[cscjjd]

Hi,

I changed the passenger side front stabilizer bar link on my 2009 Santa Fe SE because I had started hearing a substantial BAM each time the right front tire hit a medium or larger pothole. The new stabilizer link fixed that problem.

Immediately afterwards I took an 8 day, multi-state, 2500 mile trip and noticed that on two or three occasions, while going over an uneven patch of road (for example, where the roadway transitioned somewhat washboard-like onto a bridge), the front end seemed to lose its normally good grip on the road and drift momentarily a few inches sideways (by momentarily I mean for a perhaps one second and perhaps two or three inches). I never felt in danger but also did not remember this sensation occurring much in the previous 89000 miles that I’ve owned the vehicle. On these two or three occasions, I was traveling in the neighborhood of 55 – 70 mph. On two occasions, the cruise control disengaged.

My thoughts are that it could be…
a) due to my replacing the OEM link with a (very) inexpensive link (from a well known parts store)
b) due to my not replacing both sides with new links (I wanted to see if the new link fixed the original problem prior to replacing both – I do intend to replace the driver side link soon).
c) not really a problem – just something I hadn’t noticed before (or had forgotten) or something that Santa Fe’s of this era do occasionally. I would stress that it has not been happening often, even over bad patches of road, just on two or three occasions.
d) other…????

If you’ve experienced anything similar I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[TalonNF]

That sensation you're describing doesn't seem like it would be related to stabilizer links, although your best bet is to replace the other side also since it's definitely the type of part that should be replaced at the same time.

Also, double check the torque on the 17mm nut that's holdings the links on that you just installed. It's very easy to think they're tight and not realize that the ball inside the link is spinning and the nut isn't tight enough. I usually use a smaller straight vice-grip tool to hold the metal on the back side of the stabilizer link to get that nut good and tight.

If you replace the second link, check all tightness, and you still have the same problem, it may have been something that was there before but you just never noticed. Next thing I would check would be tie-rod ends (inner and outer).

 

[cscjjd]

TalonNF - thanks for your excellent advice. I re-checked the torque and had to add 10 or 15 ft. lbs. to the lower nut to bring it (back?) up to a good 80 ft. lbs (my Haynes manual call for 74 - 88).

Any thoughts about using the (very) inexpensive link (from a well known parts store) rather than a brand named version? I will be replacing the other, or both, links soon.

 

[TalonNF]

No problem at all. RockAuto has some super cheap prices on decent brand name stabilizer links, so if you're going to do it, you may as well get a good brand. I went with the AC Delco advantage line and they seem good so far:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=5626503&cc=1443942&jsn=300

 

[cscjjd]

TalonNF - another good reply...

You are right - Rockauto has the AC Delco link for less $$$ (even with shipping) than I paid for my (not made in U.S.) link.

Thanks for the info and the web link.