HELP! Stabilizer Bar Link

I'm in the process of replacing my lower ball joints right now. 96 4wd with 3.4L and 5spd. I noticed the stabilizer bar link doesn't look quite right, but I don't know anything about them so this may be normal. Do I need to run to the parts store and replace this while I'm working on stuff?

 

You are missing the nut that holds the bottom of the link to the lower control arm. You should get one. Not gonna hurt anything to drive it, but put it on your shopping list.

 

Brake hose appears cracked as well

 

Should I go ahead and replace the whole thing since they're not that expensive? Or is it fine? I'm not sure if it is supposed to be at that angle. But again...I don't know anything about this stuff.

 

That'll have to wait for another day. One thing at a time...budget reasons.

 

Just the nut. Everything else looks normal.

 

Cool, thanks for the info. Any idea where to get just the nut?

 

Take the one off the other side and take it to an auto parts store.

 

The other side doesn't have one either, lol

 

Drive to the auto parts store and find one that fits. Check right there in the parking lot.

 

Getting cremated instead of buried will save you money too.

 

M10x1.25 Nuts.

You need to use the allen wrench to hold it to torque the nut down otherwise it will just spin

 

The link in the picture looks healthy. I would just get the nuts and tighten everything down. But if it's easier for you to buy new links also not a hard job to replace.

 

That dry rotting brake line is something you'll want to replace quicker than those missing nuts on your swaybar links. Priorities, man....

 

From your picture it looks like the nut on top of the link has not been tightened down enough. You should see some compression on both the upper and lower rubber pads. On my 1998 TRD if I tighten those nuts to the torque spec, the pads will flatten, so I just tighten them until the pads are oval shaped and nowhere near the torque spec. And yes, the stabilizer bar does hang at a funny angle. I know, it's a subjective matter, but you may want to consider it.

 

It might be differant on a 96' but my 03's control arm end link bolts were deformed thread. Regular bolts should work just fine, however maybe put some blue locktite on them or something.

I've since removed my sway bar so the end links are no longer an issue.

 

Its possible that those threads are boogered up, and the new nut will not go on.
You could look for an entire link at a wreckers (including hardware/bushings).

 

I really wish they kept that style sway bar for the 01-04. I may just switch to run longer links