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How To Replace Stabilizer Sway Bar End Link 2004-05 Ford F150

Created on: 2014-12-09

If the stabilizer link is broken, vibrating, or rattling, learn how to properly replace it with this how-to video

  1. step 1 :Removing the Wheel
    • Pry off the center cap with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground
    • Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
    • Secure the vehicle on jack stands
    • Remove the lug nuts
    • Pull off the wheel
  2. step 2 :Removing the Sway Bar Link
    • Apply rust penetrant to the sway bar link nuts
    • Remove the top sway bar link nut with a 21mm socket and ratchet
    • Remove the lower sway bar link nut with an 18mm socket and ratchet
    • If the nut spins, hold the nut with an 18mm wrench and loosen the stud with an 8mm socket and ratchet
    • Remove the 12mm bolts from the axle
    • Push the axle to the side
    • Pull out the sway bar link
  3. step 3 :Installing the Sway Bar Link
    • Put the sway bar link into place
    • Fasten the 21mm nut onto the top of the sway bar link
    • Put the axle into place
    • Insert the 12mm bolts into the axle
    • Tighten the 12mm bolts to 60 foot-pounds of torque in a crossing or star pattern
    • Fasten the 18mm nut onto the bottom of the sway bar link
  4. step 4 :Reattaching the Wheel
    • Slide the wheel into place
    • Start the lug nuts by hand
    • Tighten the lug nuts preliminarily
    • Lower the vehicle to the ground
    • Tighten the lug nuts to 120 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
    • Reattach the center cap

Tools needed

  • 21mm Socket

    21mm wrench

    A Piece of Pipe (for leverage)

    Hammer

    Torque Wrench

    18mm Wrench

    Jack Stands

    12mm 12-Point Socket

    8mm Socket

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

    Floor Jack

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.

In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a sway bar link on this 2005 Ford F150 with 4-wheel drive. We show you on the driver side, but the passenger side is the same procedure. The items you'll need for this are a new sway bar link from 1AAuto.com; an 8, 10, and 21mm socket and ratchet and a piece of pipe for some extra leverage; 12mm 12 point socket; an 18mm wrench; torque wrench; a hammer; and jack and jack stands.

Start off by prying off the hub cap. Then loosen up these lug nuts using a 21mm socket and ratchet and a piece of pipe for some extra leverage. Once you get each of them loosened up, you can raise the vehicle, remove them the rest of the way. Now pull the wheel off.

Spray the bottom of your sway bar link and this top part with some penetrating fluid. For the top one, use a 21mm socket and ratchet and just remove that nut. To remove this lower nut, you can try using an 18mm socket and ratchet but most likely it's going to start to spin. If it does start to spin, just use an 18mm wrench and an 8mm socket and ratchet. You can see, you just get it into place. Then just remove that nut. On the back of the axle there's a series of 12mm bolts. You just need to use a 12mm 12 point socket and then a pry bar to hold the wheel, and just loosen those up. We'll fast forward as Mike removes all six of those. Push the axle to the side and then just pull your sway bar link up and out.

Up top is the old sway bar link. Below it is the new one from 1A Auto. You can see they're identical and they'll fit exactly the same. Take your new sway bar link and push it down into place. Then angle the top and push that through the sway bar. Then, replace that 21mm nut and tighten it up. If the stud starts turning, you can use a 10mm socket to hold it. Line up the axle and replace those 12mm bolts. We'll fast forward as Mike does this. Now tighten each of those to 60 foot-pounds in a crossing pattern. You can see we torqued that one. Then you want to turn the wheel until you get the one on the opposite side. Then torque that one. You want to just repeat this process with each of them. Then tighten up the nut on the bottom of your sway bar link.

Now we'll fast forward as Mike replaces the wheel and replaces the lug nuts and tightens them preliminarily, and then lowers the vehicle and tightens them the rest of the way. Then torque each of them in a crossing pattern to 120 foot-pounds. Then just replace your hub cap and you're all set.

We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.

2005 - 2005  Ford  F150 Truck
2004 - 2004  Ford  F150 Truck
2006 - 2008  Ford  F150 Truck
2006 - 2008  Lincoln  Mark LT
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