Broke a sway bar link -- upgrades? -- 2019 FX4 with FP Fox 2.0 Level Kit

[fusseli]

I already ordered a pair, I saw them the other day doing my oil change. I was like "is that freaking plastic?!"

Too bad they aren't QD ??‍

Yes that is freaking plastic, in direct path of a twisting suspension spring (sway bar), on a TRUCK, on an OFF ROAD trim. Seriously what the fuck did I just discover, I still can't believe it. A $50 set would be an upgrade. The $100 TTX set is an overkill upgrade.

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[LawnMM]

Yes that is freaking plastic, in direct path of a twisting suspension spring (sway bar), on a TRUCK, on an OFF ROAD trim. Seriously what the fuck did I just discover, I still can't believe it. A $50 set would be an upgrade. The $100 TTX set is an overkill upgrade.

I like overkill, it's my middle name

 

[fusseli]

I like overkill, it's my middle name

You may as well get the TTX matching control arms too then. At $100 each they actually look pretty good too!

 

[LawnMM]

You may as well get the TTX matching control arms too then. At $100 each they actually look pretty good too!

There an advantage other than looks here? My control arms aren't plastic

 

[lariat]

Easy. Position the studs at a good angle, and a pry bar to rotate the sway bar end down and get the nuts threaded then torque.

Seriously though after seeing the flimsy stock bar links basically any Ranger owner could stiffen up roll or be tougher off road with any kind of moderate aftermarket sway bar link kit. Just imagine the flex and twist that the plastic ends in the stock design allow. This is why Ford has the Found on Road Dead reputation ?

Do these often break on the Ranger? I'm not sure I've seen many threads about this.

 

[lariat]

Are there any American brands for Ranger Sway Bar link upgrades? I saw that Mevotech is out of Canada.

 

[fjwlobo]

Not the cheapest, but they look like they'll definitely hold up a lot better than the ones (Ford POS ) that came on the Ranger.

BEAN COUNTERS STRIKE AGAIN

https://offroadalliance.com/products/sway-bars-2019-2020-ford-ranger/

 

[lariat]

Not the cheapest, but they look like they'll definitely hold up a lot better than the ones (Ford POS ) that came on the Ranger.

BEAN COUNTERS STRIKE AGAIN

https://offroadalliance.com/products/sway-bars-2019-2020-ford-ranger/

Those are the Mevotech's sway bars. They sure are ugly.

 

[Ninong]

Got my Mevotechs on the way. Don't need the OEM ones failing during elk season.

 

[lariat]

Do OEM bars break often?

 

[fusseli]

Are there any American brands for Ranger Sway Bar link upgrades? I saw that Mevotech is out of Canada.

Let me know if you find one. Dobinson is Australian

 

[LawnMM]

Do OEM bars break often?

Who knows, man, some of us aren't comfortable or happy with some of the engineering choices made on these trucks.

We've got at least one member with a broken link, the ends are made of plastic and that's not comforting to everyone, I'm in that camp, mine showed up today.

I don't like the plastic transmission oil pan, either, as another example. It's on the bottom of the truck where it's vulnerable to puncture from rocks, sticks, tree limbs, etc while passing under the truck on fire roads, off roading etc

I put a nice skid plate in mine protecting it, I'd have swapped to a metal pan by now but my trans died and was replaced so I'll wait till 10k miles on the truck to swap the trans pan.

There's also the little 'tinkering' fix lots of guys get wrenching on their trucks and this happens to be a pretty simple upgrade on a weak part. Win - Win regardless if it's a common point of failure or not.

 

[Markubis]

Great, now I need to upgrade the sway bar links....

 

[fjwlobo]

Unfortunately, given enough stress, heating, and cooling most things made of plastic (a lot of parts on this truck are) will eventually break.
???

The downside of weight reduction and cost cutting.

I believe a few people on here have already reported putting a hole in or cracking their transmission pan. I'm waiting ? for the trucks to start having problems with the radiator and/or the intercooler because of the plastic end caps. ???

 

[Count Desmondo]

Who knows, man, some of us aren't comfortable or happy with some of the engineering choices made on these trucks.

We've got at least one member with a broken link, the ends are made of plastic and that's not comforting to everyone, I'm in that camp, mine showed up today.

I don't like the plastic transmission oil pan, either, as another example. It's on the bottom of the truck where it's vulnerable to puncture from rocks, sticks, tree limbs, etc while passing under the truck on fire roads, off roading etc

I put a nice skid plate in mine protecting it, I'd have swapped to a metal pan by now but my trans died and was replaced so I'll wait till 10k miles on the truck to swap the trans pan.

There's also the little 'tinkering' fix lots of guys get wrenching on their trucks and this happens to be a pretty simple upgrade on a weak part. Win - Win regardless if it's a common point of failure or not.

Been putting this off for too long. Do I need to jack the whole front end up or just the corner to swap sway bar links? Dealer installed my Fox 2.0 leveling kit FROM Ford Performance. Later the drivers side end link popped off the bottom and the dealer wouldn't own it. Claiming that since I lifted the truck it needs extended links....how in the f did they install it in the first place?!!

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