{"id":17425,"date":"2011-10-01T23:55:50","date_gmt":"2011-10-02T06:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/?p=17425"},"modified":"2013-02-17T18:04:16","modified_gmt":"2013-02-18T01:04:16","slug":"sway-bar-links","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fsway-bar-links%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F09%2FHow-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg&amp;description=Daily+Driver+Garage%3A+Front+Suspension+Fix\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[17425]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" data-text=\"Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix\" data-desc=\"How to Change Sway Bar Links in a 2002 Ford Focus My friend had been experiencing a squeeking sound from her front suspension \u2013 mainly when she was making a turn. A mechanic she frequents suggested it was the sway bar linkages that were causing this squeek and quoted her a $47 per linkage plus\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><h3>How to Change Sway Bar Links in a 2002 Ford Focus<\/h3>\n<p>My friend had been experiencing a squeeking sound from her front suspension \u2013 mainly when she was making a turn. A mechanic she frequents suggested it was the sway bar linkages that were causing this squeek and quoted her a $47 per linkage plus whatever labor charges were incurred. Knowing I was out of work and could use a buck, she asked me if I could do the job for her instead. I looked up the linkage on a Ford Focus and saw that it was something I could handle \u2013 so to the garage I went! (I also had an exciting time finding the air filter,<a title=\"Daily Driver Garage: Changing an Air Filter\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/how-to-change-air-filter\/\"> read about that here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>Checking up on Ford Focus Front Suspension Linkages online, I found them to cost anywhere between about $12 and $20 per part. I ended up getting the parts from Autozone, they cost me $12.99 a piece, and were in stock at the nearest store. Already, this saved my friend $68.02 in parts.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[17425]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17426\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"How To Replace Sway Bar Linkage 2002 Ford Focus\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg\" border=\"2\" alt=\"sway bar linkage, how to change sway bar linkage, squeek while turning 2002 Ford Focus, 2002 Ford Focus suspension, front suspension Ford Focus\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" width=\"575\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus-150x79.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/How-To-Replace-Sway-Bar-Linkage-2002-Ford-Focus-575x304.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Step-by-Step How To Change Sway Bar Linkages<\/p>\n<p>1. \u00a0The first thing to do of course is jack up the car. Since I don&#8217;t usually work on modern cars, this proved to be more of a challenge for me then jacking up my 1955 Studebaker. After looking over the undercarriage, I was able to find a solid piece in the center of the front behind the engine area to jack it from.<\/p>\n<p>2. This job will be much easier if you remove the front tires. You won\u2019t be wasting time \u2013 you\u2019ll be saving it, believe me.<\/p>\n<p>3. The sway bar linkages should be very easy to see, sitting just behind the springs. Because these are only supporting and not actually making up the suspension \u2013 you don\u2019t need to worry about the parts being held under tension and can simply unbolt the linkage part.<\/p>\n<p>The sway bar linkage is held on by two bolts. I was a little worried that my friend\u2019s 9 year old car that had lived in salty-roaded Michigan for a few years would have rusted-tight bolts. Wondering if I was going to have to make a trip out for brake-cleen or worse yet to borrow a torch to loosen them, I decided to try it first. With a little persistence and using a longer-handled socket wrench to provide more leverage, I was in business and the bolts were off.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17427\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Squeeking Suspension Sway Bar Ball Joint 2002 Ford Focus\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Squeeking-Suspension-Sway-Bar-Ball-Joint-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg\" border=\"2\" alt=\"sway bar linkage, how to change sway bar linkage, squeek while turning 2002 Ford Focus, 2002 Ford Focus suspension, front suspension Ford Focus\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" width=\"575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Squeeking-Suspension-Sway-Bar-Ball-Joint-2002-Ford-Focus.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Squeeking-Suspension-Sway-Bar-Ball-Joint-2002-Ford-Focus-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Squeeking-Suspension-Sway-Bar-Ball-Joint-2002-Ford-Focus-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Squeeking-Suspension-Sway-Bar-Ball-Joint-2002-Ford-Focus-575x363.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>4. I replaced the driver\u2019s side first and was very surprised to feel the difference in comparing the old part with the new. It was clear that the new part was superior. In researching this topic on Ford Forums before starting the job, I learned that many Ford Focus have the same problem with their car\u2019s suspension. The original part is inherently weak \u2013 so a swap is a good idea! When I got over to the second linkage on the passenger side, I was amazed to find that on one side the ball was completely disconnected from the joint and so the whole part had just been dangling around and not doing her suspension a bit of good!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[17425]\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17428\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Sway Bar Linkage Broken Ford Focus 2002\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002.jpg\" border=\"2\" alt=\"sway bar linkage, how to change sway bar linkage, squeek while turning 2002 Ford Focus, 2002 Ford Focus suspension, front suspension Ford Focus\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" width=\"575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Sway-Bar-Linkage-Broken-Ford-Focus-2002-575x363.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although the old sway bar didn\u2019t have grease fittings, the new ones did. Each end has a small hole, which the zerk fittings provided in the kit need to be screwed into. *Tip: I wasn\u2019t sure what was up with these holes initially because they weren\u2019t threaded. The zerk fittings will thread themselves as you screw them into the holes. Because I wasn\u2019t sure, I waited until I had already put the sway bar linkages onto the car to put the zerk fittings on\u2026don\u2019t do this\u2026stuff gets in the way! Put the zerk fittings into the holes before placing the new linkages in the car.*<\/p>\n<p>Taking out the old ones, I placed the new sway bar linkages in and bolted them on using the new bolts provided for in the new sway bar linkage kit.<\/p>\n<p>This job was super easy \u2013 a few bolts and that\u2019s it. Highly recommended that if you like to spend some time in the garage \u2013 you do this at home. On parts alone I saved my friend $68.02, not to mention labor. She reports that although the squeek isn\u2019t completely gone \u2013 it\u2019s significantly less and she can feel that the car handles better when she drives.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fsway-bar-links%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=Daily+Driver+Garage%3A+Front+Suspension+Fix\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/sway-bar-links\/\" data-text=\"Daily Driver Garage: Front Suspension Fix\" data-desc=\"How to Change Sway Bar Links in a 2002 Ford Focus My friend had been experiencing a squeeking sound from her front suspension \u2013 mainly when she was making a turn. A mechanic she frequents suggested it was the sway bar linkages that were causing this squeek and quoted her a $47 per linkage plus\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email How to Change Sway Bar Links in a 2002 Ford Focus My friend had been experiencing a squeeking sound from her front suspension \u2013 mainly when she was making a turn. A mechanic she frequents suggested it was the sway bar linkages that were causing this squeek and quoted her a $47 per linkage [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[1815],"tags":[1619,544,1618],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17425"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17425"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17498,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17425\/revisions\/17498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}