What are the rear stabilizer struts. How to change the rear stabilizer bar on your car? Stabilizer links: what is a stabilizer bar in a car suspension device

Stabilization of motion saves the driver from skidding and accidents and is a vital function for the vehicle. The name "anti-roll bar" speaks for itself, but it is not alone responsible for driving comfort. The stabilizer struts are an important part of this part and, as a rule, it constantly wears out and needs to be replaced. But what happens if you don't change them and, in general, what the stabilizer struts affect - we'll talk in this article.

Why are stands and why are they so important?

Before answering the question "what are they influencing", you first need to fully understand the purpose of this element and why it is so vital for the driver. First of all, it should be noted that the struts themselves are a very simple element of the anti-roll bar. It is with them that the driver bothers during repairs, since the rack takes on the entire load when stabilizing the movement of the rack.

Important:The element itself looks like an iron pipe with hinges at the edges. The most primitive part of the car, which is easy to replace, you don't even need to seek help from a mechanic. In motion, the car can make different maneuvers, therefore it often creates a roll, which skids the car in different directions on occasion.

The suspension and stabilizer are responsible for the safety of the driver on the road, so they try to eliminate the roll by raising the body, or, on the contrary, lower it. The only problem is that the suspension and stabilizer are not connected to each other, but they work in tandem. At this moment, a rack appears that performs this function. At the moment of movement, she feels every roll, so it wears out.

A stabilizer strut is needed for various reasons:

connects the stabilizer bar and the suspension arm;
participates in the stabilization of rolls in turns;
makes movement confident and smooth.

Stabilizer and suspension arm

There are just three main reasons the strut is so important to a car. It can be both front and back. The roll by itself does not appear in a specific place, but affects the entire car during skidding, therefore it is harmoniously distributed between the stabilizers in both parts of it. Without the stand, it would be impossible to imagine the synchronous operation of two important elements that are responsible for the smoothness of the ride. The stabilizer gives the signal to the suspension to raise and lower the body and passes all this action through the pillar that connects them.

Bank

In addition to all this, the rack also experiences all the problems that the driver creates for himself. If you engage in extreme driving, do not notice the bumps and humps on the roads, this element always survives every hole, so it wears out so quickly. If the speed is reduced significantly before turning, the life of the strut may increase. If it is almost worn out, the driver runs the risk of accidentally driving into some kind of snowdrift, so you need to hold the steering wheel tighter.

A smooth ride is felt only when rolls appear. If the driver is driving straight on a flat road, the element does not perform its functions, but simply waits freely in the wings. One has only to turn quickly, the new strut will easily survive it and the driver will hardly feel a skid.

Effect of stabilizer struts on movement

Of all the above features, you can freely say what the stabilizer struts affect. The driver must first of all understand how to behave when cornering and, in general, drive correctly.

The stabilizer struts affect the following points:

movement of the car as a whole;
it is impossible to operate the machine without them;
there is a risk of getting into an accident;
constant noise.

Symptoms of malfunctioning stabilizer struts

If the struts are worn out, the machine will not be able to protect itself from skidding, since the hinges at the ends will not perform their function. The driver gradually begins to feel less smooth movement, there will be a sensation of riding on an ironing board. It will subsequently seem so unstable that the motorist will be afraid to get behind the wheel. Quickly worn parts are a sign of negligence in driving, and when the struts are almost worn out, you need to hold the steering wheel with even more confidence than when the struts were still in good condition.

In addition to all this, do not forget that they also connect the anti-roll bar to the suspension arm, so you simply won't be able to ride without struts. They have a rather low price on the market and, as a rule, one of these is quite enough for six months of driving. In any case, there must be an element that allows you to accomplish what the anti-roll bar does.

Don't forget about the driver's risk. With worn elements both front and rear, you can ride, but not freely. In this case, the driver himself is responsible for his actions. The likelihood that a car will drive into a pillar increases many times over, and in winter almost every driver will be able to visit at least one snowdrift.

When any element of the car dies, it lets you know by making a sound. When the driver is asked the question "what influence the stabilizer struts", everyone freely answers - "the struts emit a rattling sound."

