On the Road with a Broken Stabilizer Bar: Risks, Signs, and Next Steps

Before a long trip, it’s vital to prepare not only your car but also yourself for potential road accidents. Today, mechanics from the Indy Auto Man used car dealer center will share tips on what to do if your stabilizer bars break. Hopefully, you’ll never need these recommendations, but forewarned is forearmed.

What Are Stabilizer Bars For?

Anti-roll bars (also known as tie rods) are vehicle suspension components designed to reduce body roll during cornering and maneuvering and to improve stability and handling at high speeds. They typically look like metal rods with hinged ends, attached on one end to the stabilizer bar – a flexible, U-shaped metal rod running parallel to the wheel axle – and on the other to a control arm or shock absorber strut.

During lateral roll, the inner and outer wheels experience different forces. At this point, the stabilizer bar twists, partially leveling them. Simply put, while the shock absorber dampens the vehicle’s vertical oscillations, the stabilizer links help control lateral oscillations. Anti-roll bars can be installed on both the front and rear axles. However, most vehicles equipped with MacPherson struts have only one stabilizer bar and two struts in the front.

Signs of Stabilizer Bar Failure

Like any other suspension component, stabilizer links have a certain service life. It depends on operating conditions and driving style, but factory struts typically wear out after 60,000 – 90,000 miles. To minimize the risk of issues, suspension inspections should be part of routine maintenance. 

The ball joints, which are filled with grease, wear out the fastest. To prevent the grease from drying out, the moving part is covered with a rubber boot. If damaged, the joint can fail quickly. At the same time, the entire unit may fail visually and begin to make an unpleasant knocking noise, for example, when driving diagonally over speed bumps.

You can also check the struts by rocking the car from side to side: if you hear knocking or creaking, it may indicate the need for an immediate replacement. It’s best to replace stabilizer links in pairs, as different parts may not work evenly, and a new link may fail faster.

You can also check the stabilizer links manually: reach them from under the wheel or on a lift and check the unit for play. If the strut turns easily by hand or makes a knocking sound at the joints, it’s time to consider replacement.

Other signs of stabilizer link failure include increased roll when cornering, instability at high speeds, and swaying when changing lanes.

A stabilizer link is a relatively inexpensive part that doesn’t require any special skills to replace: any repair shop can handle this type of repair. However, complications arise, for example, if the threaded connections have rusted over time.

How Can Stabilizer Links Be Damaged?

Unfortunately, even a properly functioning stabilizer link can suddenly break. For example, it can break away from its mountings when the wheel hits a large pothole or a curb. “Weak” stabilizer links can crack spontaneously at weld points or due to corrosion.

Sometimes, the stabilizer bar mountings themselves can also break under load. The symptoms are similar, usually characterized by a knocking noise on uneven surfaces.

A damaged stabilizer link may not even physically change the car’s handling. However, if the broken link gets caught in moving parts, the consequences can be catastrophic. So, if your wheels take a strong hit while driving or you hear a strange knocking noise from below, it’s best to stop in a safe place and inspect the suspension. To avoid getting dirty, you can place a floor mat under your feet.

What to Do If a Stabilizer Link Is Torn Off

There’s a common misconception that faulty stabilizer links can be removed and driven without them. But this is incorrect. While stabilizer links don’t significantly affect handling and their operation may be unnoticeable to the driver, without them the car becomes much less predictable at high speeds, in sharp, long turns, and when changing lanes.

Furthermore, traffic regulations directly prohibit the operation of such vehicles. However, with proper precautions, it’s possible to drive such a vehicle to a parking or repair shop.

So, if you’ve damaged a stabilizer link away from home, follow these steps:

• Stop at a safe place and observe traffic regulations.
• Inspect the damaged area and assess the extent of the damage.
• Remove the faulty strut or ensure it does not interfere with other suspension components or moving chassis elements. You can temporarily secure the faulty link with clamps, wire, or rope. Be careful not to attach it to the brake hoses or ABS sensor wiring.
• Proceed with caution to the service center or parking lot.

You can replace the stabilizer link yourself: jack up the wheel and remove the bolts holding it in place. Reassemble in reverse order.

How to Prevent Breakdowns

To avoid problems during a long trip, regularly inspect the chassis. Ideally, during every maintenance. An experienced mechanic can tell you which parts are “correct” and which will soon need replacement. Delaying repairs is also not a good idea, as an old part can break at the most inopportune moment.

Select spare parts wisely: the cheapest options have unpredictable lifespans and are often defective.

If such a breakdown does occur while you’re on the road, head to the nearest service center. If that’s not possible, call a tow truck. It’s better to be patient, fix the problem, and continue your journey than to ignore the situation and cause much bigger problems with your car.

Summing Up

• Stabilizer bars are designed to reduce the vehicle’s lateral roll. 
• Original parts last up to 60,000-90,000 miles, after which they may begin to squeak and knock.
• You can check the stabilizer bars by rocking the car from side to side or rotating them by hand – there should be no play or unusual noise.
• Tie rods can be damaged by driving over a large pothole or hitting a curb.
• A stabilizer bar link can crack or break away from its mounting points. The stabilizer bar itself can also break away.
• This type of failure is not very serious. However, a broken part can damage other components of the vehicle’s chassis or braking system, so the broken link must be removed or securely supported. The other tie rod may not be removed immediately. You can drive a broken stabilizer link to a parking lot or repair shop, but you can’t drive it permanently.
• Faulty stabilizer links can be replaced yourself: you’ll need a jack and suitable wrenches. Tighten the nuts with the vehicle lowered.