Need help figuring out why my sway bar bushings are mangled

[RubyBlue3791]

I have a 2020 JLU and I had it lifted to 4" in order to put on 37 inch tires. I've been driving this for about 3 months now with no issues, but yesterday I took it on the trails for the first time. When I was in 4H and turned all the way left or right I would hear a clicking sound. I couldn't see anything rubbing. When I got back to the road I inspected the suspension around the front tires, which is where the clicking was coming from. I noticed that the bushings on my sway bar links were completely chewed up. Nothing on the trail was that difficult, just a couple of tight turns and some ditches to get through. Does anyone know how this could happen to basically brand new parts?
Any advise is greatly appreciated, not sure if I need to bring this back to the shop that did the lift or if this is an easy fix.
Thanks!
Nathan

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[Roky]

I have a 2020 JLU and I had it lifted to 4" in order to put on 37 inch tires. I've been driving this for about 3 months now with no issues, but yesterday I took it on the trails for the first time. When I was in 4H and turned all the way left or right I would hear a clicking sound. I couldn't see anything rubbing. When I got back to the road I inspected the suspension around the front tires, which is where the clicking was coming from. I noticed that the bushings on my sway bar links were completely chewed up. Nothing on the trail was that difficult, just a couple of tight turns and some ditches to get through. Does anyone know how this could happen to basically brand new parts?
Any advise is greatly appreciated, not sure if I need to bring this back to the shop that did the lift or if this is an easy fix.
Thanks!
Nathan

Did you leave them hooked on the sway bar when you disconnected ? Those don’t look like they’re designed to stay hooked the the Rubi disco. There’s a lot of misalignment that happens when flexing. My recommendation is to get some Rock Krawler no limits sway links. Here’s pic of them, and how much they misalign when flexed........

 

[RubyBlue3791]

Did you leave them hooked on the sway bar when you disconnected ? Those don’t look like they’re designed to stay hooked the the Rubi disco. There’s a lot of misalignment that happens when flexing. My recommendation is to get some Rock Krawler no limits sway links. Here’s pic of them, and how much they misalign when flexed........

Thanks Rocky, no one at the shop told me to disconnect them when on the trail, but now that I'm reading more about them maybe that was the right thing to do. They do say that they are "quick disconnect." I'll look into those Rock Krawler ones, seems like a better option.
Thanks again!

 

[DOOKEY]

If you don't have the electronic disconnect you need to quick disco your end links when you really flex your suspension or this happens every time.

 

[Roky]

Thanks Rocky, no one at the shop told me to disconnect them when on the trail, but now that I'm reading more about them maybe that was the right thing to do. They do say that they are "quick disconnect." I'll look into those Rock Krawler ones, seems like a better option.
Thanks again!

No problem......

 

[Headbarcode]

You mentioned nothing crazy, but there were tight turns. Is it possible that the tires were chewing on them at or near full lock? What is the offset of your wheels with those 37's?

 

[RubyBlue3791]

You mentioned nothing crazy, but there were tight turns. Is it possible that the tires were chewing on them at or near full lock? What is the offset of your wheels with those 37's?

I do have spacers on the tires, so I think the offsets are good. When I did a full turn and looked under there I didn't see anything rubbing.

I didn't unlock the sway bar, didn't think there was anything that extreme on the trail, but is it possible that at full extension it just put too much force on the rubber bushings and they burst?

 

[Roky]

I do have spacers on the tires, so I think the offsets are good. When I did a full turn and looked under there I didn't see anything rubbing.

I didn't unlock the sway bar, didn't think there was anything that extreme on the trail, but is it possible that at full extension it just put too much force on the rubber bushings and they burst?

That’s another plus with the rk links, if you don’t want to disconnect you don’t have to, they will move freely with the sway bar. Also with these, when you use the elect disco, there’s essentially no difference ( 1/4” in my test) in droop between hooked to the sway bar and unhooked.

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