I have a 2000 Century I bought recently and have a suspension problem. When I got the car inspected, I was informed the left tie rod was bent. I had driven it for 6 months and didn’t feel any problems except a slight vibration. The tires weren’t the greatest so I replaced all four. I also replaced all four struts and springs, the front control arms, stabilizer bushings, tie rod ends, and both inner tie rods. When I completely turn the wheels, the tie rods are rubbing the stabilizer bar. I’m concerned they will bend, that’* why I did all the replacements. I had it inspected and aligned after the repairs and they didn’t mention any problems. Does anyone have a clue why the rods would be hitting the stabilizer bar and what can I do to fix it? I should also note that I do ALL my own work, taking it somewhere is an extremely last resort.

With out seeing it I would guess the stabilizer bar could actual be mounted upside down
Is the curve in the middle facing up or down?

Someone at work suggested this as well. I'll crawl under it tomorrow evening and check. I remember seeing a "China" and "Driver Side" labels on the bottom when I was under it. The bar looked newer than the rest of the car and I wondered if it had been changed. There was an old lady who owned it, she died and the family sold it to me so I don't know it'* history. It only has 103K and came with a ton of problems that I haven't had time to look at yet. Mostly electrical from what I can see. As far as running, I'm impressed. Gets great mileage, comfortable, and plenty of room. I had rotator surgery a week ago so working on a car wasn't on the list of things I'm supposed to be doing, but...


I appreciate the quick reply, I'll see what I can find out. Thanks!

as I remember the curve points up blocking the drivers side rack bolt hope full you have a bar that'* solid some had a cheep one with stamped ends that could brake or rust out

I got under it tonight and the middle of the bar is pointing up. There is a “Driver’* Side Down” painted on the bottom, (on the driver’* side), and a part number that looks like “927-100-965 12103 China” also. I may not have all the number though. That bar does not seem like the original part. I don’t know if that’* the wrong bar or if there’* something else. When the wheels are straight I have about .37 clearance between the bar and the tie rod, when the wheels are turned it is hitting and I can see it bending the tie rod. Could the rack itself be too low or isn’t that possible? Both sides have the same problem. It went through the inspection and to a different place for alignment and neither mentioned anything being wrong. Any ideas???

That'* a replacement Dorman OE Solutions 927-100 Replacement Sway Bar
for your car
I cant tell is the stud on the outer tie rod end pointing down or up it should be down with the nut on the bottom of the knucklel

If that’* the right sway bar, and for now I’ll assume it’sinstalled correctly, then this reallyhas me confused. The tie rod end is installed correctly with the nut down. Otherthan a wreck, I’m not sure why the stabilizer bar would be replaced. If the originalrusted that bad I would think a whole lot of other items would have been bad. Thelower control arm on the left did have a small hole rusted and that’* partiallywhy I changed everything. The car is basically un-drivable the way it is. I’mwondering if Rockauto somehow shipped the wrong parts.

I would suggest looking at the rack bushings they could be soft and moving only when weight is on car in full pressure right or left turns
And get 2 MOOG inner tie rod ends
Orellys sells them
or other places
make sure they say problem solver on them engraved on the rod part
I have seen some that don't I think they could be counterfeit
made out of weak steel
and to get more clearance
Try loosen all the sway bar mounts up first the ends and the mounts
then center the outer sway bar bushings in the holes with the bar real loose
tighten the outers up first
then the main ones on the sway bar
If you still have clearance problems let me know
I have a 01 REGAL same thing as yours its jacked up I will see what clearance I have

send a picture of both sides of the sway bar mounting to the lower a frame

You may be on to something but let me back up a little. We may have put 100 miles on since the inspection and alignment. I can’t drive since I had the surgery and she drove me to work once. When she picked me up we just started to move and make a left turn and I felt and heard a clunk that I thought was coming from the right front wheel. I got out and had her turn the wheel back and forth. Not every time but a couple of times I saw the wheel seem to grab and thought it was loose but that wasn’t the case. I thought the tie rod end was loose. She didn’t feel any problems going home but it’* nearly all open highway. That’* when we brought it home, jacked it up, and saw what was going on.
Now your comment about the tightening procedure got me thinking. I did tighten the outer ends last instead of first that could be causing it to stay higher than normal.I didn’t look at the rack and didn’t even know it had bushings. I’m going to crawl under it again this weekend and will pull the sway bar and reinstall it. I’ll get some pictures of the bar end connection and anything else that could help. Having an arm in a sling definitely slows down the process!!!


I really appreciate the help, I’ve noticed lately a lot of boards you never get answers.