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Bad Sway bar links. What to get???

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by iskoos, Oct 23, 2019.

  1. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Been having clunking noise for sometime. I was about to get new shocks but got a second opinion. (Glad I did)
    Turned out to be the front sway bar links. Very easy to replace.

    The issue:

    OEMs (Toyota Part # 48820-47020) are going for around $90 (EACH. Not a set!..)

    and

    Aftermarkets could be had for as low as $15 (Set. And shipped).

    I don't want to get the cheapest but cannot convince myself paying over 10 times more for the OEM.
    What's gonna be 10x better if I get OEM?

    Car is at 160k miles and I plan on keeping it for another 40k miles most likely.

    Suggestions/Ideas?

    Thanks

    P.S. I see MOOG K750043 selling for around $25-30 each by reputable online sellers. Anyone used these before?
     
  2. spiralhelix

    spiralhelix Active Member

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    I haven’t had to replace them on my hybrid, so can’t really say anything about Toyota other than mine have lasted over 230k miles. I did have to put some on my truck 60k miles ago. They were about $15 and the bushings still look good. In fact, the cheapos have lasted longer than the original Ford oem. Moog makes good stuff, so I doubt that would be a horrible to choose.

    I have seen the steel brake on some cars, so possibly aftermarket also uses cheaper materials overall?

    Interested to see anyone provide good info on the differences myself.


    -Spiral
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I just replaced these on my 2010, I got some cheapo ones from Amazon made by AC Delco. They work as designed.

    MOOG probably is slightly higher quality and still way cheaper than OEM.
     
  4. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Moot will last longer than cheap ones
     
  5. 2012 Prius v wagon 3

    2012 Prius v wagon 3 Active Member

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    This is a completely non-critical part (some would even say optional). I'm impressed that you wore out the originals. I'd get one level up from the cheapest you can find, assuming you're installing them yourself. If you're paying someone, it's a different optimization.
     
  6. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Bought this car 2 years ago. It was at 142k miles. Noise started about a year later around 150-155k. It wasn't very obvious at first but got worse later. So the originals lasted for 150k miles for me.
    The only money I spent for labor for this car is tire mounting and alignment so far. Everything else done by myself. (y)
    Sway bar links will be replaced by me in my garage for sure:)

    I will most likely order the MOOG. That will be about 1/4 the price of the OEM but will still be about 3 times more than the cheapest one. LOL...
     
  7. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Update...

    I went with Moog Sway Bar links. Ordered them online for $26 each. After shipping everything came to $60 and it arrived very fast (in 48 hours).
    I put them on yesterday and my Prius rides like new:)

    The OEM links I removed were very badly worn. All boots were torn at the ball-link end. Now the car drives so quietly. No more stupid clunking noise. Can't believe I rode her like that for monthso_O

    IMG_20191026_162521312.jpg IMG_20191026_162533703.jpg IMG_20191026_175041586.jpg IMG_20191026_175113171.jpg IMG_20191026_193607031.jpg IMG_20191026_193622089.jpg
     
  8. CharlesPrius

    CharlesPrius Member

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    I agree. I'm just wondering, what is the downside of having to grease them every oil change? I don't have a grease gun/pump.
     
  9. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Oem has no fittings and last 100k miles
     
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Nifty. It's a shame they use grease fittings. They should just be sealed.

     
  11. CharlesPrius

    CharlesPrius Member

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    What u mean by fittings?
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Nipples that you have to pump grease into at every oil change.
     
    TGrracie and tankyuong like this.
  13. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Is there a tutorial you recommend on how to replace sway bar?
     
  14. ToyXW

    ToyXW Active Member

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  15. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    pretty straightforward
     
  16. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Just gotta have 2 jacks, one to hold and the other to line up the links
     
  17. ToyXW

    ToyXW Active Member

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    I also like to put a little blue locktite on the threads to keep the nuts from backing off with vibration
     
  18. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    There's probably some locktite on the threads already.
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  19. wr69

    wr69 Member

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    My 2010 (150k miles) has sway bars with worn out swivel rubber boots, like in your picture. Both appear to be about the same degradation. So I probably need to replace. With these moog sway bars and the grease fittings, what is the expected grease interval? I find it somewhat advantageous to get the OEM ones that don't require greasing but if the MOOG sway bars can go 25-50k miles with no grease application, that seems okay. If i have to grease these things 2x per year of after 5k miles, it seems like too much work, compared to OEM's. Anyone have other suspension recommendations for a 2010 prius with 150k? I have been debating new struts/springs, but the car seems to handle pretty well over bumps still. I'm also eying the swaybar bushings, but these seem to be pretty solid still. Any thoughts on Loctite versus the nylock lock nuts? I saw another individual stating the nylock nuts wouldnt come loose after the first application. Seemed a bit odd to me.
     
  20. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    I just went oem on mine, I hate cheapening out and generally speaking oem has the best parts.