Rear Sway Bar connection point broken

[Renegade]

I just installed a used AEV 2” spacer lift yesterday, thought everything was looking good.. I just looked around and my rear passenger sway bar bolt is gone! I think it stripped during install (wasn’t to torque spec yet ) but was just gonna leave it as it seemed fine.
The captive nut is still there..

of note, when I got the lift kit I noticed that one of the captive nuts (from previous user’s truck) was still stuck on one of the links and I had to remove with some vice grips. I’m not sure what happened to his truck but I’m guessing the bracket failed. Seems to be a weak link.

so, any recommendations? Try to screw in another bolt? Drill out the old nut and put in a new bolt?

If the original captive nut is still there, try it. It’s not likely that the threads stripped. If the bolt is gone, it probably just worked loose. The nut can eventually break free from the bracket, and that is more likely than it stripping.

Sponsored

 

[mx5red]

If the original captive nut is still there, try it. It’s not likely that the threads stripped. If the bolt is gone, it probably just worked loose. The nut can eventually break free from the bracket, and that is more likely than it stripping.

If the original captive nut is still there, try it. It’s not likely that the threads stripped. If the bolt is gone, it probably just worked loose. The nut can eventually break free from the bracket, and that is more likely than it stripping.

I removed the other side and tried it, I think there was a different bolt laying around and I tried torqueing in the wrong one. The upper bolt is a M12-1.5, which is not a common thread.. Home Depot only had M12-1.75.
Luckily, I had another 1.5 bolt laying there, maybe that was the right one? It’s shorter than the other side so I’m not sure what I did.

Either way, I re-cut the threads on the nut with a tap, and was able to torque in another 1.5 bolt. Glad the nut was still useful, much easier than drilling it out or something.

 

[2kXJ]

A few months ago I bought a ‘20 overland that came with the mopar 2” lift installed. There’s been a rattle from the rear ever since I got it.

I crawled around under it today and found that the top bolt of the drivers side rear sway bar link was not tightened down. There was probably 1/8 inch of slop. 37k miles riding like this caused the bolt to bend.

Upon further inspection, when it was installed, the idiot cross threaded the ROUND “nut” and never checked it, or just said F it. So I just spent 2 hours trying to remove it and settled on cutting the bolt in half with a sawzall.

Whoever thought a round nut pressed into a plate for a suspension component was a good idea needs to be punched in the face.

Now I have to figure out how to fix this without a welder.

 

[Commodus]

A few months ago I bought a ‘20 overland that came with the mopar 2” lift installed. There’s been a rattle from the rear ever since I got it.

I crawled around under it today and found that the top bolt of the drivers side rear sway bar link was not tightened down. There was probably 1/8 inch of slop. 37k miles riding like this caused the bolt to bend.

Upon further inspection, when it was installed, the idiot cross threaded the ROUND “nut” and never checked it, or just said F it. So I just spent 2 hours trying to remove it and settled on cutting the bolt in half with a sawzall.

Whoever thought a round nut pressed into a plate for a suspension component was a good idea needs to be punched in the face.

Now I have to figure out how to fix this without a welder.

Metalcloak has a repair brace that will fix it I have them as a brace so it doesn’t break the thin bracket

 

[James H]

 

[2kXJ]

Thanks guys, I may go that route. That’s seems like the best option after doing some research. Gonna head to ace to find a nut and bolt for a temp fix.

ETA: I picked up an M12-1.75 60 bolt, a washer and nut and the rattle is gone!

 

[bd100]

Did enough offroading to wear out the front shocks, but the back sway bar attachment with the Metalcloak reenforcement brackets are still fine.

I painted the brackets before install, to help avoid rust longer.

Sponsored