Sway Bar End Links

[elpelon]

Redoing my front end suspension on my 96 Zenki 240 base model. Ordered 2 MOOG sway bar end links from Amazon. (Got a good price), one for each side. They came in day before yesterday. As you can see from the picture, they both have the same part number. One says euro-spec on the box, and the stripe on the box is a different colour. the gold one looks like the stock link. they both seem to be the same lengths, and spacing from thread tip to thread tip is the same from what I can tell, but the black one looks more robust, and has a grease insert nipple, whereas the gold one is sealed.

Was planning on installing this weekend, or next, depending on weather and such. Are these the same part? can I go ahead and install, or should I send one back? My current ends are totally shot, and I don't particularly care if these look the same, as long as they work.

[NISR20MO]

They should work but that gold one looks like a piece of crap. Someone probably ordered the moog parts and returned some other new junk and you got it when it was resold. Should work fine though...

[TheRealSy90]

Yeah that gold one looks junky...

[Chaluska]

im running the steel hex ones, and they are great. but im sure the gold one would work just fine. the bushings are more important than the end link IMO.

[elpelon]

Good to know, Chaluska. I got a set of Energy Suspension Urethane Bushings already. I want to do the job in the next week, and really don't want to go through the hassle to return and wait for the other link if it's not that big of a difference.

[anti tyler]

Moog is graded in 2 sorts,

One would be standard
The other is designated 'super strength' Or a higher strength.


That's how my moog parts are boxed at my work

So both should be fine, ones just a little stronger than the other, still a good quality part.

[elpelon]

I believe you're right about that, with the 2 grades of parts. I went back to the Amazon site i bought it from to return it, and the "crappy" gold one was the item pictured, so it appears I may have gotten a free "upgrade". Can't very well return the item, if it was the one in the picture. As long as there are no issues using the different links, I think I will go ahead and install them this coming weekend when I do my tie rods. I'll have to get it aligned after that. I'm not sure if the end links affect alignment, but assuming it may, I only want to pay to get it aligned once.

[DaMizZa]

I just replaced my passenger side end link the other day, does anyone know what the little chrome piece is for? I felt like it should go in that hole opposite the ball joint, but the chrome piece looks threaded and the hole isn't... I feel like that piece should be going somewhere, but I have no idea where. I'm not going to be damaging anything by leaving it off will I?

Edit: I got the Moog black one in the pic, and trying to google what to do with that little piece got me here haha

[elpelon]

Are you talking about the chrome washers?
One goes on top of the upper bushing which is sandwiched between it and another "washer" that is (tack welded?) on the arm itself on the top side. on the bottom the bushing goes directly against the bottom of the arm, the other chrome washer below it, and it is secured with the bottom nut. at least that's how mine was.

BTW
Almost finished. I screwed up installing the driver side outer tie rod, and had to order a replacement. Part is supposedly on my doorstep now when i get off work today. I will finish it up this week and align it on sat morning. I'll post a few pics and give an update. I appreciate everyone's advice and help.

FWIW, I did find it MUCH easier doing the sway bar links with the inner and outer tie rods removed. Glad I did it all at once.

[DaMizZa]

No I figured it out - it was the grease nipple. I thought that's what it was/where it went, but I just had a bitch of a time getting the thread lined up properly to thread it in.

I found the sway bar end links damn near impossible to do when I did the passenger side (had to get a jack under the LCA to get it in), but when I did the driver side, I was replacing the LCA at the same time and it was a piece of cake... Just waiting on some new strut mounts to show up and once I get them in, I can finally take my car in for a way overdue alignment. Replaced the sway bar end links, tension rod bushings, outer tie rod ends, LCAs, ball joints, and the fucker still has a clunking noise in the front end - so I'm praying the strut mounts make it go away finally.

[anti tyler]

No I figured it out - it was the grease nipple. I thought that's what it was/where it went, but I just had a bitch of a time getting the thread lined up properly to thread it in.

I found the sway bar end links damn near impossible to do when I did the passenger side (had to get a jack under the LCA to get it in), but when I did the driver side, I was replacing the LCA at the same time and it was a piece of cake... Just waiting on some new strut mounts to show up and once I get them in, I can finally take my car in for a way overdue alignment. Replaced the sway bar end links, tension rod bushings, outer tie rod ends, LCAs, ball joints, and the fucker still has a clunking noise in the front end - so I'm praying the strut mounts make it go away finally.


Most front end noise is mistaken for struts when it's actually sway bar end links.

I found it very easy to change my end links as well as the bushings. Going with energy suspension bushings is an investment I would recommend to any and all.

[elpelon]

Got my replacement outer tie rod in and installed yesterday!
took it for a test spin, and noticed a bit of clunk/play in the centre that definitely wasnt there before. I still need to get it aligned (tomorrow am) and I am hoping that that will fix it. I did the spin/count method when removing the outer tie rods, BUT since I replaced the inners as well, It's probably off by quite a bit.

Da-Mizzi, you are probably right about the struts if you have replaced everything else... as long as everything was installed and tightened correctly. Keep us posted when you do get it fixed.