Important: If a person experiences discomfort when driving and often drifts, while hears a roar, this element must definitely be changed. Moreover, they thunder both from the front and from the back, because the racks most often wear out both at once.

How do I check if the struts are worn?

When it is already known what the front and rear stabilizer strut affects and knowing that this spare part can make noise, the sound must be perceived as a kind of signal for action. Deterioration can be checked in another way - simply by turning the steering wheel all the way and touching it with your hand. Only two comrades can do this. Also, the element is often unscrewed and the lubrication is checked. If dirt mixed with grease has collected under the boot, the element must be replaced.

Typical signs of rack wear

We told you everything we knew ourselves. If you have any personal experience with racks, share it by telling your story in the comments.

One of the elements of the car's suspension is the anti-roll bar, which is designed to combat body roll when the vehicle is turning. The stabilizer struts are a connecting element between the ends of the stabilizer and the central suspension element, and due to the presence of hinges in its design, the connection between the stabilizer and the suspension is movable. Like all parts in a car, struts sometimes fail, and then a completely logical question arises: how to remove the stabilizer bar so that you can replace it with a new element? If you are looking for an answer, then we recommend reading this article to the end.

How the rear stabilizer struts work

The stabilizer is entrusted with many important functions: increasing the stability of the vehicle on the road (especially uneven), reducing the possible roll during a sharp turn of the car or other maneuvers, as well as eliminating the possibility of lateral overturning, as a result of which the risk of the car overturning is significantly reduced.

Considering that stabilizers are capable of working only in planes close to horizontal, this imposes some restrictions on the design of the vehicle. Therefore, in order to avoid all sorts of troubles, the stabilizers are connected to the supporting elements of the suspension: levers or shock absorbers. The role of the connecting link in this case went to the racks located in the vertical plane.

The principle of operation of the rear and front stabilizer struts is extremely simple: when the car enters a turn, centrifugal forces force the elastic elements on one side of the car to contract, while on the other side they stretch. At this moment, the middle part of the stabilizer twists and tries to lift the car body from the side of the roll. On the other side of the car, the body, on the contrary, lowers, compressing the elastic suspension element. As a result of such coordinated actions, the car is aligned in relation to the plane of the roadway.

How to check the stabilizer struts

In order to check the condition of the racks, you can use one simple method. To do this, it is necessary to free up space in the wheel housing, which is achieved by turning the wheelset. After that, grab the stabilizer post with your hand and try to shake it strongly from side to side. If, when performing these manipulations, a backlash appears, and you hear a characteristic knock, then replacing the stabilizer strut is inevitable. In a normal state, there should not be such features, which is associated with the large loads that the mechanism experiences during the ride.

For a more thorough diagnosis, you can drive the car into the inspection pit or check it using a lift. In the latter case, the machine is installed on jacks, after which the fixing nut is released and the stabilizer post is released. Further, the mechanism is loosened by hand, as in the first case. The presence of characteristic beating sounds and free play of the hinges indicate the need for their replacement or repair. It is also possible to determine the weakened fastening of parts using a pry bar, with which the stand swings at the attachment point. If it does not take much effort to loosen, then the part is really out of order and needs to be replaced immediately.

In the event that you do not have a lift, but you have a viewing hole, you need to ask someone to shake the car, while, being below, you will be able to better determine the place where the sound is delivered, signaling a breakdown. You can also feel the presence of a malfunction tactilely by touching the mechanism.

In most cases, the bushings are worn out or the ball suspension element breaks.

Symptoms of a defective rear stabilizer link

It is also possible to determine the need to replace the rear stabilizer struts based on the external signs of the problem, which are most often noticeable when the car is moving on uneven roads and bumps. First of all, the driver should pay attention to the knocking that occurs under the hood or at the rear of the vehicle. In addition, if the car is skidding at high speed, it gets knocked out of the track (especially when you release the steering wheel), because of which you have to constantly steer, then this is also a typical symptom of a malfunction of the mentioned part. In this case, it's time to think about how to change the stabilizer bar.

