F150s can perform as work trucks while handling as well as most passenger vehicles. The sway bar is partially responsible for this. Sway bars minimize body roll when maneuvering by stabilizing the truck body and chassis. The sway bars mount to the front frame and then connect to the wheel hubs at the ends through sway bar links. A clunk noise in the front end or increased body roll when cornering is indicative of a worn sway bar. Inspect the bar's ends where the links bolt to the bar and replace the bar if you note deformation of the ends.
Instructions
- 1
Brace the left rear wheel with two wheel chocks to prevent the F150 from rolling. Lift the front end with a floor jack.
2Place a jack stand under both sides of the front frame, behind the sway bar brackets. Lower the F150 onto the jack stands with the floor jack.
3Unbolt both ends of the sway bar from the sway bar links using a socket set. Remove the front bolts in the sway bar brackets using the socket set.
4Loosen the rear sway bar bracket bolts enough to allow you to slip the sway bar out of the brackets on the front side, where you removed the front bolts. Set the sway bar aside.
5Slide the new sway bar into the sway bar brackets, making sure not to displace the sway bar bracket bushings. Replace the sway bar bushings if they show signs of excessive wear, such as cracking or deformation.
6Bolt the ends of the sway bar to the sway bar links in reverse of how you unbolted the links from the old sway bar.
7Install the front sway bar bracket bolts with the socket set. Tighten the rear sway bar bracket bolts with the socket set.
8Lift the F150 with the floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck with the floor jack. Remove the wheel chocks from the back tire.
