The Average Cost for Sway Bar Replacement is $30 to $230, Depending on if You Go to the Mechanic or DIY.
This price range is based on national averages for all vehicles and does not factor in taxes, fees, or your particular make and model. Related repairs or maintenance are also not factored into this range. For a more accurate estimate based on your make, model, and location, use the RepairPal Fair Price Estimator.
Cost at the Mechanic: $125 to $230
- Parts: $30 to $110
- Labor: $95 to $120
The service takes about an hour or two of labor to replace sway bar links or bushings. The placement of and access to the links and bushings varies based on the vehicle.
Cost to DIY: $30 to $110
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Parts Needed:
- Sway bar links (if needed)
- Stabilizer bushings (if needed)
- Jack and jack stands
- Wrenches
- Socket set
- Penetrating lubricant
- Wheel blocks
- Wire brush or sandpaper
- Grease
- Pry bar
Suspension work requires skill and care since the components are critical for safe handling. A detail-oriented skill set and good tools will safely get you back on the road with a DIY repair. Replacing sway bar links or stabilizer bushings by yourself can give you a sense of accomplishment, while saving hundreds of dollars in labor charges.
What Is Sway Bar Replacement?
Unless your vehicle has been involved in an accident or has received some sort of suspension damage, it isn’t likely that the sway bar will ever need to be replaced, but the sway bar’s wear items will need to at some point. Sway bar component replacement involves removing worn or broken links and bushings and replacing them with new parts. While the job isn’t complex, it requires precision and care since it is a part of the suspension system, but the good news is that disconnecting the sway bar and replacing its components does not affect the vehicle’s alignment.
What Does Sway Bar Replacement Include?
Sway bars links and bushings are subject to wearing down over time, which can affect the ride and handling of your vehicle. Links and bushings that are loose, broken, or corroded are removed and replaced with new components that will hold the sway bar firmly and ensure the suspension system functions properly.
This repair typically takes an hour or two of labor at a repair shop. The parts aren’t expensive and should be easy to find, depending on your vehicle.
Sway bar bushing replacement:
- Loosen lug nuts (if wheel removal is needed), raise the vehicle, and place on jack stands. Remove wheel if required for access.
- Remove bolts and screws from the bushing, slide the old bushing off the sway bar, and clean the area with a brush or sandpaper.
- Apply grease to the sway bar, bushings, and mounting bracket, ensuring it’s appropriately installed and tightened according to product instructions.
- Replace the wheel and repeat for the other side, if needed.
Sway bar link replacement:
- Loosen lug nuts (if wheel removal is needed), raise the vehicle, and place on jack stands. Remove wheel if required for access.
- Remove the top lug nut on the link first and then the lower, using penetrating lubricant if they are rusty.
- Use a pry bar to remove the old link and install the new link, ensuring it’s appropriately installed and tightened according to product instructions.
- Replace the wheel and repeat for the other side, if needed.
What Happens if You Don’t Replace a Sway Bar?
In the worst case scenario, completely failed sway bar components can lead to excessive body roll in turns and a lot of bounce in the suspension over rough roads. As the sway bar bushings and links wear, you might notice rattles, clunks, or worsening handling, which might present itself as sloppy steering. Deteriorated components should be replaced promptly before they fail or cause bad handling. Visibly broken sway bars, links, or bushings mean your vehicle is unsafe to drive and needs immediate repairs.
How Often Are Sway Bars Replaced?
While sway bars seldom fail, the links and bushings that hold them in place are susceptible to wear, tear, and rust. The components wear down faster on vehicles subject to rough roads and extreme weather, especially exposure to road salt. While the life span of the components varies, it’s easy to visually inspect the bushings and links periodically to check for wear or damage.
Check your owner’s manual for recommended suspension-related maintenance and inspections.
Common Symptoms You Need To Replace a Sway Bar
Sway bars, also known as anti-roll bars or stabilizer bars, are durable steel or iron rods that don’t break or bend easily. However, they have bushings and links that wear down or rust over time. You may notice sway bar symptoms, including:
- Rattling or squeaking noise when going over a bump indicates worn bushings.
- Trouble when turning that could indicate broken links or worn bushings, making the sway bar loose and preventing the tires from having a solid grip.
- Unstable handling, including swerving and lack of control due to traction and stability issues.
- Visibly worn or damaged sway bars, bushings, and links are easy to spot. Links may have damaged rubber bushings at either or both ends or be broken, the bushings could be damaged or worn, and the sway bar will be loose or even detached.
Properly functioning sway bars keep vehicles from swaying too far and losing control on turns, evening out the body. Weight shifts to the outer wheels, but the sway bar helps balance it and push the inside wheels down. The sway bar connects the control arm’s left and right suspension components.
Related Maintenance Services
The following services are commonly performed with sway bar component replacement:
- Suspension and steering components are inspected, including struts, springs, tie rods, and CV joints.
- Wheel bearings and brakes are inspected.
- Motor mounts and other components that are susceptible to wear are examined.
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