# Stabilizer Bar

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** suspension, bravada, oldsmobile\
**Created:** [January 18, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131 "2011-01-18T21:22:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mslagrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@mslagrl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mslagrl)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131/1 "2011-01-18T21:22:53Z")

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I recently received a hand me down 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada.  
  
  
  
 I recently had an oil change at a mass market place and the technician told me that my stabilizer bar was broken. Which was not unexpected as right before I took possession of the car I was warned that there were issues with the suspension system. I know this needs to be repaired and want to address it quickly, however I have a couple of questions.  
  
  
  
 1) How much should a repair like this cost?  
  
  
  
 2) Is it possible to continue to drive this vehicle safely in the short term?  
  
  
  
 Obviously I don’t want to spend a lot of money but I also want to stay safe. Any advice or guidance is appreciated.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131/2 "2011-01-18T21:38:04Z")

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You don’t say if this is in the front or rear. Most likely (be it either front or rear) it is a sway bar link that is broken, although it is possible for the actual bar to be broken. It would worry me quite a bit if the actual bar was broken as these are pretty strong pieces and it would take a good hit to break one. I will not say “drive on” with any suspension component broken, but I would not walk over it either.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131/3 "2011-01-19T01:33:38Z")

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A broken front sway bar or link can give the rear end an annoying tendency to swap places with the front suddenly and unexpectedly, on a slippery road.  
I speak from experience.

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**Author:** ![mslagrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@mslagrl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mslagrl)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131/4 "2011-02-18T18:37:02Z")

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Thanks.

It was the sway bar link that was broken.

The sway bar links have been replaced and I will say the handling is much tighter.

The repair total was roughly $100.

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stabilizer-bar/60131/5 "2011-02-18T18:40:07Z")

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That’s not a bad price at all. Glad you had the work done - you’ll be safer.