Sway Bar Explained: Link and Bushing Fault Diagnosis

Purpose

The sway bar links left and right suspension; it resists body roll through torsion when cornering.

Principle

• Opposite wheel travel (one up one down) twists the bar, creating resistance
• Same-direction travel (both up over a bump) - bar inactive, comfort kept

Link Failure

• Worn ball joint - "clunk" over bumps (top chassis noise source)
• Check: lift, shake the link, replace if play
• Easy swap: two nuts, cheap part

Bushing Failure

• Old cracked bushings - bar knocks body ("creak/clunk")
• Noticeable at low speed over one-side bumps
• Replace with bracket removed, grease on install

Diagnosis

• Noise + more body roll? Check links first
• Noise over one-side bumps but not both wheels? Classic sway bar issue

Huami supplies sway bar links and bushings.