Swapped sway bar links...now its worse!

[0h12Sonic]

A couple of months ago my stock driver side sway bar started to go, so I swapped them for these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z7O5E1O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It was all good for about a week. Now both sides are making crazy popping and clunking noises.

I lowered the car using the Eibach pro kit well over a year ago, using the stock shocks.

I have a few of questions:

• Did I buy crap on amazon? Is there a better sway bar on the market for my setup?
• Would shorter sway bars be a possible solution since the car is lowered?
• Would an alignment possibly fix the issue? The steering is just fine and car doesn't pull to either side.
• Is there something else I am not taking into account?

 

[sonicrsboss]

zzp makes some

 

[bluejay]

went to dormans web site they dont list sway bar end links for chevy sonic , maybe amazon sent you the wrong parts

 

[Natesriv]

I think I used MOOG ones, from a Cobalt. I think they fit... it's buried in a thread here somewhere. 2 years, no issues

 

[RMinNJ]

I just put on the ZZP ones ..they are really MOOG if one can believe the part numbers.

Too early to tell if they last but all clunking is gone.

When I took off the stock plastic ones one could bend the lower bolt around with your hand...that was obviously what made it bad.. both were doing this.
So for your dormans if unbolt the bottom bolt and can movie it around with your hand I surmise they are bad.

 

[0h12Sonic]

I think I used MOOG ones, from a Cobalt. I think they fit... it's buried in a thread here somewhere. 2 years, no issues

Are you on the same springs, or do you have a different set up?

Appreciate the reply!

 

[Natesriv]

Was OEM with them, but since lowered

 

[Wooksquatch]

Don't quote me but I am pretty sure this is the part people reference in other threads. Moog K80252 Stabilizer Bar Link Kit

 

[joshalamew]

I've had the Moog K80252 on my '13 RS for about a year. Absolutely no issues.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Same

 

[Maddmatts]

I'm also using the Moog K80252 endlinks. Perfect fit and have grease fittings as a bonus.

 

[minitrucking02]

went to dormans web site they dont list sway bar end links for chevy sonic , maybe amazon sent you the wrong parts

just like all aftermarket parts catalogs, there are holes that people can't fix or just don't for some stupid reason. Dorman does that a lot- they carry something but it doesn't appear as a fit on their catalog.

I'm a manager with Autopart International and even our catalog has some issues, they just put a note saying check this part number instead, or a "can use / alternate"

it's even funnier when Advance Auto calls looking for a part and I find it on their website and they have it in stock lol

 

[Aftermath86]

I've had ZZP end links for over a year now and over 30k miles. So far they've lasted longer than the stock. I'm very pleased with them.

Sent from my BLU STUDIO X using Tapatalk

 

[mja]

If you add steel end links and the problem is worse, that's probably a good thing. It means your car is telling you to find out what's wrong, which is one reason people swap out plastic suspension parts.

Just a wild guess, how is the play on your front wheels? Jack up the car and check lateral movement of the tire, check and see if your tie rods are worn (youtube it up for pointers).

The tie rods on these cars can go way too early and cause misalignment and suspension clunking. Going to replace mine later this winter, but I'm just some nut on a forum throwing out could-be's. Also check ball joint, cv axles, loose bushings, etc. (less common on a few year old car). Car's not supposed to clunk, it's giving you feedback. Another thought - did bump stops come with the lowering springs?

 

[0h12Sonic]

Thanks for the info everyone. For some reason the Moog K80252 shows as "Does Not Fit" for the Sonic on Amazon. Any ideas? Where can I buy them ensuring they will fit? I might just buy the ZZP ones.

 

[RMinNJ]

Thanks for the info everyone. For some reason the Moog K80252 shows as "Does Not Fit" for the Sonic on amazon. Any ideas? Where can I buy them ensuring they will fit? I might just buy the ZZP ones.

I brought mine from ZZP.. they do send to a cool ZZP sticker with it.

I would just ignore what amazon says...that is the correct part number.

 

[0h12Sonic]

I poked around the forum and I saw someone mention Moog K750012 was good for lowered cars. The parts are cheap enough that if I need to swap them out for something different its not that huge of a loss. I ended up ordering them today, when they get in and I put them in I'll let you all know if it works. The ones I have now worked well for about two weeks before making noise. If they dont I'll try the K80252's. Fingers crossed...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026M5R0S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[0h12Sonic]

Parts came in yesterday. I'll be putting them in tonight.

 

[0h12Sonic]

Alright, now that they are in and I drove a bit, thought I'd share.

The Moog K750012 are great so far. Suspension geometry changed as they are a few inches shorter than the doorman ones (and shorter than stock).



The moogs take 2 18mm wrenches to put on, whereas the stock/doormans take 1 with a hex bit to install.

I also noticed steering got a little tighter and the wheel pulls to center faster than before.

I'll give it a few more weeks to see if the knocking comes back, hopefully they continue to work out well. Again, I have the eibach pro kit installed, so the car is lowered ~1.5".