suspension

Sway Bar Link - Rear

for 2012 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote · 4WD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Easy

Time

42 min

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear sway bar end links on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 4WD.

Warnings

⚠Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands rated for the vehicle weight.

⚠Inspect sway bar bushings and brackets while performing this repair. Replace if cracked or deteriorated.

ℹ️Sway bar links often corrode at the ball stud. Apply penetrating oil before attempting removal to prevent stud spinning.

Tools required

Floor jackEssential

Jack stands (2)Essential

Wheel chocksEssential

19mm socket and ratchetEssential

18mm wrenchEssential

6mm Allen keyEssential

Torque wrenchEssential

Penetrating oil

Wire brush

Parts

Rear sway bar link (left) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent
Rear sway bar link (right) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
Place wheel chocks in front of front tires
Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame or axle mounting points
Remove rear wheels

Procedure

1
Inspect sway bar link condition
Visually inspect the sway bar links for damage, torn boots, or excessive play. Check both upper and lower ball joints by attempting to move the link by hand. Note which side(s) require replacement.
2
Apply penetrating oil
Spray penetrating oil on both the upper nut (connecting to sway bar) and lower nut (connecting to rear axle or mounting bracket) of the link being replaced. Allow to soak for 5-10 minutes if hardware is corroded.
3
Remove upper sway bar link nut
Insert a 6mm Allen key into the top of the ball stud to prevent it from spinning. Using an 18mm wrench, remove the upper nut that secures the link to the sway bar. If the stud spins despite holding with Allen key, use locking pliers on the ball stud boot area.
4
Remove lower sway bar link nut
Hold the lower ball stud with the 6mm Allen key and remove the lower nut with an 18mm wrench. The link should now be free from both mounting points.
5
Remove sway bar link
Pull the sway bar link away from the mounting points. Note the orientation and any spacers or washers that may be present. Clean the mounting surfaces on both the sway bar and axle bracket with a wire brush to remove corrosion.
6
Install new sway bar link
Position the new sway bar link with the lower ball joint at the axle mounting bracket and upper ball joint at the sway bar. Ensure any spacers or washers are installed in their original positions. Thread both nuts onto the studs by hand, leaving them loose.
7
Tighten sway bar link nuts
Hold each ball stud with the 6mm Allen key while tightening the nuts. Torque both upper and lower nuts to specification. Ensure the ball stud does not rotate during final torque application.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
8
Repeat for opposite side
If replacing both sway bar links, repeat steps 2 through 7 for the opposite side link. Both links should be replaced as a pair for balanced suspension performance.
9
Reinstall wheels
Install rear wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower vehicle until tires just contact the ground but most weight is still on jack stands.
10
Final wheel torque
Torque wheel lug nuts to 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) in a star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform final lug nut torque check after lowering.

Reassembly

Ensure both sway bar link nuts are torqued to specification with ball studs held stationary
Verify no tools or parts are left under vehicle before final lowering
Re-torque wheel lug nuts after 50 miles of driving

Verification

Test drive vehicle at low speed and listen for any clunking noises from rear suspension over bumps
Perform visual inspection under vehicle to confirm all nuts are tight and properly seated
Check that sway bar moves freely and is not binding at the link ball joints
Verify no rubbing or contact between links and other suspension components during suspension travel

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