Loose and missing bolts on stock rear sway bar

[JKTANK]

Look here. By chance I noticed the bracket hanging down. I’m completely missing a bolt and all the other bolts were loose. Oh my.

I used red locktight and tourqued the bolts back down, but still need to replace the missing bolt before the next trip !

Check your bolts.

2018 Windsport 34J

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by JKTANK

Look here. By chance I noticed the bracket hanging down. I’m completely missing a bolt and all the other bolts were loose. Oh my.

I used red locktight and tourqued the bolts back down, but still need to replace the missing bolt before the next trip !

Check your bolts.

2018 Windsport 34J

That sucks, good thing that you caught it.
Why did you feel that you needed to use red instead of blue? If you ever need to replace the sway bar bushings, you will have to take a torch to it with using red. I just think red is overkill.

[Shawn62]

Same thing happened to me last year on my 2017 Windsport 35M. I had to bend the clip back into shape. I got exact replacement bolt at Ace Hardware in Deltona, Florida. Bought an extra to have on hand. I now spend time under the RV on a regular basis checking things out. I bought a good creeper. It even has a cup holder.

[Pete'sMH]

Apparently it happens a lot. And often results in the bracket being broken by the un secure sway bar. I used red Loctite on new bolts and so far so good. While you are at it you might consider replacing the rubber bushing with a urethane one.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

Apparently it happens a lot. And often results in the bracket being broken by the un secure sway bar. I used red Loctite on new bolts and so far so good. While you are at it you might consider replacing the rubber bushing with a urethane one.

If it is apart, I would agree as urethane will far out last the rubber ones.

[Mel556180]

This bracket/bolt failure is well known. Search and you’ll find several threads.

[halfprice]

I believe in 2013 Ford started using polyurethane bushings. So no need to buy new ones unless they are bad

Jerry

[264Sunnyside]

This happened to us too! Thank goodness for this blog. Just bought our 2015 Thor Ace 29.2 at CW in July. We made one trip and thought wow....the handling needs improvement big time. The rig already had the Roadmaster Steering Stabilizer. I checked out this forum and saw many mentions of the F53 sway bar hardware problems. My husband checked and sure enough......one bracket on the rear sway bar was completely missing and the bolts on the other side were loose. Between fixing that issue and the CHF, the rv handles noticeably better.
PLEASE add inspect bolts on sway bar part of your routine maintenance checklist!

[txsport]

bringing this issue back to top, I wasn't aware till sway prevailed. Was able to chase threads where missing bolt pulled last thread.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

I know everyone is looking at there sway bar brackets due to the recall.

My sway bar rubber split bushing is missing, so...

I'm off to CW to see if they can install my Sway Bar rubber split bushing under warranty.

It doesn't seem like this would just fall out. The bushing has edges that are encapsulated by the bolted on bracket.