# Sway bar or struts

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/sway-bar-or-struts/39863>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ion, struts, saturn, rough\
**Created:** [November 22, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sway-bar-or-struts/39863 "2009-11-22T18:42:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbrown2714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@tbrown2714](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tbrown2714)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sway-bar-or-struts/39863/1 "2009-11-22T18:42:13Z")

</div>

Have an 2003 Saturn Ion. Has started to ‘thunk’ when I ride over road roughness Ifilled potholes, etc.) Less noticable when both tire dip together rather than just one side. Dealer says sway bar bushings (~$300). As dealer stability is uncertain, I tried a second opinion at a local tire and mechanic shop. Diagnosis was struts (~$800). Car has 100,000 miles, mostly suburban mid atlantic driving. 300 is more appealing than 800. I’m now concerned that I could have the sway bar fixed and still need 800 in additional work.  
  
  
  
 Given the symptoms, is one problem more likely the case than the other? Could I have both one be masking the other?  
  
  
  
 Thanks …

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sway-bar-or-struts/39863/2 "2009-11-22T23:10:11Z")

</div>

Did either actually put the car up on a lift and look, or are they just guessing based on your description? It could be either, both or something else all together.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbrown2714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@tbrown2714](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tbrown2714)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sway-bar-or-struts/39863/3 "2009-11-23T00:49:54Z")

</div>

Don’t know if either put it on a lift. The only description I gave either was a ‘thunking’ sound on bumps. I didn’t realize the single side aspect until this afternoon. Is there some symptom which would indicate one over the other?

Google has a fair amount of discussion around Ions and the sway bar bushings, not much about struts.

Thanks