Replace both front sway bar links to restore proper handling and eliminate clunking noises from the front suspension.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front sway bar link - left × 1 — 48820-06110 or aftermarket equivalent
• Front sway bar link - right × 1 — 48820-06110 or aftermarket equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while wheels are on ground
4. Lift front of vehicle with floor jack at designated front jacking point
5. Support vehicle on jack stands placed at manufacturer's specified points on front subframe
6. Remove both front wheels completely

Procedure

1. 1

   Access and inspect left sway bar link
   Locate the left front sway bar link connecting the lower control arm to the sway bar. Inspect the boot for tears and check for play by attempting to move the link by hand. Spray penetrating oil on both upper and lower nuts if corrosion is visible.
2. 2

   Remove left sway bar link upper nut
   Insert a 6mm Allen key into the top of the sway bar link ball stud to prevent it from spinning. Using a 14mm wrench, remove the upper nut connecting the link to the sway bar. If the ball joint spins despite holding the Allen key, use locking pliers on the ball joint boot area as a last resort.
3. 3

   Remove left sway bar link lower nut
   Insert the 6mm Allen key into the bottom of the sway bar link ball stud. Using a 14mm wrench, remove the lower nut connecting the link to the control arm. Pull the sway bar link out of both connection points and remove from vehicle.
4. 4

   Install new left sway bar link
   Insert the new sway bar link upper ball stud through the sway bar mounting hole, then align the lower ball stud with the control arm hole. Start both nuts by hand to ensure threads are not cross-threaded. The link should move freely through its range of motion.
5. 5

   Torque left sway bar link fasteners
   Hold the upper ball stud with the 6mm Allen key and torque the upper nut to specification using a 14mm socket and torque wrench. Repeat for the lower nut, holding the ball stud with the Allen key. Verify both connections are tight and the link moves smoothly.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove right sway bar link
   Move to the right side of the vehicle. Repeat the removal process: hold each ball stud with the 6mm Allen key while removing the upper nut with a 14mm wrench, then remove the lower nut. Extract the old sway bar link from the vehicle.
7. 7

   Install and torque right sway bar link
   Insert the new right sway bar link through the sway bar and control arm mounting points. Hand-start both nuts, then torque both the upper and lower nuts to specification while holding each ball stud with the 6mm Allen key to prevent spinning.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Reinstall wheels
   Mount both front wheels onto the hubs, ensuring the wheels are seated properly. Install all lug nuts and hand-tighten in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but the suspension is not yet loaded.
9. 9

   Final torque wheel lug nuts
   With the vehicle weight still supported by the jack stands, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower the vehicle to the ground and remove jack stands. Perform a final torque verification on all lug nuts in a star pattern.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Double-check that all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Verify both sway bar links move freely through their range of motion without binding
3. Store old sway bar links for core return if applicable

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed over small bumps and during gentle turns to verify clunking noise is eliminated
• After test drive, re-inspect all sway bar link fasteners for proper tightness
• Check that vehicle handling feels balanced during lane changes
• Listen for any unusual noises from the front suspension during normal driving

More procedures for this vehicle