"Bent" Aftermarket Sway Bar End-Links

[IPvFletch]

It seems many of the aftermarket sway bar end-links in the various lift kits are crooked/bent... at least in front...

Some examples:

Rough Country

Rubicon Express

Even Mopar's are bent

Yet several others are not....

MetalCloak Game Changer:

Superlift

Most importantly, I ask because I am looking at Quick Discos, and they are straight... although they almost look like they have integrated spacers on one end...

Rock Krawler

JKS

Rubicon Express

None of the lifts should cause any kind of axle width change nor track bar core change, nor the axle being more offset one-way (>> adjustable track bars). Anyways, the bends are opposite, so it is as if the mounts changed making them wider. But they all install in the same places for the most part. JKS has you remove a tab but it's only to run a bolt more easily. RK's mounts on a bracket directly above, but in the same spot horizontally, again because of the bolt situation.

Any ideas????

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[IPvFletch]

Anyone know? I already ordered my kit - so too late - but I am still quite curious...

 

[jruss]

The enlinks that are not bent wil have the rubber side of the joint mount slightly loaded at all times. They don’t change the the position of the sway bar left to right.
A couple of those kits do have adjustable track bars. That allows you to center the axle under the chassis.
Track width or axle width will not change with any kit unless it comes with replacement axles. Track width will change by changing the wheels if they are not the same exact spec as factory wheel (rim width and back spacing).
Bringing it all back around to sway bars, the straight ones will probably wear the fixed bushings faster if they were made of the exact same material as the angled ones, but all of those are made of different materials.
In my experience you can expect durability of the sway bar joints to go in this order from most to least durable.
Metal cloak
Mopar
Rubicon express non quick disco
Jks/ rubicon express quick disco
Rough country
Rock krawler
Ymmv ....have fun

 

[IPvFletch]

The enlinks that are not bent wil have the rubber side of the joint mount slightly loaded at all times. They don’t change the the position of the sway bar left to right.
A couple of those kits do have adjustable track bars. That allows you to center the axle under the chassis.
Track width or axle width will not change with any kit unless it comes with replacement axles. Track width will change by changing the wheels if they are not the same exact spec as factory wheel (rim width and back spacing).
Bringing it all back around to sway bars, the straight ones will probably wear the fixed bushings faster if they were made of the exact same material as the angled ones, but all of those are made of different materials.
In my experience you can expect durability of the sway bar joints to go in this order from most to least durable.
Metal cloak
Mopar
Rubicon express non quick disco
Jks/ rubicon express quick disco
Rough country
Rock krawler
Ymmv ....have fun

Very good info there, Jruss, thank you. I follow what you're saying. I saw some straight end-links also had angled ends, to alleviate that load probably. I would think spacers could also fix this. I mean, if a vendor knew they were going to have bushing being more loaded constantly, they could have offset it with a spacer, right? Maybe that makes the whole system less rigid though.

 

[bikenutty]

replaced the horrible R.E. kit links with these (supplied by R.E. no charge). the drivers side link seems to suffer badly without offset.

$$

 

[IPvFletch]

Not super easy, but I got the RK QDs installed... They were straight links, but lined up perfectly in the end..

Details: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-your-jeep-jl-today.3033/page-703#post-495164

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