How to replace the rear pillar

It is quite possible to replace the stabilizer bar yourself, while observing some caution. The whole process is conventionally divided into two stages: removing the worn out rear pillar and installing a new part.

Rear pillar removal procedure

Before proceeding with the replacement of the rear stabilizer struts, you need to raise the vehicle axle using a jack or lift. This position of the vehicle will help balance the suspension.

Important! Be sure to place stops under the rear wheels before lifting the machine. Otherwise, the stabilizer will pull the suspension down, and even if you manage to dismantle the rear stabilizer post, you will not be able to install the replacement part correctly.

Next, it is necessary to clean the place of the upcoming repair from dirt, and so that the axis does not turn, insert a hex key, grabbing its end with it. After that, you need to unscrew the nut that fixes the rack and remove the part. The attachment points are also cleaned of dirt deposits, after which you can safely proceed to installing a new stabilizer bar.

Stabilizer Stand Installation Procedure

The replaceable element is installed in place of the removed one, the end of the axle shaft is held with a key and the nut is tightened. Just do not pinch it to the end, but just make money. After lowering the machine, you can fully tighten the fasteners. It is very important to complete this task only after the stands are in the correct position. In addition, it is recommended to tighten the nuts after a short run of the car (a few kilometers will be enough).

Important! After replacing the stabilizer struts, it is not necessary to adjust the camber-toe-in of the wheels, since the replaced parts in no way affect their angle of inclination.

Or stabilizer struts (stabilizer rods).

In this article we will talk in more detail about what stabilizer struts are, what they are for and what function they perform. We will also look at what signs indicate the need to replace the stabilizer bar and how the stabilizer link is checked, as well as how to change the stabilizer struts, which stabilizer struts are better to choose, etc.

Read in this article

Stabilizer links: what is a stabilizer bar in a car suspension device

The anti-roll bar is the part that secures the anti-roll bar to the vehicle's suspension. In turn, the anti-roll bar of the car is necessary in order to reduce the horizontal roll of the body in corners and during other deflections in the horizontal plane.

So, a hinged stabilizer post, a stabilizer bar or a stabilizer rod (even in everyday life they are called stub struts, stabilizer bones) allows you to implement a movable connection of an elastic stabilizer with a hub or steering knuckle due to hinges.

Of course, in the arrangement of different suspensions, the stabilizer struts will also differ somewhat in terms of design (front stabilizer struts, rear stabilizer struts). However, regardless of the type, the rack is always based on a rod (rod) in the form of a rod, which can be 5, 10, 15 cm in length, etc. The ends of the stem are often hinged to form a movable connection.

Typically, there can be 2 ball joints on the rack. There are also versions where 1 hinge and a stabilizer bush are used, or a pair of bushings, as well as a hinge on one side, while the other is threaded. Often, joints are welded to the stem at an angle close to a right angle.

Where the tip is attached to the metal bar, there is a refinement called the stabilizer neck. This neck is an insurance against too high loads. To put it simply, the case will break exactly at the point of thinning. If the rack breaks in any other place, the element in this case can pierce the bottom of the car and cause damage to the car, etc.

As a rule, to increase safety, the stub struts are not initially made as strong and thick as possible. Moreover, not so long ago, plastic racks began to be produced. They are lightweight and durable, and also even safer, since in an accident or heavy load they are destroyed without harm to the body, passengers and driver, etc.

At the same time, high loads and a deliberate decrease in the strength of the element in order to increase safety are considered the main reasons why these parts often fail, and also require regular diagnostics.

Today, the most common type is a ball joint stabilizer link. The design includes a metal ball pin, a plastic seat filled with special grease. The upper part of the pin is pressed in with a plastic or metal cover.

This type of connection is protected from above by anthers, which are packed with grease to increase the service life and smooth operation of the mechanism. The grease does not lose its properties at both high and low temperatures.

If we consider the principle of operation of the stabilizer, first, the stabilizer bar, the front or rear stabilizer struts do not have a rigid connection with the stabilizer itself. In turn, this allows a limited mobility connection to be obtained.

