rear sway bar broken..

2fast2c · Oct 28, 2013

Hi Guys,

I have 04 V8 with air suspension with 120k miles. Just replaced all four tires and when I went to pick it up, they said rear sway bar behind driver's side is broken. It was a Merchant tires. They gave me a quote for $260 including installation, is this right?

Secondly, I don't they are the right people to do this job. I've been reading couple of threads but can't figure out what's the best solution for mine.
I don't do off roading, just city and highway drive. I want to fix it with minimum amount. Please help.

thanks

Hammerdog · Oct 28, 2013

You need to find out exactly what is broken. The clips, brackets and bushings for the rear bar are anywhere from $20.00 to $65.00 each and the bar itself is around $250.00. (does not include shipping) You can fix a broken bushing or clap if you have the right tools, floor jack, jack stands, metric socket set and torque wrench.

If their quote is just for one broken bushing, you are being charged mostly labor fees. I would also get a second quote at an alignment shop if you plan on not fixing it yourself.

2fast2c · Oct 29, 2013

I actually got underneath the car and got some info out of my swaybar. Part # is 7L0511025B, when I called VW dealer gave my vin #they told me part# is
7P0511025G. I guess this is new part # for my 04 V8 with air suspension in case any one needs part # for it. Dealer wants $269, 1stvwparts.com wants $200. From the look of other parts such as bushings and sway bar links seems ok. Should I just replace bar or bushings and links as well??

Hammerdog · Oct 29, 2013

Does the bar look like it is broke and needs replacing? Normally, a bracket or bushing breaks or wears out before the sway bar. 1stvwparts.com is great source for parts, but if you still live on the east coast, I would order from keffervwparts.com. They are as good as 1stvwparts.com, but are much closer to you and you might save money in shipping. I have ordered from both of them and never had any issues.

noobytoogy · Oct 29, 2013

The rear anti-roll bar can snap. Mine went and it wasn't the first I'd heard of.

I got a near new bar off a Porsche together with the links and bushes for the equivalent of about US$60.

Another US$60 got it fitted in about 45 minutes.

The old parts came out easy as the bar was in two pieces! To get the new bar in they had to drop the big suitcase silencer a bit.

Needless to say, this wasn't at a dealer!

2fast2c · Oct 30, 2013

noobytoogy said:
The rear anti-roll bar can snap. Mine went and it wasn't the first I'd heard of.

I got a near new bar off a Porsche together with the links and bushes for the equivalent of about US$60.

Another US$60 got it fitted in about 45 minutes.

The old parts came out easy as the bar was in two pieces! To get the new bar in they had to drop the big suitcase silencer a bit.

Needless to say, this wasn't at a dealer!

Yes, strange but links and bushing looked fine. It just snapped at where bushing is and looks corroded.
wow, where did you get that deal? Was it a used parts or new? Bar alone is around $200....

noobytoogy · Oct 30, 2013

A new bar here in the UK is twice that! The dealer quoted over two hours labour too so the potential bill was heading towards the equivalent of US$1,000!

e-bay was my source.

It's also a stiffer bar but I can't say I noticed much difference between that and the broken one! Perhaps I don't drive round corners fast enough!!

rear sway bar broken..

2fast2c

Hammerdog

2fast2c

Hammerdog

noobytoogy

2fast2c

noobytoogy

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