Swaybar Creaking Noise

[Scott Brookes]

I have had had the EE Swaybar on for about a year. I started to get a creaking noise in the back a few weeks ago. I researched this website and found it could be the swaybar links, leaf springs and possibly a couple other things needing a ggod grease job. So, I take it to the place where they installed the swaybar last year and explain my situation. They check it out and put some "urethane lubricant" on the end links of the swaybar (saying that is best because the end links are urethane etc). The noise is gone for about a week but then it comes back. So I call a local Ford dealer and brought it in for a check today (I'm only at 25K so still under warranty). I don't mention that I put the EE swaybar on it; just that I had it lubed a week ago and the noise came back, etc. So I leave it and when they call me they say that the noise is the swaybar end links and that Ford has actually issued a TSB about it and that they will replace the end links with new ones. So I am supposed to go back in next week and get the new end links put on. (They greased them today and they are fine.) So now I am wondering if the end links from Ford they are planning to install next week will work for the EE Swaybar. Any clarification or feedback on this would be most appreciated. I'll hang up and take my answer off the air. Thanks.

 

[EddieS'04]

My swaybar squek was the bushings at the axle housing...I intsalled the grease fittings so I can grease it anytime it needs...I have an '04 st...I think it has the upgraded end liinks, I hope....

 

[Todd Cloutier]

Todd Z makes greaseable rear sway bar brackets. All you have to do is drill a small hole in the urethane bushing and install the greaseable brakets.

 

[Todd Z]

I took my end links out, Pulled them apart lubed them with super lube and re installed, No noise for about 10K miles now...

Todd Z

 

[Tom Schindler]

To be on the safe side, I would remove the EE bar. If they get friskey and decide to replace the bushings that hold the bar to the axle, they will know the bar is not stock. They would immediatly deny your claim. You would then have a choice. But the endlinks and pay them to replace them or buy the endlinks and take them elsewhere to install. Pulling the bar will get the endlinks for free. Your choice.



I am replacing the endlinks on my Trac. The replacement endlinks are better then the ones I had. Actually, I am replacing all my hardware in the back. (My brother lost mine...what a retard )



I think I will put grease fittings on my bushings.



Come spring time, my brother and I are going to install his high-performance endlinks he made. We need to make some bushings to complete the endlink and it is just too darn cold to do it now.





Tom

 

[Scott Brookes]

It sounds like the Ford bushings will not fit the EE sway bar diameter. Is that correct? If so, what about this approach? I ask them only to replace the end links and just to grease the axle bushings with some Marine grease I provide them? Think they would do that? Do you think that there is anything wrong with the actual poly bushings themselves or is it just a case of bad grease job? I am also thinking of calling Explorer Express to get their take on the sitaution. What do you think?

 

[Tom Schindler]

There are 2 bushings. Those are the ones that hold the bar to the axle. Since the EE bar is larger then then stock bar, the bushing inside diameter, is larger then the OE bar.



The end links are the same. It is a direct fit.



Here is how warranty work goes.



Your MAF sensor fails. The dealer investigates the problem. There is a K&N filter in the air box and the sensor is covered in oil from the filter.



Should Ford be responsible for the repair. If there would have been a paper filter in the airbox, there would not be any oil on the MAF sensor. Without oil on the MAF sensor, it would be working now.



You pay for the repair.



Lets use the same scenero as above, but instead of the MAF sensor going out, your starter fails. Starter fixed, no questions asked.



Now lets look at the sway bar. The bar is stiffer then the stock bar. Could the reason the endlinks failed is because of the extra stress from the stiffer bar? While I personally feel the answer to be no, the technition can still say that is the cause and the dealer can deny warranty work.



Will they replace the axle/swaybar bushings? Odds are, they won't. IMO, it is not worth the chance.



The bar is not hard at all to change. You can do it. I have faith in you.





Tom