Well then...

[giant_mtb]

My car got an alignment today, and I had the suspension checked out as well.  They replaced the front-left half-shaft (I think, unless it was a steering knuckle?  I can't remember, I'll ask my dad again when he gets home).  And also, I had a giant rattle in the back which I thought and you guys (I made a thread before) thought was a bad strut, a strut bearing, strut housing, or sway bar bushing.  Turns out that the rear sway bar was "completely off the frame" in the back-right, so they "thought about welding it back on" but then they decided to simply take it off completely...and they said that it would have no effect on the vehicle's handling characteristics or driveability.

Oh, and my gas tank leaks when it's near-full.

But...they took my sway bar off completely?  What the hell?  Will it really have no effect on my handling characteristics?  When my dad told me over the phone that they just decided to take it off completely, I almost said "what the hell?" out loud...

?


EDIT:  It was the front-left tie rod they replaced...what exactly is that, again?  Steering?

[Eye of the Tiger]

My car got an alignment today, and I had the suspension checked out as well.? They replaced the front-left half-shaft (I think, unless it was a steering knuckle?? I can't remember, I'll ask my dad again when he gets home).? And also, I had a giant rattle in the back which I thought and you guys (I made a thread before) thought was a bad strut, a strut bearing, strut housing, or sway bar bushing.? Turns out that the rear sway bar was "completely off the frame" in the back-right, so they "thought about welding it back on" but then they decided to simply take it off completely...and they said that it would have no effect on the vehicle's handling characteristics or driveability.

Oh, and my gas tank leaks when it's near-full.

But...they took my sway bar off completely?? What the hell?? Will it really have no effect on my handling characteristics?? When my dad told me over the phone that they just decided to take it off completely, I almost said "what the hell?" out loud...

?

WTF!? I hope you didn't get charged for "sway bar removal", because that's a piss-poor repair job right there!

[giant_mtb]

Well, I guess the reason for taking the sway bar off completely was because they couldn't weld it back on since my gas tank leaks...which would be bad.

[The Pirate]

Well, I guess the reason for taking the sway bar off completely was because they couldn't weld it back on since my gas tank leaks...which would be bad.

I wouldn't worry too much, it's not like you are going to track the car.  I had the same issue with my Pontiac Bonneville, and I took it off as well.  Drove the car for another 40K miles without any issues related to the lack of a swaybar.

[Secret Chimp]

When auto makers first started using stabilizer bars, they only put them up front, as that was where most of the weight was (big V8 and big automatic). If you ever push your car it will understeer more, but it's a Monte Carlo, so it doesn't matter :P

[giant_mtb]

When auto makers first started using stabilizer bars, they only put them up front, as that was where most of the weight was (big V8 and big automatic). If you ever push your car it will understeer more, but it's a Monte Carlo, so it doesn't matter :P

Actually, yes, it does because I drive this vehicle in the winter, and it understeered enough as it was.  And I hate the feeling of the front end pushing anyway, so going around corners even without actual slipping understeer I'm going to be able to feel it.  Ugh.

Oh well...I've got the e-brake for the winter.

[Rupert]

I don't think it will affect snow handling because the sway bar works by redistributing forces from the suspension across the car, and in the snow, there aren't enough forces to make a difference.

(Am I correct, people who know more?)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I don't think it will affect snow handling because the sway bar works by redistributing forces from the suspension across the car, and in the snow, there aren't enough forces to make a difference.

(Am I correct, people who know more?)

you are mostly correct... there just isn't enough traction in the snow

[giant_mtb]

I suppose that's true. 

[JYODER240]

Did they remove the front or rear sway?

[Soup DeVille]

My car got an alignment today, and I had the suspension checked out as well.? They replaced the front-left half-shaft (I think, unless it was a steering knuckle?? I can't remember, I'll ask my dad again when he gets home).? And also, I had a giant rattle in the back which I thought and you guys (I made a thread before) thought was a bad strut, a strut bearing, strut housing, or sway bar bushing.? Turns out that the rear sway bar was "completely off the frame" in the back-right, so they "thought about welding it back on" but then they decided to simply take it off completely...and they said that it would have no effect on the vehicle's handling characteristics or driveability.

