar kits and replacement stabilizer bar bushings for a complete repair that can help keep you driving safely. If you need more guidance, check out our video on how to replace sway bar links on most vehicles.