Sway bar link popped off

[drock317]

Went off-road for the first time. It wasn't extreme but it was more than just some open fire roads. Unfortunately my driver side end link popped off. Anyone know the Mopar part numbers for these? It's an unlimited Sahara. Debating on grabbing some Rubi take offs and swapping out the whole setup and then later adding a RC 2.5" spacer lift, but I'm not ready to upgrade the 32" tires I got as they're doing so well and I wanna rack up the miles on em first so the spacer lift will come later.

Also took a nice hit on the driver rear. Hopin the track bar comes out without too much drama.

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[CypressWrangler]

Did any of your front tires ever come off the ground? Wondering how much it took to do that. I think you are teaching us all an important lesson....carry and 18mm socket/ratchet and an 18mm wrench.

 

[American Jeeper]

That’s an odd one for sure. Interested to hear more on how it happened. I am not sure on the part number, but depending on the circumstances, I might take it up with the dealer. One one hand they could document if it is a design flaw, on the other hand if they are disagreeable they could challenge future warranty work.

 

[drock317]

I did go through one section where I teetered and then pulled a pretty good little three wheel action. But my front driver was always on the ground and passenger wheel was tucked. So it was front passenger that was hanging and rear driver. Don't remember the front driver ever being in a situation of really articulating super hard.

However this was my first time ever driving off road in general so I was a kid in the candy store so I don't remember all the major sections or how much it might have flexed. What's weird is that there was another JL in front of me and we both had super loud pops while we were driving in a creek bed and had water half way up the wheels.. and he also had his link pop like that. So we're not sure if it was this or both hit a big rock and found a skid plate. But it was loud and echo'd and the 10 jeeps in the group all heard it and we were middle and back of the pack.

 

[drock317]

Here are a handful of pictures from the Day. We were at an off road park called Badlands in Indiana. Had a good mixture of terrain.

 

[drock317]

Need to confirm with parts center at dealership but this looks like the part number for the driver link.

https://www.mymoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-stabilizer-link-68293033ab

 

[Hockyman]

I have the RC 2.5" spacer lift and I had the same thing happen to me.

But I definitely got some air on the front.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

68293033AB

Could you just reinstall it and capture it with a large washer on the nut side?

How is the weld quality on the track bar mount? Noticed a large inspection mark in your picture but I can’t really see the weld.

 

[IPvFletch]

I really don't see how it could come off, but I guess that is just a rubber bushing spacer on the left there. Looks like Hockeyman's is missing altogether. Would have to be some mad lateral pressure to pop that off like that. I wouldn't think excessive or even harsh droop would cause that w/out bending the mounting tab. Maybe Jeep should have put a mounting tab on both sides, like on the passenger side. Or maybe it's supposed to be able to pop off to be more forgiving. Crazy!!!

Looks like a fun trail though!!

 

[JeepJamison]

I just had the same thing happen to me. I’m running the 3.5 in Rancho sport suspension. I just put these sway bar links on. They were brand new

 

[BlueJL]

I killed 3 out if your on a trail. I have a 4" superlift and 37s. The front blew out the bushings driver's rear bent. Most of the trail was some fairly wash boarded sand. My feeling is that the sway bar links are seriously under engineered.

 

[Maverick909]

i might have a stock sway bar link laying in my garage. ill check it out when i get off work this evening.. but i gotta admit. i have just take off rubicon suspension with my stock sport sway bar setup and have never had the link fall off or bend. ( note i have never disconnected the sway bar at all) ive done plenty of jeep waving with my front wheels and never seen that happen. id be asking the dealer about it see if they cover it. if not and i have the part ill sell it to you

 

[aldo98229]

I’m not clear from the OP’s photos what broke: the swaybar link, or the mounting bracket...?

Also, is it me or this photo shows his link itself slightly bent —towards top of photo. I’d think it’d take a major blow to bend a link between two parts that articulate with one another —i.e., the swaybar & the axle.

 

[JIMBOX]

It's OBVIOUS, the OUTSIDE washer is way to small to secure the link from LATERAL MOVEMENT !

W.E.

JIMBO

 

[OversandJL]

If you lifted and didn't address your trackbars I'm sure its putting added strain since the axles are out of line. Look at something with a more flexible link like Clayton Off Road or Rock Krawler etc. Heres mine with Clayton links.

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