Worn Sway Bar Bushing sound

(Recommend listening with headphones or sound system with sub-woofer)

This is what a worn front sway bar bushing sounds like from the cabin in a mazdaspeed3 going through bumps. The DEEP THUDDING SOUND is the sound it makes.

To verify its the bushing, safely jack both front wheels (or back wheels) off the ground and grab on to the sway bar around the wheel well and start shaking the sway bar. There should be no play. Dont use the end links to check for play.

Another way to be more certain is going through uneven bumps should make the sound more pronounced then even bumps straight on (going through a speed bump straight on)
In my case the front driver side was shaking more than the passenger side. You must jack both sides, jacking one side is useless because the sway bar will be under load and shaking it wouldnt be obviously evident.

After I replacing to an stiffer aftermarket bushing, total silence!

Car has 54k KM on it but often driven at the race track.

[Driver]

0:03 4 Thudding sounds from swaybar
0:15 2 thudding sounds from swaybar
0:19 2 thudding sound from swaybar

Worn Swaybar component can be a variety of things such as bushing, loose endlink nut, worn endlink. Other component that might make similar like sound is one side of the vehicle having worn lower control arm and more. Always consult a professional to diagnose the issue

[northernalphs]

Had the same thing on my 2006 Chevy Malibu. Replaced the rear shocks and the rear trailing arms and the noise was even worse. I couldn't believe it was just the bushings allowing the sway bar to make that much noise! I thought for sure it was a shock or something.

[tomshiba]

Finally, a video that explains that sound coming from under my car. Thank you for not elaborately explaining things and allowing the video to speak for itself.

[trulysick]

I love watching these videos reminds me of how glad I am the suspension on my 98 f150 lasted 155k miles

[hammertimee]

Very informative video. I had this EXACT sound coming from one of my cars a couple years ago. I ordered and replaced many old suspension parts all at once by myself and the car became completely silent. The problem was that I couldn't figure out which part was causing the problem as multiple parts were replaced at the same time. Now my 350Z has this very same sound and I, too, suspect sway bar bushings, but was unsure. This video confirms it.

[justinschmock]

I think you helped me finally figure out after months what the hell that noise is!

[smokeyfication]

Thank you for posting! Just pulled my rear bar and regreased cos I have this EXACT sound and it was driving me crazy, grease helped a little but its still there so ill have to look into bushings. Thanks again, glad to hear that sound for once haha

[ronkentwellstein]

thanks for your reply, but I even took the sway bar off and the noise was still there, now I think its when I got a alignment they adjusted the suspension without tension on it, it says in the manual that the car has to be under tension, I have replaced everything all new and I even brought tools to check specs of all component, s.it only started after getting new tyres so I think when they put my car up on lift, when they adjusted the eccentric bolts the suspension was just hanging not under what's called layden.I even took rear shocks of for the 4th time and made shore all rubbers aligned, from trawling arms control arms, struts top mounts and rubbers everything is new and checked toured to specks, it sounds like top mount loose but reading my manual I am thinking the suspensions are not adjusted under tension, sway bar links bushings all new and checked.I am going to a new mechanic with my manual on Friday so hope this is my problem, thanks for your input, I even brought all Hyundai parts as I found a place that any Hyundai parts new over 12 years old 75% off and free post so that's how I got all new genuine parts, except struts Monroe and king spring s, they were to costly in the post as to weight, but sway bar links rubbers the list goes on, Hyundai here Australia wanted $165 purge valve I got genuine from Korea $35 free post, electric aerial here $375 Korea $70, but as to my suspension can't wait to see what this mechanic thinks about it being preloaded, its a pain hearing this noise over uneven road speed humps fine anyway thanks I'll c how it goes on Friday, thanks

[garythecarwashkid]

My mg zt has been having a similar sound but mechanic said its a broken droplink, so if that dosent fix it its good to know it could be sway bar bushing!

[AJ-zbiq]

Thanks for the video! Sounds exactly like my boyfriends 2006 Mazda 3i sedan. I think its the same car too Lol. Will be replacing the sway bar links, along with the bushings, ball joints, and control arms.

[deletesoon]

That sounds exactly like a signal relay clicking -.-

[Driver]

Its highly unlikely bad bushings will cause lateral movement because they are in charge of up and down movement of the wheel only. Changed tires recently? If i were you i'll check rear tire pressure, jack the back end off the floor and try moving the wheels laterally. Make sure the front tires have wooden blocks to prevent movement. That should tell you where the problem is easily.

[Riff]

My rear sway bar on my s13 coupe fell off on one side today....lets just say people were staring and i was laughing my ass off...i fix one thing on the car and another thing fucks up but thats i why i love her

[BlackOpSource]

Thanks for this. My '05 2.3 hatch has some sort of clunk in the front suspension. Would be much happier to find out it's a sway bushing than something in the control arms. For some reason it never even occurred to me that it might be the sway or end link.

[Driver]

To be sure, just jack up either the both front or both back wheels and try moving the sway bar, if there is play then its the bushing's fault. Are you talking about dropping the clutch on 2nd gear or slowly engaging 2nd gear? Because I race my car and dropping the clutch does make a thud sound

[soaringabovesights]

Yup I have that sound, thought it was my strut but I'm pretty sure it's the sway bar

[PhilBourgeois]

Had the same thing on my ms3. When you undone both end links and wiggle the bar it becomes evident there done.

[playstationbigs]

when you press the clutch pedal and put your stick to 2nd gear then quickly release the clutch pedal there's a thuding sound is that normal ?

[Driver]

@tyau1234 To be more certain, jack up your car and move the sway bar around and see if there is play on the bushing area =)

[ronkentwellstein]

I've had a noise in my rear suspension sounds like a knock as if the strut top mounts are loose, I've replaced every bushing shocks top mounts, on uneven ground, I put a bag of sand in the rear and this noise goes away, it started after getting new tyres and a alignment, I read the Hyundai accent 2000 car manual and its to be adjusted while suspension is under a load other words on the ground, this noise is unbearably constant, its OK over speed humps but when driving slow and over little uneven road its like the struts are loose but I've made shore all torqued to specs and double checked everything from sway bar bushings and links when I say everything is been replaced control arms trailing arms the lot this noise fist started after getting new tyres and a alignment, so could the alignment they done it wrong I am at a loss, and this is very annoying, does I even changed knuckle & spindle, but I don't won't to drive around with a bag of sand in the back, help