Sway Bar Links on 2003 Ford Excursion

Several months ago I had a new set of tires (Faulken Rocky Mountain AT) installed on my 2003 Ford Excursion with a 7.3L diesel motor.  As a matter of course, I usually get the alignment checked and corrected when I install new tires.  This time was no different and I drove straight from the tire install to my favorite repair shop (Advanced Automotive) to get the alignment done.  When I went to pick up the car I was told that my sway bar links were badly worn and needed to be replaced.  In addition, I was told that the front u-joints were in need of repair as well.  None of this is terribly surprising, the vehicle has over 128,000 miles on it and running gear is bound to suffer after high mileage.

While driving the vehicle for the next couple of weeks I noticed that the new tires didn't help improve the tracking of the vehicle.  Neither did the result of getting the alignment adjusted back to specification.  I started researching what impact bad sway bar links would have on vehicle handling and discovered that much of what I thought was being caused by the tires and alignment had nothing to do with either one.  Ever time I changed lanes, running through the normal groves and berms in road way the car would lurch in the same direction as the body leaned through the change in road surface.  All of this seems to be related to the fact that the sway bar links were worn out.  I ended up buying a set of Moog sway bar links (left,right) and having them installed by Advanced Automotive.  These new sway bar links are an order of magnitude better design than the original Ford sway bar links.  Each end of the link is a proper ball joint with Zerk fittings to keep them properly lubricated.  The technician put the Ford factory sway bar links in the boxes and set them in the back seat so I could see them.  It's no wonder handling was poor - the sway bar links were completely trashed.

The truck handles so much better now that it doesn't wonder due to body sway.  In addition, the noises from the front end when hitting normal bumps and transitions is gone.  I should have moved on this much sooner.  I'm thinking of getting the rear links replaced as well since I have no plans on getting rid of this truck any time soon.