rowboat

Our 2002 Focus is all over the road at highway speeds. Research has lead me to suspect the sway bar system. How do you detect if the bars need replacement or just the bushings. I have read about bars being bent and that would make sence. But also if the rubber in the bushing has gone soft that I'm told could be the problem. Big difference in price from a sway bar to a bushing kit. Is there something else that would cause this instability? Tie rod and ball joints don't show any play when car is jacked up.
Thanks in advance: Rowboat.

 

Matt Cramer

A bad sway bar would be more likely to make the car roll like a boat than go unstable; usually it's bad supension bushings, ball joints, or steering parts that do this. But you can do the following check to be sure:

Park the Focus on a flat floor with the sway bar end links disconnected, and measure the height from the end of the sway bar to ground. Should be the same on both sides.

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Matt at DIYAutoTune.com

RockThePylon

Is it erradic, or does it consistently pull to one side?

I'd say steering components (Tie rod ends, ball joints, maybe even wheel alignment)

rowboat

Took it in for an alignment. No parts were required and handles much better now. Alignment cost was about $80.00 at Ford dealer.
Got off lucky this time.
Thanks for the suggestions.