Symptoms Of Bad Stabilizer Bar Bushings[How to Check and Fixes]

A vital but hidden component in your vehicle’s suspension system is the stabilizer bar (also called sway bar). It lies underneath your car, fixed to both sides of the suspension system. This component is designed to prevent your vehicle from rolling when making turns. Still, since it is connected to your suspension system, it also functions as a lever arm to help reduce noise while driving and absorb the impact of road bumps so you can have a very comfortable drive. Experiencing an opposite effect can reflect symptoms of bad stabilizer bar bushings.

Your sway bar is fixed to your chassis and connected to other suspension systems with the use of bushings and brackets. When the stabilizer bar bushings are regularly serviced and maintained, they can effectively function for an extended period. But when they begin to deteriorate, you might start to experience warning signs from squeaky noises to severe handling and steering problems, which puts your vehicle at risk.

Below is information that will enlighten you on the signs of a lousy stabilizer bushing and how you can check and fix this fault quickly. We also stuffed this article with a lot of other relevant information you should know.

Symptoms Of Bad Stabilizer Bushings

Being aware of the signs of bad bar bushing and other faulty components in a vehicle system is essential to drivers. You get to not only reduce the cost of repairs but also protects your vehicle from crashing. Please take note of the following symptoms:

Squeaky noises from under your vehicle

When your sway bar bushing squeak from beneath your vehicle, it is one of the vital signs that depicts your bar stabilizer bushings that are beginning to wear out. However, noises can occur due to other faulty components, which can also be clunking or rattling. Not all defective components produce the same type of noise; it varies. However, most mechanics use squeaky noises to diagnose faulty sway bar bushings.

You will most likely hear sway bar noise when turning your steering wheels, driving over a rough road, or even when you enter a driveway. This noise happens when your bar bushings are not adequately lubricated, increasing friction between the meeting parts. It would help if you lubricated the bushings as soon as possible, especially when you notice this noise comes from your feet area while driving.

Rattling or clunking noise

Your bar bushings are fixed under your vehicle. When they begin to wear or become severely damaged, your stabilizer bar will be unstable and start to shake while you drive, producing a clunking or rattling noise. This noise gets louder when you make turns or each time you drive over a bump. You will notice the noise around your vehicle’s front area, especially when it comes to your driver’s floor area. Noises from your vehicle mean something in your vehicle’s system is not in place, so you need to immediately check it out.

It is best to drive home or tow your vehicle to the nearest mechanic shop when observing this type of noise. If you continue using a faulty bar stabilizer bushing, your entire bar stabilizer can drop, and this will incur a high expense on repairs. We always advise our customers to check for the cause of the noise and get it fixed.

Slow response in vehicle handling

If you frequently use your vehicle, you should be familiar with the vehicle’s handling and operation when driving on the road. One way to determine if you have a problem with your stabilizer bar bushings is when you start noticing your vehicle’s handling becomes slow or sluggish to respond, most especially when you steer your wheels while driving.

When you observe your vehicle becomes unstable when navigating the wheels into a corner, it’s a sign that your bushings are faulty, and they need to be changed as soon as possible. You need to know that when your vehicle’s stabilizer bar bushings begin to wear out, they deteriorate fast. So ignoring any of the symptoms can lead to several adverse effects, which is very dangerous. This is one of those faults you should pay keen attention to.

When you notice any difference in your vehicle’s handling, make sure you check for the cause. If you cannot detect the actual cause, get your car to the mechanic’s shop to perform a diagnosis on your vehicle.

Poor vehicle stability while accelerating

When your stabilizer bar bushings are damaged, you will start to notice vehicle body roll while accelerating. Your vehicle will start to wobble any time you attempt to drive over 25mph. A bad stabilizer bar bushing will cause your sway bar to shake, leading to instability of your vehicle.

Many drivers experience this once in a while, and most of them are not sure of the cause. Well! Now you know a probable cause.

Bad sway bar bushings cause vibrations when driving. Although this effect might not be noticed when driving at a low speed.

How Do I Check Stabilizer Bar Bushings?

We will show you a simple process of checking your sway bar bushings. You need to be cautious with this process; we advise that you always put on your protective gear. Get your tools in hand also; your tools should always be at arm’s length for easy reach.

You have to gain access to your vehicle’s sway bar bushings to inspect it. They are fixed above the undercarriage, so you need to take this off to reach your bushings. To do this, you will have to raise your vehicle with either a car lift or jack. Ensure you take the appropriate measures in doing this. Correctly place the jack, and jack stands on a solid surface before use. For car lifts, make sure you place the lift’s adaptors at the recommended positions in your vehicle.

You need to know that both sides of your vehicle’s suspension system have to be equal to enable you properly check the bar bushings. Please do not have one side of your car lifted; this would overload your stabilizer bar, which is not good. Most people prefer using car lifts for this process. However, using a jack is another good option.

Once you have been able to get to your sway bar bushings, the rest process can be completed in a few minutes.

You need to start with one side. Grab your pry bar or screwdriver and use it to wedge on a sub-frame or solid frame near the bar bushings and apply effort on your tool. Watch the bar bushing around your sway bar for any movement; this is very important. You are supposed to observe its strain while applying pressure with your tool. The bushing is not meant to shake or move while doing this.

Examine the bar bushing for any damage; wear, or tear. If there is wear, you might see an oval-like crack on its surface, with an apparent space at the bottom or top position where your sway bar went through the bushing.

If you also notice any suspension noise or noticeable deflection under applied load, then you should change your bar bushings immediately. Inspecting your sway bar bushings will also tell you what causes a sway bar to go bad.