Aaargh! Front sway bar links broken / popped on the CTS...again!

[DarkThinker]

So a month after I upgraded my sway bars on the 07 CTS to 07 CTS-V bars, the front links broke. Lucky for me I had a couple of spare CTS links in my garage doing nothing (from the upgrade), so I had my mechanic install them as it was easier for me to have him do it, it took him 5 minutes and he didn't charge me for it. Things went back to normal and I was a happy panda again not hearing rattles on bumpy roads and all.....

I am not sure why the links broke the first time, but today I think I gained better understanding.... I was driving on a road I wasn't familiar with at 35 mph just following my GPS and then out of no where, rail road tracks intersection! BOOM loud bang and then shortly afterward I started to hear that infamous rattle just like when my front links were broken.

DAMN IT I didn't have them for 4 hours yet, that must have been a record, call the Guinness records people I think we have a winner.

So, I did some reserach about the CTS-V sway bar and the links braking is a common problem with the CTS-V sways on both CTS and CTS_V cars. BTW the links for the CTS are the same ones for the CTS-V same part number and all.

Now it seems there are options, some people were using Z06 end links which are a bit shorter and stronger, my mechanic suggested using stronger adjustable end links if this happens again.

What does the collective wisdom of ATOT suggest to this unlucky guy?

Cliffs:
- 2 months ago CTS-V sway bars installed on CTS and all was good
- Couple of weeks ago front links pop / brake
- Today I replace the links with a spare pair
- Today I accidentally drove at 35 mph over a railroad track intersection and broke the links only 4 hours after installation.
- Get Z06 links or adjustable links or other?

Thanks
DK

 

[Howard]

Pics?

 

[DarkThinker]

Pics?

Maybe tomorrow when I jack up my car in the morning and assess the damage.
To describe what happens, the links themselves don't' break in half or something, but the damn half-assed joints on the links the ones that actually screw to the sway bar on top pop out of place irreversibly due to the massive torque the thick front CTS-V sway bar exerts on them.

 

[Tristicus]

What does the collective wisdom of ATOT suggest to this unlucky guy?

No.

 

[Howard]

So get some V links then.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Yeah, sounds like you just need better links. If the Z06 ones fit, I would choose them.

 

[DarkThinker]

So get some V links then.

There is no such thing, the CTS-V and the CTS have the exact same links.

 

[Elfear]

Yeah, sounds like you just need better links. If the Z06 ones fit, I would choose them.

+1

 

[T2urtle]

right off the bat i thought you should of went with CTS-V endlinks. then you stated its all the same. its a $20-40 part i would never of done used.

Go with some aftermarket stuff. Adjustable length and etc. see of SPL had some. or what others are doing. I would also look into getting upgraded bushings for the endlinks. That SHOULD be your solution.

the old ones broke most likely due to their age and being worn already and throw in a big beefy bar.

 

[DarkThinker]

right off the bat i thought you should of went with CTS-V endlinks. then you stated its all the same. its a $20-40 part i would never of done used.

Go with some aftermarket stuff. Adjustable length and etc. see of SPL had some. or what others are doing. I would also look into getting upgraded bushings for the endlinks. That SHOULD be your solution.

the old ones broke most likely due to their age and being worn already and throw in a big beefy bar.

I am not going to argue with that because you are right. But no shops near me carried them in stock and there was a place I needed to be without any delay and with no rattles. So I used what I had in hopes it will work. Well, it worked, I made my appointment and all but on the way back rattle...rattle...rattle rattle rattle...

When I get time I am getting something sturdy, perhaps adjustable links and Polyurethane bushings. I'll show that sway bar who's boss around here (not me at the moment though lol)

 

[KIAman]

Wow, the links breaking sounds like some type of defect. I hit a huge pothole going 60 MPH, enough to put a bulge on my sidewall but suspension is always tight.

I mean 35 MPH over railroad tracks? I do 60 MPH over them all the time. I'm really surprised there is no fix or recall on this issue.

Also, when you say the links "break" what is breaking on them specifically? The entire link? The rubber gets melted off? Metal sheared? What breaks?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Wow, the links breaking sounds like some type of defect. I hit a huge pothole going 60 MPH, enough to put a bulge on my sidewall but suspension is always tight.

I mean 35 MPH over railroad tracks? I do 60 MPH over them all the time. I'm really surprised there is no fix or recall on this issue.

Also, when you say the links "break" what is breaking on them specifically? The entire link? The rubber gets melted off? Metal sheared? What breaks?

I want to know this as well. Pics to show what is failing. I've seen CTS-V's treated much worse than that and never had a problem.

 

[santuitman]

Without seeming like an idiot what benefit would adjustable links have? Doesn't the sway bar effectively just tie the lower control arms to the frame with a pivot point on the frame? If the Z06 links fit then I'd go with that. I wouldn't think shorter would be a problem as long as they clear the rest of the suspension correctly.

 

[Imported]

Adjustable end links allow you to properly corner balance your car. I still need to get some for my car..