LHS Sway Bar

My 1999 LHS, with 102K miles, has been developing kind of a soft
rattle/thump sound in the front end when driving on rough streets. I've
done some checking on this and found that likely causes are the
sway/stabilizer bar bushings and/or the bars' end links. I thought I
would change the links and the bushings, using aftermarket replacements.
The problem is that of the bushing size. Apparently there are two sizes
of bars, one about 25mm and the other about 27mm. I do not have a
measuring device that is that accurate, so could someone please post the
LHS sway bar size, along with any "nice to know" tips for this job?
Thanks,
Steve

 

The rattling noise is caused by the end links anyway. They're hard, and
that's how they're able to make a rattle.

 

The end links dont get hard, they just wear out. The sway bar bushings get
hard.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I disagree that it can't also be sway bar bushings. End links or worn
bushings either one can cause pretty much the same symptom - I know that
one first hand.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Normally the sway bar bushing noise is heard as you sway right to left. You
hear the bar clunking. The stabilizer link noise is heard as you are hitting
a bump or pot hole.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I'm surprised to read that since the sway bar pretty much puts sudden
and reversing-direction stresses (it's the reversing-direction stresses
that makes the clunking noises) on both parts under exactly the same
circumstances, i.e., the sway bar has to push hard against one to push
hard against the other. I'm not saying you're wrong - I'm just saying I
don't see how, under a given situation, one would be banged around
(clunking) and not the other.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Let me clarify the last sentence ("I'm just saying I don't see how,
under a given situation, one would be banged around (clunking) and not
the other."): By that I'm saying the stresses are there, and if either
or both parts (i.e., bushing or end link) are worn out, the opportunity
is there for the clunking noise to be present (due to whichever part is
worn out). What I'm trying to clarify in this post is that the stresses
will not cause noise if neither part is worn out, but if either part (or
both parts) is (are) worn out, you will get the clunking under the same
conditions.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

You are correct. If the sway bar bushings are far enough gone (and
I've seen them this far gone on my son's '87 Lebaron) the sway bar
just sort of rattles freely in the bracket.

 

My 2004 Chrysler mini-van developed a front end rattle over bumps. I changed
the sway bar bushings and the rattle went away. I then changed out the end
links (not as easy as it should be) just to cover my bases.

Richard.