stabilizing bar

[mikec03]

I'm getting some "klunks" when I hit little road bumps in a 2002 legacy with 108K miles.  The struts seem Ok, they don't bounce.  The stabilizer bar links look Ok.  The bar bushings look OK too, but of course you can't see much of them.

 

So how would I tell if the bushings or lings were bad?  I don't see any cracks.  Are they supposed to be soft?

[1 Lucky Texan]

check bushings at the rear of the lower control arm.

[06SubLegTx]

I'm getting some "klunks" when I hit little road bumps in a 2002 legacy with 108K miles.  The struts seem Ok, they don't bounce.  The stabilizer bar links look Ok.  The bar bushings look OK too, but of course you can't see much of them.

 

So how would I tell if the bushings or lings were bad?  I don't see any cracks.  Are they supposed to be soft?

Check the strut mounts, both front and rear

[mikec03]

 

Check the strut mounts, both front and rear

 I did check the struts by giving the car a bounce test.  No problem.  How would I check the  mounts and for that matter, how would I check the bushings?  Every bushing seems to be intact and prettly hard.

[Fairtax4me]

It's the links.

They're a pain to test on the car.

 

I use a prybar to pry up and then down on the end of the sway bar right next to the link and watch very closely for the link to move. Even the tiniest amount of play in the link will cause it to make noise. Sometimes you won't actually find any play in the link until it's removed.

 

Be sure to check front and rear. If you have any doubts, disconnect the links and zip tie the sway bars up where they can't hit anything and drive the car without them. Just be prepared because it will lean more in turns.