Swaybar Link Swap Out

[DocS]

I got a '12 1.4 last October and I've been doing a bunch of maintenance that the last owner thought was just "suggested." (I really want to find that S.O.B. and slap some sense into them.) Anyway, I'm finally getting to the point where I can do some mods. I was thinking about starting with handling mods. I don't have the cash to do a lot right now so I'm going to be starting small with the most expensive thing being springs and rear stabilizer within the year if I can get the spare scratch. I need to do the brakes pretty soon. I get a shudder under normal breaking at high speeds starting at 60 and getting worse as I go faster, I've had it up to 90 over in Montana. Once I've got it in the air I'm planning to do my bushings.

CUT TO THE POINT.
I read on Danny5's DIY springs install (Here) that he swapped in the steel Cobalt sway links for the stock plastic ones. Since I'm not one to dis plastics for not being metal I want to know if I should bother. Are steel sway links markedly superior to the stock? Do the sway links really make enough of a difference to bother with for a tuned up daily driver? And on that note, are the bushings worth my time?

I really like the car, quite a lot actually, but I would like a bit more performance without sacrificing to much ride comfort so I want to make sure my mods are worth a damn and not just based on supposition. I accept anecdotal evidence, this is a forum after all, but if anybody can point me at solid facts that would be great.

 

[Natesriv]

the main reason to swap it seems the OEM's begin to clunk after a very short time, but that's in the bushing area, not the plastic. As for strength I've noticed no difference from my OEM's to the metal MOOG's I have in there now. They're more peace of mind, IMHO.

Some who have drastically lowered their rides might have also switched to a different link to take the stress out of them if they're not level at normal ride height with that setup...

Bushings for the sway bar itself? Not sure how many have done that, I did it on my Riviera, went to poly from the normal rubber and noticed a lot more of the road...(that's not really good in a Riviera)...it tightens up the assembly, but will transmit more jittery-ness to the wheel & such...

I'm on B&G springs, lowered almost an inch front & rear, with MOOG links, and KYB rear shocks (the OEM's on mine were sh*t!).. normal bushings, no rear sway bar...car handles great....oh aftermarket ASA GT06 wheels with slightly wider tread too

 

[Maddmatts]

All I really know is that the failure rate of the balljoints in the plastic endlinks are really high. It's entirely possible that the plastic is perfectly fine and that the joints in the metal links are just that much higher quality.

You don't have to get Cobalt endlinks though. There are metal endlinks made for the Sonic by Dorman (P/N: 523040). Moog also makes replacements (P/N: K750630) but I'm not sure if they're metal or not.

 

[DocS]

Thanks Natesriv. I'd read that poly bushings helped but no one has said anything about the ride quality. Is it just some more road feel in the wheel or does it transmit to the butt too, I spend a decent amount of time on the highway and don't want to wear my ass out? I'm not planning on much lower than that myself. Does your car still seem to lean forward with those springs?

 

[Natesriv]

You'll feel it in the booty. It tightens up the allowable movement of the swaybar so it'll feel taughter, but more jittery. The OEM bushings are fine IMO.

 

[Palmaris]

I have recently changed my endlinks to the Moog K750519 version endlinks. My car used to sway all over the place any time you had to brake hard but now it tracks perfectly straight under braking. I'd change it for that reason alone!

 

[wasteoffilm]

I changed the inner bushings to Energy Suspension poly, through the wheel wells, didn't get under the car.

It was not exactly simple, and I needed a special 90 for my grease gun. After fighting with it for an hour or so, I realized the grease fittings were slightly smaller than normal, so I had to swap those out as well.

Edited to add, I didn't notice any difference, but I wasn't exactly looking for one. The car feels great. If properly lubricated, they should have zero effect on an even surface in a straight line.

 

[SlayerAk23]

I have poly sway bar bushings, I did not notice a difference in ride quality but I felt like it makes the steering more responsive. Though I've had a solid lower trans mount the whole time so that may throw my views on ride quality from stock.

 

[mendoza_juan]

I have recently changed my endlinks to the Moog K750519 version endlinks. My car used to sway all over the place any time you had to brake hard but now it tracks perfectly straight under braking. I'd change it for that reason alone!

I looked up the k750519 and they say it doesn't fit the sonic, I have a 2013 1.4t lt hatch, is there any special reason why they say it doesn't fit or why they should fit?

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[mendoza_juan]

Nebermind, I just got the zzperformance links, at half the cost, I couldn't argue with that

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[DocS]

From what I've read on other threads the swaybar links from the other cars are not precise fits and they mess with the steering geometry a little bit. Some have complained that they've been through a couple sets of the alternates.

 

[KartRacer]

Not sure if I'm the luckiest SOB on the planet or just totally clueless?
I have noticed no clunking or problems of any kind on the links. Car is at 42000 miles.

 

[RMinNJ]

Not sure if I'm the luckiest SOB on the planet or just totally clueless?
I have noticed no clunking or problems of any kind on the links. Car is at 42000 miles.

Me to but I say just don't be surprised when they need to be replaced. I'm not worried..they are not too expensive.. I'd rather have endlinks that wear out than a rusted body panel or problem I can't fix.

 

[DocS]

I'd rather have endlinks that wear out than a rusted body panel or problem I can't fix.

I completely agree. If I remember correctly the ZZP links are only $40-50 for a set. I'm going to wait for stock ones to break before getting the upgrades. From my reading there's things I can dump $50 into that would a much greater impact on my handling, like swaybars. I think it's DMM thats got a rear one for $120.

 

[mendoza_juan]

Zzperformance links are 19.99 each. Moog was over 40 for one, both are steel and greasable.

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