The main task is that the body rolls during cornering. It is noteworthy that the body is exposed to some forces, while the forces acting on the suspension will be directed in the opposite direction. Failure to compensate for such efforts significantly increases the risk of breakage of mating parts (stabilizer and eyelet).

It turns out that the stabilizer strut is a damping element that is capable of absorbing multidirectional forces. Naturally, from such loads, the pivot joint of the rack collapses rather quickly. When driving on bad roads, the effort increases markedly. As a result, the stabilizer struts may require replacement after 10-15 thousand km.

We also add that on some cars you can find adjustable stabilizer struts, where the stabilizer can be completely disconnected and connected using electronics. Although this solution is not widely used, some models are equipped with such systems.

Signs of malfunction of the stabilizer bar, check and replacement

So, having considered what a front suspension stabilizer rod or a rear suspension stabilizer bar is, let's move on to the main breakdowns. As a rule, if there are racks with a hinge on the car, it will often indicate a problem:

A clear knock when driving on rough roads. The knock will be on the side where the rack is worn. If the struts have bushings, diagnostics is difficult, since the knocking is not loud and is not always audible.
When driving, the car "throws", the car does not keep track, constant steering is required. In turns, strong rolls are noticeable, a strong swing of the body appears, especially during acceleration and braking.

As a rule, the destruction of the connection is caused by the fact that the boot of the stabilizer strut becomes unusable. The result is the accumulation of dust and moisture, which significantly reduce the life of the part. It also happens that when the ball pin holder is worn out during operation, the ball pin first knocks and dangles, and then breaks.

Please note that it is possible to repair the stabilizer struts, but it is not economically feasible. It is easier to immediately purchase a new part, you can buy both the original and a high-quality analogue.

Now let's move on to how to check the stabilizer struts. The easiest way is to swing the car in both directions in a direction that will be sideways. If the swing is easy, it indicates that the stabilizer is not working and there may well be severe wear on the stabilizer struts. Also, a characteristic knock may indicate a problem.

Another test method that can diagnose front stabilizer link problems is by first turning the steer wheels and gaining access to the struts. Next, you need to pull the rods and assess their condition for possible backlash, which are felt tactilely when the car body is swinging.

In the event that, when turning the wheels, access to the stabilizer struts does not open or the rear stabilizer rack needs to be checked, the car must be driven into a pit or a lift. Further, the diagnostic process is the same as the methods discussed above (one person shakes the body transversely, the second checks the stub struts).

It is also important to carefully inspect the anthers. If the stabilizer strut boot is torn, grease drips and other defects are visible, then the stabilizer struts are most likely out of order. Even if there are no knocks yet, it is better to change such racks immediately.

By the way, another test method is diagnostics with the removal of wheels, when the car is lifted on a jack, the wheel is removed, after which an emphasis is placed under the ball to remove the load from the stabilizer itself. This allows you to check the stabilizer link attachments. To check, unscrew the nut or top mount and shake the stand to see if the sound is coming from the mount.

If there is sound, a replacement is required. If the racks are installed on the bushings on the machine, then it is enough to see if the rubber is damaged or deformed. If this is the case, the metal will knock on the metal and this is the cause of the knocking.

If you find that the rack has become unusable and you need to replace the stabilizer bar, you should know how to change the stabilizer struts with your own hands. Of course, replacing the stabilizer struts on different cars will be different, since the suspension design may be different. However, in practice, the procedure is not complicated.

Immediately, we note that the stub racks need to be replaced in pairs on the same axis on the left and right, even if only one of them is in good condition. To replace it, it is enough to buy stabilizer struts, prepare a jack, keys, hexagons, and a pry bar. By the way, when selecting the struts, it is important to take into account that the front stabilizer struts and the building are different (the front stabilizer leg is longer, while the rear one is shorter).

For replacement, hang out the axis where the work is being done. For this, a stand is placed under the ball. If this is not done, even if the old rack has been successfully removed, the new part will not be able to be delivered without hanging. Ignoring this rule leads to the fact that newly installed parts quickly fail again.