Oh, and my gas tank leaks when it's near-full.

But...they took my sway bar off completely?? What the hell?? Will it really have no effect on my handling characteristics?? When my dad told me over the phone that they just decided to take it off completely, I almost said "what the hell?" out loud...

?


EDIT:? It was the front-left tie rod they replaced...what exactly is that, again?? Steering?

Front or rear sway?

Yes, the tie-rod is a very important steering part. Its connected to the rack, and without it your tire will just go all floppy.

[JYODER240]

If they removed the front-sway the car will want to oversteer, if the removed the rear-sway it will understeer more.

[giant_mtb]

They removed the rear sway bar.

[S204STi]

My car got an alignment today, and I had the suspension checked out as well.? They replaced the front-left half-shaft (I think, unless it was a steering knuckle?? I can't remember, I'll ask my dad again when he gets home).? And also, I had a giant rattle in the back which I thought and you guys (I made a thread before) thought was a bad strut, a strut bearing, strut housing, or sway bar bushing.? Turns out that the rear sway bar was "completely off the frame" in the back-right, so they "thought about welding it back on" but then they decided to simply take it off completely...and they said that it would have no effect on the vehicle's handling characteristics or driveability.

Oh, and my gas tank leaks when it's near-full.

But...they took my sway bar off completely?? What the hell?? Will it really have no effect on my handling characteristics?? When my dad told me over the phone that they just decided to take it off completely, I almost said "what the hell?" out loud...

?


EDIT:? It was the front-left tie rod they replaced...what exactly is that, again?? Steering?

The tie rod makes the link between your steering rack and the steering knuckle.

As for completely removing the rear sway bar, your car is now guaranteed to understeer more that it normally would, which is in fact a significant impact on the handling and safety of the car.  You should have them repair whatever broke, it sounds like they are saying that the bracket on the rear subframe broke off, but more likely a mount just broke, which should be easily replaced. 

I hate mechanics sometimes.

[S204STi]

BTW, if they simply remove the fuel tank they should be able to weld it up just fine.  Yeah, it costs more money though/...

[AutobahnSHO]

BTW, if they simply remove the fuel tank they should be able to weld it up just fine.? Yeah, it costs more money though/...

Not that hard, though, especially if he drives till it's almost empty.

Stupid Tauruses had the pump IN the tank, and were prone to failure every 80k miles or so....     

My SHO's died a few days before Christmas. 

[giant_mtb]

The tie rod makes the link between your steering rack and the steering knuckle.

As for completely removing the rear sway bar, your car is now guaranteed to understeer more that it normally would, which is in fact a significant impact on the handling and safety of the car.  You should have them repair whatever broke, it sounds like they are saying that the bracket on the rear subframe broke off, but more likely a mount just broke, which should be easily replaced. 

I hate mechanics sometimes.

Well, nothing I can do now, it's all taken off and done with.  And yes, I did notice a little more push in the front end of the car, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it...

[S204STi]

Not that hard, though, especially if he drives till it's almost empty.

Stupid Tauruses had the pump IN the tank, and were prone to failure every 80k miles or so....? ? ?

My SHO's died a few days before Christmas.?

Pretty much any car is going to have the fuel pump in the tank.  Sometimes it can be a pain, other times it's wicked easy.  It took me half an hour to do one in a Pontiac minivan today, payed 3.1 between diag and installation.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Well, nothing I can do now, it's all taken off and done with. And yes, I did notice a little more push in the front end of the car, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it...

Slam it dude! Get some airbags, that'll fix yer wagon!

[AutobahnSHO]

Pretty much any car is going to have the fuel pump in the tank.? Sometimes it can be a pain, other times it's wicked easy.? It took me half an hour to do one in a Pontiac minivan today, payed 3.1 between diag and installation.

No rusty bolts? 

Are the older ones generally harder??