How do you change a sway bar link on a 1997 Dodge Intrepid?

Answer 1

First of all, this is not a job for the average Saturday home mechanic, particularly if you live in the "rust belt" where roads are salted in the winter and undercar corrosion is rampant. You didn't say, but I assume you meant front sway bar link rather than rear. The fronts on these cars have a reputation for giving up the ghost. Getting the old link off the car may require special tools including an impact wrench, a nut splitter, and as a last resort, an oxyacetylene torch. If the fasteners are very rusty, it may take an hour or more to remove the old links.

1. Jack up the car and support on jack stands.

2. Remove front wheels and tires.

3. Remove the upper and lower nuts which attach the link to the strut and the sway bar.

These nuts are an unusual size, use an 18mm wrench, with a 6 point 8mm socket to hold the stud from spinning. Penetrating oil will probably be needed, as well as lots of patience.

4. Remove the links. You may need to raise the strut assembly slightly with a hydraulic floor jack to remove tension applied by the sway bar before the link can be removed. Be careful not to jack too much or you may raise the entire car off the jack stand (dangerous).

5. Install the new links. The kind with grease fittings are good. If you remember to grease them regularly, their life will be greatly extended. Torque the nuts to 70 lbs-ft.

6. Install wheels and tires, torque lugs in 2 steps in a star pattern.

7. Jack car down and check final lug torque to 95 lbs-ft while on the ground.

Craig in Rochester, NY