After about 20 years of off roading all over the world, I think I have managed to break just about every possible component that you can break, and some that you can't. Thing is, usually I know how I did it... Slamming into that tree over there broke it. Bashing into that rock did it. Getting hung up and using the skinny pedal too much caused it to snap. Well, today I have a new one. I bent my sway bar link. By bent, I mean it is now a U. I have no clue what happened, and I spent the hour drive home wondering how it happened. Any suggestions?

Here is the story. The obstacle was a smallish hill with a deep muddy rut in the drivers side going up, a slight left turn as you crest the hill, and a series of deep muddy ruts right up to the bank on the passenger side going down the hill. The line I chose was to stay to the left on the way up, and then on the right on the way down, putting my wheels into the rut going up and then using the sidewall to dig into the wall on the right as I was going down in order to remain somewhat level and prevent the Jeep from getting too off kilter and scraping the body on the passenger side on the way down. Also, the rut was very deep, and I didn't want to drag the axle. The line I picked worked quite well, with the exception of the breakage, which I still don't understand. I was in 4wd lo because I wanted the engine breaking on the way down the hill. It was long and steep with lots of loose sand towards the middle. I had the sway bar disconnected via the edisco from the beginning of the obstacle. Rear diff was locked on the way up because of the rut, but unlocked at the crest. I am pretty sure I only had the rear locker on.

I will try to load up the pics that I have.

Any ideas on how it got bent?

 

At the start of the obstacle. Note the passenger side sway bar link is still straight.

 

Here it is just coming over the crest, with a nice pause for a dramatic pic. Notice the passenger side sway bar link is already bent. The sway bar is dropped way low, and the link is bent around the drag link.

 

Just in case anyone was wondering. 2008 Rubicon Unlimited. Clayton 4.5" lift, 37" tires and everything that generally goes with that set up. Still deciding on bumpers.

 

almost the same thing happened to mine but on the driver side, actually twice!!!!!!!! for some reason the e disco stayed on the down position while the spring compresses, I have jks quick disconnects but I don't use them all the time, I also bent the part on the axle where the links connect. i don't know if this makes sense as how it happened. also mi e disco works just fine.

 

This usually happens when your links are too short and flip over I believe.

 

Thanks, that makes sense about them flipping over, but I doubt that they were too short. But then again, anything is possible.

Unfortunately I don't have a better or bigger pic.

 

ding ding ding ding We have a winner!

 

Yep. 4 sure...........

 

That is exactly what happened to me. The link is too short. I have a teraflex lift and talked to them and they sent me longer links and no prob since.