Sway Bars

[Wardonkey]

When say bars have play in them will they typically bang or rattle when going straight over bumps but not when turning?

 

[bdcardinal]

The bar itself shouldn't have play. Any play would be in the chassis mount bushings or endlinks.

 

[IndyIan]

When say bars have play in them will they typically bang or rattle when going straight over bumps but not when turning?

If both tires hit the same bump at the same time, then the bar isn't doing much, and a loose component will be hard to hear. What I do is find some small bumps, broken pavement on one side of the car and not the other. Then whatever is loose on the sway bar system will rattle as the one side oscillates and the other side is not. Also you can put the car on ramps and grab one each end of the bar and see if there's any up and down play. If its a macpherson strut suspension, while you are under there, pry up and down on the ball joint to see if it has any play, as they can rattle before they effect handling much. If you car turns slightly when you get on and off the gas, its a ball joint, a-arm bushing or steering tie rod end, that's loose.

 

[B1974]

I've found that sway bar end links will make noise almost anytime your suspension moves. We're on our third set on our Traverse now, Moog greaseable ones on now and they're almost ready to be changed again. These are wear items in my opinion on this vehicle.

The noise could be a strut or a strut mount as well. If the vehicle rides bouncy then I would look at the struts. If it's just a clunk or rattle then sway bar links or strut mounts.

 

[Dave9]

When say bars have play in them will they typically bang or rattle when going straight over bumps but not when turning?

The excess play could happen in both situations, but when turning, when you first start the turn and the slack is taken up.

I'd call it more of a bump than bang or rattle sound. Bang seems more like a worn out ball joint or other suspension link.