Sway Bar End Links

[tonywy]

What is anybody doing with the end links after cutting them. Are we using a jam nut or tack weld...?

[edwardb]

You're talking about these, right? Cut down per the instructions there won't be any threads showing. So no jam nuts. I wouldn't advise welding them. I used some blue Loctite in mine. But after posting, several forum members said they should be left loose to pivot if needed. Regardless, with both ends anchored, they're not going to un-thread themselves.

[JohnK]

I agree - there's no way they're going to unthread themselves once installed. I don't know if this is the right answer or not, but here's what I did. The front links are oriented 90 degrees to each other and seemed to me that they should be able to pivot a little bit so I put a little anti-seize on those threads. The rears, on the other hand, are oriented in line with each other and I thought it best they keep that alignment so I put some red loctite on those. In the end, I don't think it's super-critical. You could just as well put nothing on them and they would likely be fine.

[CraigS]

Realizing it would take a very long time I still don't like missing a jam nut. I once worked on a car that had loose steering feel. Turns out the alignment that had been done a year prior had forgotten to tighten the tie rod jam nut. The reason it felt loose was that the threads on the tie rod and inner tierod were nearly gone and I could change it's length by over 1/2 inch just pulling or pushing the tire. The extra length that a jam nut would require can be reduced by getting thin nuts from McMasterCarr. I don't see that as being necessary though. Also, if you ever get into corner weight checking, you will find that is done w/ swaybar link disconnected. Once all the adjustments are done the link length is adjusted so it can be connected w/o putting any pre-load into the swaybar.