How much sway bar link angle is too much?

[Rochev]

2017 Pathfinder. Old links were straight top and bottom. I got beefy "off-road" ones but for some reason the bushings are pivoted almost full turn, and when I turned the wheels, they started binding depending on the direction because the bushings couldn't twist anymore. This is the only way they could be installed of course, and it drives fine. They are the same length as the old.

Should I be concerned over this? I've never seen them twisted like that with the wheels straight.

 

[Astro14]

Yeah, yours aren’t right. Is it possible they should’ve been installed in the opposite direction? That is, they’re upside down as installed? It looks as though the ball ends are not aligned with each other. They’re angled to each other. So, inverting them allows the angles to work better and center them up..

Are they bolted to struts? The Pathfinder has a strut suspension?

 

[Rochev]

They are bolted to the struts. I flipped them but there wasn't a difference, they were still uneven.

 

[spasm3]

They look a bit too short to me. If the old ones are straight and the new ones have angle, it seems the new one would need to be a bit longer than the original to account for the angle.

What brand are they?

 

[Rochev]

They really do look too short but they line up with the original, it's just the poor photos I took. They are Mevotech, I've never had issues with them before. I also need sway bar bushings, but I doubt the actual sway bar is misaligned after changing the links. The bushings are twisted like the sway bar is too far back or forward. Head scratcher for sure.

 

[Astro14]

Mevotech you say? Not the best reputation…

 

[eljefino]

I'm seeing different part numbers for front left and right. Did ya switch 'em around?

 

[Rochev]

I'm seeing different part numbers for front left and right. Did ya switch 'em around?

Whoa didn't notice that. They are definitely identical though, and no markings on the packaging. I can't find a difference in the original ones either. I'll switch them hopefully tonight or tomorrow and see.

 

[Jetronic]

They are bolted to the struts. I flipped them but there wasn't a difference, they were still uneven.

flipped left and right?

 

[mightymousetech]

Looks like they are installed on the wrong side of vehicle if they are both like that. If only one is off, probably got two lefts, or two rights.

 

[Rochev]

Interesting, I've never come across links that request a certain side. Hopefully I'll have time soon to swap sides and see if that fixes it.

 

[spasm3]

I'm seeing different part numbers for front left and right. Did ya switch 'em around?

I see that too, all the makes on rock auto. I did not really see any good ones there. On a truck that new , i would go oem unless they are crazy priced.

 

[Rochev]

The OEM ones are junk, like the strut mounts and basically every bushing. I have to replace strut mounts, sway bar bushings, mini-links and the control arm bushings are super dry rotted, all at 3 years and 55k miles.

In other news, a big revelation was discovered. Unfortunately I wasn't bright enough to realize it the first time, but the issue was the actual sway bar was turned downward! Because of that, the links were in a sense, too short. And with it rotated down, the mounting hole was too forward, which is why the bottom sockets were turned forward all the way.

I had to take them back out and use vice grips again on the circular 'bolt' behind the locking nut to hold it so I could loosen it. I've succeeded in reducing their lifespan a good 80% since the bushings are pretty rough now.