Flipped sway bar damaged lateral links

Pyrex · 01-23-2006, 03:50 PM

My car is completely stock. The other day I noticed my sway bar had flipped. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the sway bar end links but wouldn't replace the lateral links even though they were damaged by the sway bar end links. The damage isn't very bad, just some gouges from where the sway bar end links rubbed on the lateral links (my car is an 05 so the lateral links are aluminum). I was pissed that they wouldn't replace the lateral links since it was a warranty repair.

Do you think the dealer is justified in not replacing the lateral links or do you think I should call SOA and complain?

**Nivek** · 01-23-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrex

My car is completely stock. The other day I noticed my sway bar had flipped. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the sway bar end links but wouldn't replace the lateral links even though they were damaged by the sway bar end links. The damage isn't very bad, just some gouges from where the sway bar end links rubbed on the lateral links (my car is an 05 so the lateral links are aluminum). I was pissed that they wouldn't replace the lateral links since it was a warranty repair.

Do you think the dealer is justified in not replacing the lateral links or do you think I should call SOA and complain?

If the damage is just cosmetic, then they were justified in not replacing the lateral links. If the lateral links were bent or damaged structurally, then I would apply some pressure on the dealership. Can you take some photographs?

STI_VT · 01-23-2006, 04:17 PM

At least you got your dealer to replace your endlinks. When mine broke the dealer told me that they werent stock and would not replace them because they thought they were aftermarket, and they didnt have any in stock to compare them to. I have made it a point to never go back there.

Pyrex · 01-23-2006, 04:35 PM

Here are the pics:

I think the damage is just cosmetic. They don't look very bad and the dealer said they aren't structurally damaged or bent.

Do you think the gouges make the links weaker? I know I'm anal...

***wdb*** · 01-24-2006, 06:51 AM

^^^ Agreed

krees23 · 01-24-2006, 07:40 AM

What usually is the cause of the sway bar flipping? I've heard about this before, is this common?

STImachine · 01-24-2006, 07:42 AM

Same thing happened to me when my endlinks snapped in half!!!!

Pyrex · 01-24-2006, 03:58 PM

Have any of you had a dealer replace the lateral links under warranty because of a flipped sway bar?

'05 STi · 01-24-2006, 05:34 PM

WTF?! I've never heard of a swaybar flipping. More info, please!

OneWay · 01-24-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

It is caused by the swaybar link being too short or the end of the swaybar being too short... this causes the endlink/swaybar combo to "straighten out" when the suspension is at full droop and especially when just one wheel is off the ground. Once the joint is straight, it's down to luck if it flips or goes back to normal when it comes back down.

ARGH!!

now something else I gotta check for and worry about everytime I change my wheels/tires for an Autox or track event.

I knew about the sway bar flipping but I had only heard of it happening if the suspension was allowed to hang when changing the Sway bars out.

'05 STi · 01-24-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

FWIW, the swaybar flipping issue occurs most commonly when using the stock endlinks with an adjustable bar set on its stiffest setting. If you set the bar on the softer settings, it lengthens that "joint" and keeps it from straigtening out.

Also, it strikes me that you might be more likely to see it also if you can somehow get one rear wheel off the ground and the other in slight jounce. This would pull the end of the swaybar that's off the ground a little more and straighten that joint to cause a flip.

I am not 100% on this, but looking at the stock setup on my 06, it doesn't look like there's any way it could possibly happen. They must have lengthened the endlinks a bit.

Cool. Then I have nothing to worry about. I'm running the stock suspension.

Pyrex · 01-24-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '05 STi

Cool. Then I have nothing to worry about. I'm running the stock suspension.

My suspension is completely stock and has never been modified. I don't beat on my car either. The only way I think it could have happened is going into my driveway. If I come at it at the wrong angle the rear tire will lift off the ground.

'05 STi · 01-24-2006, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrex

My suspension is completely stock and has never been modified. I don't beat on my car either. The only way I think it could have happened is going into my driveway. If I come at it at the wrong angle the rear tire will lift off the ground.