It is also very important to prevent damage to the anthers when replacing the struts. If the boot is damaged, it must be replaced. Finally, we note that replacing the stabilizer struts does not affect.

Which stabilizer struts are better to choose

Given the fact that the stabilizer link "does not live" for long, many motorists strive to increase the service life of the part by looking for the best and most reliable options. In practice, it is important to understand that a large number of factors affect the life of the rack: the quality of the part, the model and make of the car, the features of operation and the condition of the roads in the region, the general condition of the chassis, etc.

For example, the original on European roads may well go 50-60 thousand km, while in the CIS on bad roads, the same part will last no more than 25-30 thousand km. At the same time, the expensive "original" is not always sure to last longer than high-quality analogs.

For this reason, the stabilizer struts Lemforder, CTR, SASIC or GMB can be distinguished. Moreover, for many models, these companies supply parts to the conveyor. This means that buying analogs under your own brand allows you not to lose quality, but also not to overpay for the original.

The basic rule is that the parts must be branded (there are many fakes on the market), and also exactly fit for a particular car model. Even the slightest change in length by 1-2 centimeters is not allowed when trying to put up racks, which at first glance may seem completely suitable. The fact is that such replacements will inevitably affect the operation of the entire suspension and the behavior of the car, and negatively.

Let's sum up

Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that even with relative simplicity in terms of design, the front stabilizer, rear stabilizer and stabilizer struts are the most important elements in the chassis of the car. At the same time, in practice, the front stabilizer struts fail most often due to the poor condition of roads in the CIS.

One way or another, these elements greatly affect not only comfort, but also stability and handling. This means that regular diagnostics of the undercarriage and a separate calibration of the stabilizer struts at each maintenance are necessary. As a result, we note that it is extremely important to maintain the suspension in good condition so that you have complete control over the car. Only this approach allows you to get maximum safety while driving.

Stabilizer struts design

The stabilizer post is a rod, typically 5 to 20 centimeters long. Swivel joints are attached to both ends of the stem by welding at right angles or slightly deviating from right angles,. Pivot joints consist of a yoke and a pivot pin that is fitted into the yoke. The ends of the pivot joints are threaded to allow the stabilizer struts to be attached to other elements using nuts. The pivot joints of the struts are protected by sealed anthers, inside of which there is a grease of medium density, designed to maintain properties when the air temperature drops.

In the design of the suspension of some cars, for example, due to the use of a large cross-section stabilizer, struts are used with one pivot joint and simple fastening using a composite bushing at the end with which the rack is attached to the stabilizer. The stabilizer has an eyelet through which the threaded end of the post is threaded. This design is used for reasons of reliability in a car designed for long-distance travel.

Racks are asymmetrical (that is, the hinges at the ends are reinforced at different angles), left or right. There are suspension designs with symmetrical struts that can be placed on either side and either end up or down.

The function of the anti-roll bar

The anti-roll bar connects the stabilizer bar to the steering knuckle (or hub for the rear suspension), providing a non-rigid connection, implying limited mobility of the combined elements. This is necessary so that when driving, for example, in a corner, in the event of multidirectional forces acting on the body and suspension (the body tends to tilt, and the suspension must press the wheel against the asphalt), these forces do not break the coupled elements - the hub lugs and stabilizer. The stabilizer link essentially takes over the damper function, dampening the greatest efforts.

It is clear from this that the strut is subjected to significant stress during operation, which leads to the gradual destruction of the hinge joints.

Typical breakdowns of the stabilizer bar

Due to the constant multidirectional load, aggravated by the poor quality of the roads, the racks fail. As a rule, they have to be changed every 1-20 thousand kilometers: even if the anthers are preserved, the articulated joints after this conditional threshold no longer inspire confidence. Signs of destruction of the anti-roll bar struts:

When driving and, especially, passing speed bumps, a knock is heard.
The car starts to "float" - it is spontaneously carried away to the side, especially in ruts, so you have to steer, "catch the road".
Increased rolls are observed in corners.
The struts are intact, but the body sways unnecessarily when cornering and / or when braking.

