[retroflow]

Ok, we were in a relatively minor accident earlier this month. The only thing that we and the insurance rep noticed was the obvious cosmetic damage. Since we drove away from the accident, we didn't think to look over the suspension for damage since we didn't feel anything wrong. We assumed that the insurance inspector would have looked for more than just cosmetic damage and since he didn't note down any, we figured that there wasn't more than that. There was a sort of rubbing noise when we'd make certain turns but, the plastic end caps were bent in close to the tires and we figured that was it. We couldn't adjust them until after the Insurance guy came to check everything out.

The other night, I decided to finally go ahead and straighten them or remove them - something I meant to do anyway. I did a quick check online to see if I had the right size Torx bit to get them off (I do) and came across an article about somone's damage to their TJ. They had a rubbing sound right after their accident and it turned out to be rather severe damage. Nuts. I went to look around the front suspension and found that the driver side Stabilizer Bar and Link's ball joint and socket had popped apart. Dislocated if you will. Why the insurance inspector didn't see this, I don't know. They know about it now. Anyway..

How easy is this to fix? Will it require a shop or is it something I can do myself. It looks as though we can reconnect it if we jack the front up and move it back into place. Are we right? It's difficult to say if anything is actually bent or not. Nothing appears to be bent, suspension-wise, but I have no way to compare that I'm aware of. Also, how dangerous a condition is this? My wife regularly drives the Jeep to commute to work/home. She hasn't noticed any "serious" problem or change aside from, well, she thinks the Jeep needs an alignment more now than before the accident. The steering wheel is off-center more than before while driving straight-on. I don't know if this is because of the Stabilizer Bar/Link issue or if something else is bent that I can't see.

We ran an errand this morning but I didn't drive. I think I noticed a slight mushy, bouncy feeling up front - not unlike a '76 Monte Carlo I once drove. There's no regular vibe or wobble but I will have to drive it myself to feel for anything else.

I have photos available if requested or if I can figure out how to display them here. I'll also take the Jeep out for a spin and see what I can feel, and report on it later.

Thanks in advance..

Adam

[retroflow]

*BUMP* Still waiting for answers about the stabilizer bar and link separation on the driver side. Thanks.

[McLovin]

just have the insurance buy you some quick disco's or something. Or a new set of factory links. It is an easy change shouldn't take you very long.

[retroflow]

Originally Posted by thedirt

Well, if the sway bar link is broken in the front, you are basically driving around without a front sway bar. You will feel the extra body roll (perhaps what you are referring to as "mushy").

Is the connections on the axle and the other end of the sway bar ok? As in, if you got a new link, you could connect it right up or is something really seriously busted off. If you can replace it, it sounds like it's a good time to go with some beefier quick disconnects.

Ok, last I looked, the passenger side link was still attached to the sway bar - though it looks like with enough force, the ball joint on that side could pop-out too. Right now, the driver side is the only one that's disconnected. I don't know if it's damaged or just uncoupled. I don't have a lot of experience with sway-bars, never having an issue with one before. What I may do is take a picture and post it on my flickr account for viewing or something.

Now, would having one side of the anti-sway bar disconnected also effect the alignment, or is the disalignment just part and parcel to a collision? And yeah, there's a slight increase in body roll. Not a great amount, but I sense it. My wife isn't certain about it, so it's not severe body roll. She's only sure of the steering wheel being off center more than before. The rubbing sound on turns may have gone away after I moved the bent-up bumper caps out of the way.

Oh, and taking it to a shop for a check-out isn't really do-able right now. I stupidly set up the Insurance policy's body damage coverage with a $500 Deductable. This saved me money each month but timing is everything and this was bad timing as I haven't found another job yet. so, like always, I'm pretty much on my own. My Insurance Co., did estimate the cosmetic damage to more than $500 and gave me a check for the balance.

I'll keep you all posted. And try to get a picture online for viewing. Thanks, to all replies..

[retroflow]

Ok, I have looked over the TJ's FSM and pictures of stock Anti-sway bar Links and it seems that the Link itself is popped - the ball joint I see is normally under the rubber boot. I don't know if this can be repaired or just needs to be replaced. Prices for stock Links vary but, money is tight so I'll try repair before replacement.

Since I have never disconnected my sway bar, I was kinda' hoping that this ball joint is where one does disconnect it for off-roading or whatever. No such luck, at least not my luck. Like I said, timing is everything and replacing the link could be a hardship right now. I can't even have a shop take care of the bent up fenders and cracked flares, etc. I was stupid and set my Insurance policy with a $500 Body Damage deductable. No way can I start the repiars with $500 up-front, even though GEICO gave me a check to cover the balance of the estimate as it stands. Since no notice/mention of the damaged Link was taken by the inspector/Assesor at the time, I'm still waiting to hear back now that I found the damage. We shall see.