That still sounds strange. I would think that Subaru would have noticed this problem when developing the car. Is this a common problem that I should have the car brought into service for and looked at?

Pyrex · 01-25-2006, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '05 STi

That still sounds strange. I would think that Subaru would have noticed this problem when developing the car. Is this a common problem that I should have the car brought into service for and looked at?

Not sure if I would call it a common problem but I have heard of a few people with stock cars that this has happened to. If the sway bar has been swapped for a stiffer one without upgraded end links it seems much more common (especially on the stiffest setting as nhluhr pointed out). There is nothing to bring it to the shop for unless your bar is flipped.

I live in Flagstaff, we don't have the best roads up here and there are a lot of steep driveways and parking lots. I also swap tires and rims at least once a month, but I'm very careful when jacking up the car so I don't think I did it changing tires.

'05 STi · 01-25-2006, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrex

Not sure if I would call it a common problem but I have heard of a few people with stock cars that this has happened to. If the sway bar has been swapped for a stiffer one without upgraded end links it seems much more common (especially on the stiffest setting as nhluhr pointed out). There is nothing to bring it to the shop for unless your bar is flipped.

I live in Flagstaff, we don't have the best roads up here and there are a lot of steep driveways and parking lots. I also swap tires and rims at least once a month, but I'm very careful when jacking up the car so I don't think I did it changing tires.

How can I tell if the swaybar has flipped? I don't make habit of getting under my car and crawling around a whole lot.

01-23-2006, 03:50 PM	#1
Pyrex Junior STI Driver Car: 05 WRX STi CGM/Slver Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 159 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Flipped sway bar damaged lateral links My car is completely stock. The other day I noticed my sway bar had flipped. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the sway bar end links but wouldn't replace the lateral links even though they were damaged by the sway bar end links. The damage isn't very bad, just some gouges from where the sway bar end links rubbed on the lateral links (my car is an 05 so the lateral links are aluminum). I was pissed that they wouldn't replace the lateral links since it was a warranty repair. Do you think the dealer is justified in not replacing the lateral links or do you think I should call SOA and complain? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

01-23-2006, 04:17 PM	#3
STI_VT STI Driver Car: 04 WRX STI Location: St. Albans, VT Posts: 270 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	At least you got your dealer to replace your endlinks. When mine broke the dealer told me that they werent stock and would not replace them because they thought they were aftermarket, and they didnt have any in stock to compare them to. I have made it a point to never go back there.

01-23-2006, 04:35 PM	#4
Pyrex Junior STI Driver Car: 05 WRX STi CGM/Slver Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 159 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Here are the pics: I think the damage is just cosmetic. They don't look very bad and the dealer said they aren't structurally damaged or bent. Do you think the gouges make the links weaker? I know I'm anal...

01-24-2006, 06:51 AM	#5
*wdb* dances with roads Car: 2005 CGM STi Posts: 5,066 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	^^^ Agreed

01-24-2006, 07:40 AM	#6
krees23 Senior STI Driver Car: 2005 Subaru STi Fav Mod: Cobb Swaybars and Kartboy Endlinks Location: Minnesota Posts: 351 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	What usually is the cause of the sway bar flipping? I've heard about this before, is this common?

01-24-2006, 07:42 AM	#7
STImachine STI Driver Car: 05 Subaru WRX STI Fav Mod: Spec C roof vent Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 216 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Same thing happened to me when my endlinks snapped in half!!!!

01-24-2006, 03:58 PM	#8
Pyrex Junior STI Driver Car: 05 WRX STi CGM/Slver Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 159 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Have any of you had a dealer replace the lateral links under warranty because of a flipped sway bar?

01-24-2006, 05:34 PM	#9
'05 STi Banned Car: '05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Anything that enables me to go faster! Location: Maryland Posts: 839 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	WTF?! I've never heard of a swaybar flipping. More info, please!