Weakening of the hinges can be easily diagnosed independently - just take a mount and, turning the front wheel to the side, shake the rack left and right at the attachment point. If there is an opportunity to crawl, you can shake the stand with your hand, so it will be even clearer. If you do not have to make any efforts, the hinge is close to disrepair. It is possible that with your hand you can even feel the play of the hinges. In addition, if you bought a car recently, you should pay attention to the condition of the anthers - cracks on the surface and traces of oil will help determine the advanced age of the stabilizer struts. If there is a person who is ready to help with the diagnosis, you can try to catch the sound, which is heard when crossing obstacles and holes. One person climbs into the viewing hole and puts a finger on the hinge. The second one shakes the car back and forth. The knock can not only be heard, but also felt with your finger. Despite the fact that the car retains the ability to move, even if the hinge is still disconnected, it is not recommended to bring it to this, since driving with an open strut is an unpleasant and nervous activity due to a serious decrease in controllability. Given the fact that there are present on the market, anyone can afford to buy replacement stands - many options are sold at any car market.

Automotive suspension is a tricky and complex design, and every detail is important. One fails - the neighboring ones begin to break down. Therefore, repairs must be done immediately, as soon as the first signs of a malfunction appear, even if they are subtle.

There are elements in the suspension that fail more often than others. These are all kinds of silent blocks and bushings, ball bearings, rubber anthers and bumpers, as well as stabilizer struts. The loads on the suspension are colossal, and you have to monitor the condition of its individual components. In this article, we will take a closer look at the stabilizer struts.

What are stabilizer struts for?

The anti-roll bar is installed in the independent suspension in order to compensate for the car's roll when cornering. Its idea is simple to disgrace: it's just a beam, which, when the body is tilted, twists and evens out this tilt. It would seem that you screw the stabilizer to the hub, and you will be happy. However, cunning engineers are well aware that all these tilts, vibrations, shocks and swinging will very quickly loosen any mounts, and replacing the stabilizer is far from the easiest thing. Therefore, an intermediate link is used - racks (they are also traction), which protect the suspension elements from rigid contact.

They have a direct purpose: Provide a flexible connection between the stabilizer and the suspension (the strut can be attached to the hub, steering knuckle, arm or even a McPherson shock absorber). Thus, it takes over the force from the working stabilizer and protects adjacent elements from premature wear.

They also have a second purpose. rarely talked about: breaking. That is why they are made quite thin, also with predetermined break points (necks). If the load on the suspension exceeds the calculated one, the strut breaks in a certain place so that nothing else is damaged.

Device and principle of operation

The design of the struts is very simple: two hinges, similar in design to ball bearings, are connected by a steel rod with a length of 5 to 20 cm. both ends can have an eyelet with an elastic sleeve). The hinges are protected with anthers and frost-resistant grease.

At one end it is attached to the anti-roll bar, the other to the steering knuckle (front struts), the wheel hub (usually the rear rods are attached), the suspension arm or a special shock absorber landing mount.

The stem does not have to be straight, there are also curved ones. Depending on their design, they can be symmetrical, or they can have different shapes on the left and right sides of the body. There are also reinforced stabilizer struts used for tuning.

Due to the fact that the hinges provide a flexible connection, the strut compensates for body swing and softens the impact on the suspension. However, from constant loads, the hinges gradually fail: the holder for the ball pin is erased, play and runout appear. In fact, it is their wear and tear that becomes the reason for their replacement in 90% of cases.

How to check the stabilizer struts for a malfunction?

When European automakers claim that the stabilizer struts have a resource of up to 100 thousand km, they consider these kilometers according to their ideal European autobahns. On our roads, the declared figure can be safely divided by two, and then if you're lucky. All suspension parts depend on road conditions and driving style, and we are not happy with both of these factors. In fact, they, like some other suspension parts, turn into one of the most frequently changed items. So it is better to know in advance how the first problems manifest themselves.

