How do you replace the sway bar links on a 2002 Ford Taurus - Mercury Sable?

Answer 1

I assume that the sway bar links for the 2002 are the same or quite similar to th 1997 Ford Taurus Model G.

Mine has 150k on it. The driver's side sway Bar Link broke and there was a loud knock every time I went around the corner.

I jacked the car up and put it on block stands. (Note: I do not use cinder blocks and I don't use the jace as my only support. Both of these are frought with danger and I don't want to be under the 2000 pound rear axil.) Then removed the wheels. I removed the remaining portion of the broken link and then removed the non-broken link from the passenger side.

I purchased 2 new links from my local Check Auto. Both cost $35 total. They came nice and shinny with bright blue rubber dampers.

In order to fit, I needed put both the top and the bottom at the same time. I tightened up the top bolts fairly easily. i needed to use a deep socket that is 12mm.

I then ran into a problem - I was able to get the top mounted properly but there wasn't enough room at the bottom portion to hold not only the rubber dampers but also the washer. There wasn't enough room to get the nut onto the link.

Remember that the car is up on jack stands - one on each side.

I put the floor jack underneath sway bar and then put a 2 X 4 on top of the jack. I jacked up this arrangement so that it pushed on the sway bar enough to compress the top rubber dampers and then to attach the lower ones.

I got both sway bar links loosely installed before I tightened them. I tightened down the top nuts first. I wasn't sure how much torque to apply. It was pretty easy to find out because at some point, while you are ratcheting the nut, all of a sudden it gets very hard to tightened any more. That is when I stopped.

Once I figured the thing out the process got speeded up and if I ever need to do this again it will take less then 2 hours is my guess.

Ted Coffelt

Boulder, Colorado