I've had a "sloppy, loose" feel to my front suspension over the course of a year or so. I kept feeling a banging under the front-end when I would hit bumps a certain way and just thought maybe the control arm bushings were shot. I did replace the track-bar bushings with some urethane jobbers from NAPA and that helped a little but the annoyance of it all was still there. After installing my coil spacers (2") I did notice that my sway bar end links got out of whack. Straightened them back up and within a couple miles they were right back out of whack again. Now, by out of whack, I mean they became twisted at the ball and socket. The rubber boot had become ripped on both and I knew contaminants were getting in there. I finally broke down and ordered some MAXX-LINKS from Genos.

Went out this morning to install them only to find out that I needed my puller instead of my hammer to remove the un-beknownst to me taper joint. After several trips to the shed for tools and such I finally got the new units installed (very easy job if you've seen it done). Took the ol' gal for a spin down the road and all of the front end noises are gone. No more banging and popping.....the front suspension actually feels "smooth" to me now.

Inspected the factory links.....TRASH CAN BOUND!!!! They were toasted. But, I guess I can't complain, afterall, they did have right at 300k on them. Just letting everyone know that I am very satisfied with the MAXX-LINKS product.

 

I replaced my front shocks and found my sway bar end links were bent, too. So bent it was a miracle they were still intact. I replaced mine with a pair from Tuff Country (I think it was called). Steel heim joints on each end. I like 'em.

 

I just put MAXX links in yesterday after I noticed one was broke off. I just smacked my old ones out with a hammer.

 

I was a little dissapointed after paying $90 for basically two six inch bolts with a few bushings and a sleeve on them though.

 

I agree. The Tuff Country unit is nothing more than two stainless steel heim ends joined by a section of threaded tube and a couple lock nuts. Once I saw how simple they were, I wished I had just bought the parts and made them. I'm sure I could have threaded the inside of a section of pipe with my drill press. I know the heim joints are not particularly cheap, but I sure can't see more than about $35-40 in parts there.

Still, time is money. I would have to buy the parts, pay shipping on them, buy a section of SS 3/8" pipe, cut and thread it, bend brackets, maybe a little "trial-and-error time, then install it all. Might be cheaper in the end just to "pay the man" and get it done.

 

So that's what that noise is? I've had the same thing going on with my truck but have been too lazy to get down there to check j/k. I checked underneath her the other day and noticed that the boot was ripped. Looks like I'll be ordering me a set of new ends tonight.

 

I'm not saying that the new links will solve "your" problem but they did solve mine. My front suspension is still very "smooth" feeling after almost 300 miles with the new links. After you inspect the factory links, if the boot is torn and they are "out of whack" so to speak, you'll know what I'm talking about.

To date, that's probably the best $85 I've spent so far. Dealt with that banging rackitt too long not to say it!!!

 

yeah I got ya there. It is my sway bar links though, with 112K on the originals it's time for replacing them. Makes me wish I would've gone with the Carli leveling kit that came with new links.