An indirect sign that things are not going well with the struts is the behavior of the car:

when cornering, the body heels more;
it is difficult to drive in a straight line (you have to steer all the time to stay in the lane);
when driving over obstacles in the area of the wheel, a knock is heard from one side.

However, given that other suspension malfunctions can give similar "symptoms", it is best to know in advance how to check if there is really a problem with the struts before driving for new ones.
You can joke that if a piece of the stabilizer bar has fallen out and lies on the asphalt, it is undesirable to put it back. However, even if they look intact, their hinges or bushings can be worn out, which means they are unusable.

Purely visually, you can only determine the condition of the anthers: if they are torn or stained with grease, most likely, the hinges themselves are no longer in order. Given the enormous loads they experience, the ingress of water or dirt will put them out of action almost immediately.

The main symptom of the problem is the backlash of the hinges.... Due to breakage or wear, they become loose and begin to emit the same unpleasant knock that irritates the driver.

You can diagnose yourself:

Turn the wheel to the side as far as possible to open up access to the hub and rack;
Use your hand (or any tool such as a crowbar) to strongly shake the stabilizer bar. It is impossible to break it in this way, the metal and the structure are designed for much higher loads;
If at the same time they knock or noticeably play, it's time to change them.
The second test option is to try to rock the car from side to side. The normal suspension stabilizes the body well, so if you manage to swing it manually, this is already a sign of a problem. In especially advanced cases, the damaged rack will also knock at the same time.

Diagnosis and Replacement Videos

If it is possible to drive the car into a hole, you can involve an assistant in the diagnosis: one shakes the car, the second listens and looks from below. Backlash can be heard and even felt if you put your hand on a faulty hinge.

Can I ride without stabilizer struts?

In principle, you can drive without everything, only slowly, not far and not for long, however, it is better not to joke with a faulty suspension. At first, if the rack is out of order, it can treacherously fall apart in the first hole on the road, so you will have to travel to the garage or service station on a tow truck. A Secondly, it complicates handling: the car enters corners worse, there is a risk of skidding, moreover, the braking distance increases, and this is no longer a joke.

The first thing that is affected by faulty struts is the adjacent elements, so if you travel with them longer, you will have to play with the mechanics in the game "find what else to change in the suspension so that it does not knock." A banal and inexpensive, in general, a detail that is often changed on their own, without even visiting a service station, can cause a lot of trouble and drive into very unpleasant expenses.

The stabilizer struts are always changed in pairs, even if only one is out of order. If you buy them yourself, it is better to compare with those that are already installed on the car. And be sure to take into account that they can be asymmetrical, which means left and right.

Best stabilizer struts

It is difficult to say how to choose the best struts: everything is decided by the technical characteristics of the car. However, there are patterns which can be taken into account when choosing new parts:

The best choice will always be the original (OEM) rack. Yes, Mazda or BMW do not manufacture parts themselves, but everything that comes to the market on behalf of car brands is thoroughly tested. The high price pays off both with high quality and long service, so that in the rating of racks, the original is always in the first place;
More affordable than OEM, but usually premium brands will be no worse in quality. Often the same Lemforder, Moog or TRW can be seen in a box with the Mercedes logo;
The middle price segment can be the best option for finding a quality rack for reasonable money. For French cars, Sasic offers an excellent assortment, for Japanese and European cars - GMB;
But the budget segment does not justify itself in the future. As a rule, spare parts for inexpensive brands are not reliable. Yes, you can put both Sidem and Nipparts, and even Profit, if you urgently need to save money, but you don't need to rely on their long service life. However, budget suspension parts are often put before the sale of a car, so they have a right to life.

If the stabilizer struts are the cause of the suspension malfunction, this can be called luck. And they themselves are relatively inexpensive, and it is not difficult to replace them, so there is a chance to get off with a little blood. But only if you carry out diagnostics and repairs immediately when the first signs of a problem appear. Otherwise, you will also have to change the stabilizer bushing, and the arm bush, and other adjacent elements. So it is better not to take it to extremes, but to repair it immediately, with high quality and for a long time.