ARB sway bar end link broken (second time)

[RedwoodMist]

I have a 2023 JLUR with an ARB OME BP-51 suspension kit installed. I went with ARB's recommendation and ordered the kit with the heavy duty springs (got a an ARB Bondi full width front bumper with a Warn winch and 37x12.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers). A year after I had it installed, the driver side sway bar end link was broken at the bottom end. I had done light off roading for a few times and that was months before the link broke. ARB sent me a pair of new end links. Now a year after the replacements were installed, the driver side link is broken again, in exactly the same place. Last time I did wheeling was about 6 months ago. It's my daily driver otherwise. I'm a bit disappointed and surprised that this keeps happening. Could it have anything to do with the suspension kit ending up giving a 3.5" of a lift in the front and 2-3/4" in the rear as opposed to the 2.5" spec ? Not sure if the ARB part is weakly designed and if I should look at installing a more beefy product or if there is some geometry problem with my front end. Any ideas are appreciated.

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[Roky]

I have a 2023 JLUR with an ARB OME BP-51 suspension kit installed. I went with ARB's recommendation and ordered the kit with the heavy duty springs (got a an ARB Bondi full width front bumper with a Warn winch and 37x12.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers). A year after I had it installed, the driver side sway bar end link was broken at the bottom end. I had done light off roading for a few times and that was months before the link broke. ARB sent me a pair of new end links. Now a year after the replacements were installed, the driver side link is broken again, in exactly the same place. Last time I did wheeling was about 6 months ago. It's my daily driver otherwise. I'm a bit disappointed and surprised that this keeps happening. Could it have anything to do with the suspension kit ending up giving a 3.5" of a lift in the front and 2-3/4" in the rear as opposed to the 2.5" spec ? Not sure if the ARB part is weakly designed and if I should look at installing a more beefy product or if there is some geometry problem with my front end. Any ideas are appreciated.

Do you use the electronic disconnect when you’re off-roading ?

 

[Terrymo]

I forgot to use the electronic disconnect once and did this on an obstacle called frame twister.

 

[RedwoodMist]

Do you use the electronic disconnect when you’re off-roading ?

I almost always do disconnect. May have forgotten for a short while in a few instances.

 

[Roky]

I almost always do disconnect. May have forgotten for a short while in a few instances.

The Rubi has quite a bit of misalignment when it’s articulating since the link stays attached when you’re disconnected….I found that the best swaybar links for the Rubi is a dbl heim style link…..

Those links you have are cheaply made and from the looks of your pics the bottom is super tight, and doesn’t even look like it allows any movement at all….I think it probably actually bends back and forth ever so slightly that it eventually snaps…..kinda like when you bend a wire back and forth till it eventually breaks……..

Here’s a few dbl heim style links, and a couple pics of how much misalignment that occurs with the Rubi electro disconnect…….

https://rockkrawler.com/jl-jt-rubic...XCC6Kh0CBHft9_Lq0MiNsX2po8J5ldQP927cP1kz9yjHk

https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-...Fs9yNu4vntuJoO99nkFR9ACrpyKQGCxvDcoZFGkhjdJSt

https://iconvehicledynamics.com/acc...47X_4sXhcIibrIJ1z2p5h0L0OwqSWSFYNbpto6xro_ADf

https://evomfg.com/products/front-h...A8tsLNvJpoDAIBbjoXZe0O5F9qs4WRUi1wLml-DBJceDI

 

[RedwoodMist]

Thank you very much @Roky for the links. You are right, the bottom has no flex at all. I'm quite disappointed that these are ARB's own parts they include in their expensive Wrangler JL specific lift kit. I will double check my net lift in the front (it's 3.5" according to my notes) to decide on the best link length and go with one of these heavy duty Heim style ones.

 

[Roky]

Thank you very much @Roky for the links. You are right, the bottom has no flex at all. I'm quite disappointed that these are ARB's own parts they include in their expensive Wrangler JL specific lift kit. I will double check my net lift in the front (it's 3.5" according to my notes) to decide on the best link length and go with one of these heavy duty Heim style ones.

Your welcome , if you have any questions, reach out…

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