Finally got around to taking apart my front end. My front end has been rattling like crazy even at low speeds over the smallest of bumps.

Since I was taking apart the sway links anyways, I went ahead and swapped out the bushings with energy suspension polyurethanes for the end links and 36mm bushings for the bar itself. Took about 3.5-4 hrs to get everything done, some rust issues, and a sheared off upper link (see pics). Happy to say the front end is quiet as can be now. Handles btter now too that my sway bar is no longer essentially disconnected. Apart from the really bad one in the pic, the passenger side had over 3/8" of play in it.

Apparently this is the result of what I'm assuming is OEM sway links with 170k on them:

 

I had a knock in my front end too for about a month just recently and i thought sure it was an axle issue since i had just had them changed. Low and behold, it turned out to be a broken sway bar link just like yours. Simple fix that makes a world of difference.

 

Geez those look pretty bad. I have 170k on mine and they arent disconnected yet but are loose. I just cant bring myself to pay the price the parts stores are requiring for new ones.

 

I think the moog links were like $90 for the pair and the bushings were $25 I think. Not exactly cheap.

 

Less then $100 for the pair of new end links (Greaseable too):

2002 1500 Ram:

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/200..._bar_link.html

Just make sure you choose RWD or 4WD They are different.

 

Dang it, I thought this thread was gonna help me figure out my rattling noise, but I took my sway bar off over a year ago and still a bunch of rattles, especially at slow speeds. I've been under that truck so many times with a rubber mallet and still have no idea.

I agree, the price that the local part stores wanted for the sway bar end links was ridiculous.

 

Gotta be bushings or something like that. Sorry to disappoint you . But this solved my front end rattle .

 

I wonder if my lower control arm bushings would be the cause. Mine seems to rattle more if I have light pressure on the brakes but I've taking apart the brakes many times and they are tight.

 

This is an old thread but sounds like the problems I'm having. Did you ever get this resolved? My issue is worse during the cold months (which you don't have a problem with). I'd like to have an idea of any solution before I have this checked out.
Thanks.

 

10 days is old? I've seen 3 or 4 year old threads get brought back from the dead.