Missing sway bar link

[Snagglefoot]

I replaced an upper ball joint that had a torn boot on my sons 2011 Silverado. It was not acting up but I wanted the suspension up to snuff so I purchased an upper control arm with the integral ball joint. While doing the arm, I noticed the left side sway bar link was missing. Totally G-O-N-E. Can’t imagine why it fell off. Anyway, here are some shots showing were it isn’t. LOL. I bought new ones and installed one. This was all on the driver’s side. I’ll do the passenger side upper arm and sway bar link later and then have a wheel alignment done. Enjoy the pics. PS: The third photo is the old upper ball joint lying in the junk pile of the shop. The boot was almost gone, and then the rest got torn off when I used the pickle fork. The joint was a bit loose.

 

[mattd]

Happens all the time with those style links

 

[Chris142]

That had to really waller around.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I had one pop off too

 

[Snagglefoot]

That had to really waller around.

For the few miles I drove it prior to installing the new arm I didn’t hear any noises or feel the effect, but I really wasn’t trying to corner it hard.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Now that I have never seen happen before lol. I am guessing it either rusted away or somebody forgot to put it back on which I don’t see how that’s possible.

 

[Timmastertech]

bolt rusted out and the link fell off. Happens all the time in the rust belt.

 

[Jetronic]

yes, seen the same, though not on a silverado. There's a very big chance the other side will now break off as it's getting used again

 

[CapitalTruck]

My Silverado sway bar link broke after about 5 years. They are this totally enclosed plastic case design that seems just perfect for trapping moisture and causing rust around the bolts. I just replaced with cheapie Moogs.

 

[RAR]

Those links are pretty much a long bolt and a nut, running through a sleeve of some sort, depending on who made it.

I will say when I changed a set of these years ago on a 1994 Silverado, it made a huge difference in handling. I didn’t know the old one broke off due to rust and thought the truck was just a wallowing old beast. Those cheap links changed it into a nice driving truck afterward..

 

[Snagglefoot]

yes, seen the same, though not on a silverado. There's a very big chance the other side will now break off as it's getting used again

Did a check by placing my cell phone over the tire and snapping blind. The first photo is the sway bar link I replaced where it was missing. The second photo is where the original still is but might not be for long. I’ll replace it next time the passenger side wheel has to come off. Enjoy.

Everything is messy because the truck was driven through a salted snowy mountain pass plus we’re in rust country along the Rocky Mountains.