What if my stabilizer bar breaks - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis

the stabilizer bar is to help with cornering and heavy wind gusts to keep the vehicle from the feel of floating. it is not a huge problem but can lead to one depending where it broke, if its just the link pins easy and cheap fix. but if the bar its self is broken if can possibly hit suspension or brake lines so check the movement of it

If it's the actual stabilizer bar....remove both stabilizer end links at the top and both frame mounts (4 bolts), remove old stabilizer bar and replace.

Stabiliser links have to be at right angles to the bar and the mounting points on the frame. If they at an angle then the bar will be fatiguing at the thread base and that will be where the failure should be . Being done up too tight and using urethane insulators instead of rubber will also add to your problems The link bars have to ne able to align them selves as the bar flexes

The stabilizer bar could be your problem however, since the clunking sound occurs when you go over bumps and dip it sounds to me that your problem is a bad or broken strut or strut mount. I would suggest that you check all of your struts. If a strut does break off it can potentially cause you to loose a tire while driving . I hope this helps you out, and good luck.

If the bar goes from side to side it is called a sway bar. If it goes from one side to alittle past center it is called the stabilizer bar.

The Galant has both front and rear stabilizer bars. Be sure to check and make sure one of the ball joints have not popped out. You can see the rear stabilizers by looking under the rear bumper at the inside of the wheels. This could be the source of the problem or possibly the bushings that hold the bars are shifting and banging when you apply the brakes.

Section 04-01: Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Front 1996 Windstar Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Stabilizer Bar Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Section 00-02 .
   

1. Support vehicle with hoist or safety stands behind front sub-frame (5C145).
   

1. CAUTION: To avoid damage to the 6 mm drive hole in the front stabilizer bar link ball stud, do not use an Allen wrench to break loose or tighten or final tighten the front stabilizer bar link-to-shock absorber nut.
   Using care not to damage the front stabilizer bar link ball stud seal, remove the RH and LH front stabilizer bar link-to-front shock absorber nut.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Using care not to damage the front stabilizer ball link stud seal, remove the RH and LH front stabilizer bar link-to-front stabilizer bar nut.
   

1. CAUTION: Use extreme care not to damage the ball joint boot.
   With another set of support safety stands under front sub-frame, remove two rear sub-frame retaining bolts. Lower rear of the front sub-frame to obtain access to stabilizer bar brackets (5486).
   

1. Remove front stabilizer bar bracket bolts, stabilizer bar brackets, stabilizer bar bracket insulators and front stabilizer bar (5482) as required.
   

Installation

1. Clean front stabilizer bar to remove dirt and contamination in area of stabilizer bar bracket insulator installation position.
   

1. Lubricate inside diameter of new stabilizer bar bracket insulator with Rubber Suspension Insulator Lube E25Y-19553-A meeting Ford specification ESF-M99B112-A or equivalent. Do not use any mineral or petroleum based lubricants as they will deteriorate the rubber stabilizer bar bracket insulators.
   

1. Install new stabilizer bar bracket insulators onto front stabilizer bar and position them in approximate location.
   

1. Install stabilizer bar bracket on stabilizer bar bracket insulators and install new bolts. Tighten to 55-63 Nm (40-46 lb-ft).
   

1. Raise front sub-frame and install new front sub-frame-to-body retaining bolts. Tighten to 115-132 Nm (85-97 lb-ft).
   

1. Install front stabilizer bar link (5K483) to front shock absorber. Use care not to damage link ball joint boot seal.
   

1. CAUTION: To avoid damage to the 6 mm drive hole in the front stabilizer bar link ball stud, do not use an Allen wrench to break loose or tighten or final tighten the front stabilizer bar link-to-shock absorber nut.
   Install a new front stabilizer bar link-to-shock absorber nut. Tighten to 90-100 Nm (66-74 lb-ft).
   
   

I just replaced 2 front stabilizer links and it was easy. You have to jack up both wheels make sure you take off both front tires makes it easier too work on take the top nut off on link by stabilizer bar first if you break it off dont worry its ok then take off bottom nut from the frame where the link goes thru put in new link tighten bottom nut first then tighten top nut dont over tighten top nut to much just enough that the threaded shaft is about a 1 1/4 inches above the nut do the same on the other side.

please give good rating if this helps


Section 04-01: Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Front 1996 Taurus, Sable Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Stabilizer Bar Removal

1. Raise vehicle on a hoist. Refer to Section 00-02 .
   

1. Support vehicle with hoist or safety stands behind front sub-frame (5C145).
   

1. CAUTION: Use extreme care not to damage boot seal. Do not use power tools to tighten nut, or bearing and seal damage will result. Install nut using hex hold feature to prevent the stud from rotating.
   Remove and discard nuts retaining stabilizer bar link (5K484) assembly to front stabilizer bar (5482) and front shock absorber (18124) with an 8 mm closed-end wrench and an 18 mm open-end wrench.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove nuts retaining steering gear (3504) to front sub-frame, and move steering gear off the front sub-frame.
   

1. With another set of support safety stands under front sub-frame, remove two rear subframe retaining bolts. Lower rear of the front sub-frame to obtain access to stabilizer bar brackets (5486).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove front stabilizer bar U-bracket bolts and replacestabilizer bar brackets and/or front stabilizer bar as required. Discard lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator (5493) and bolts.
   

Installation

1. Clean front stabilizer bar to remove dirt and contamination in area of stabilizer bar insulator installation position.
   

1. Lubricate inside diameter of new lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator with Rubber Suspension Insulator Lube E25Y-19553-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESF-M99B112-A. Do not use any mineral or petroleum based lubricants as they will deteriorate the rubber lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators.
   

1. Install new lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators onto front stabilizer bar and position them in approximate location.
   

1. Install stabilizer bar bracket on front sub-frames and install new bolts. Tighten to 30-40 Nm (22-29 lb-ft).
   

1. Raise front sub-frame and install new front sub-frame-to-body retaining bolts. Position steering gear onto front sub-frame and install retaining nuts. Tighten to 115-135 Nm (85-99 lb-ft).
   

1. CAUTION: Use extreme care not to damage boot seal. Do not use power tools to tighten nut, or bearing and seal damage will result. Install nut using hex hold feature to prevent the stud from rotating.
   Install stabilizer bar link to front shock absorber and to front stabilizer bar, making sure that the stabilizer bar link is properly positioned. The letters "Top LH" and "Top RH" are moulded into the stabilizer bar link for correct assembly to the front shock absorber strut.
   

1. Install new nuts and secure stabilizer bar link assembly to front stabilizer bar and front shock absorber. Tighten to 77-103 Nm (57-75 lb-ft) at front shock absorber strut and 47-63 Nm (35-46 lb-ft) at front stabilizer bar.
   

1. Remove safety stands.
   

1. Lower vehicle.
   

Not very often a stabilizer bar goes out unless it breaks but that is rare. Thumping under vehicle on bumps etc., could indicate worn bushings, or the strut rods/ links at wheel "A" frames could be shot or worn. One of the most obvious signs would be excessive lean/roll on turns.