Looking for some advice

[J-DUB]

Hi everyone,
I recently purchased a certified used '22 Big Bend with 13k miles from a local ford dealership. When I got the car home I noticed that the previous owner had installed a lift kit (I didnt notice it while looking the car over/on the test drive) and front sway bar end links are missing leaving the front sway bar just hanging disconnected from the shocks. I took the car back to the dealership and asked them:

A-if the addition of aftermarket parts could potentially cause warranty issues for me in the future?

B-if they could either install the missing end links or remove the lift kit entirely and revert the suspension to stock?

They told me don't worry it will be covered under warranty still but they wont add the end links nor remove the kit. When I pushed further they told me "according to Ford leaving the swaybars disconnected is the correct method for installing a lift/leveling kit and they can recommend a 4-wheel shop to take it to if I am still unsatisfied. This does not seem correct to me. I asked to see the documentation and if I could get it noted some place that the car passed certification with the lift kit installed and was denied both these requests. I was then told to call ford customer service directly and see what they suggest. I called ford customer service and they offered no solution/answers either. Can anyone confirm that not having the front swaybar connected after a lift install is the correct/acceptable method? Any suggestion on what you might try given a similar situation with the dealership?
Thank you!

 

[jkeaton]

No, it is not acceptable.

 

[Mark S.]

Someone is shining you on. Ask the dealership if they are willing to sign a liability acceptance letter in the event you lose control of the vehicle because critical suspension components are "disconnected."

Disconnecting the sway bar CAN be beneficial for off-road use to provide more suspension articulation, but they serve a very specific purpose for driving on the road. As top heavy as the Bronco Sport is, I doubt it would pass any of the NHTSA's emergency handling tests without a sway bar.

 

[Rawah652]

Disconnecting the sway bar for off-roading is fine and maybe even desirable in certain situations. I would not drive this vehicle at high speeds on the highway without it connected, especially with a lift kit!! This is bogus that the (St)ealership is not taking care of this issue when they're the ones to sold it to you. I'm assuming it came with some type of dealer warranty. They really need to make right on it.

Personally, I am running a lift kit, and the kit itself came with adjusted sway bar links as the factory links are not going to be the right length after the spacer is installed. If you want a link you don't have to pay for, then the service techs should restore the vehicle to the factory condition (i.e. remove the lift). I can't imagine a dealer paying for links to an unknown aftermarket lift kit. Alternately, if you want to keep the lift, I know HRG sells just the sway bar links for install, and I'm sure a lot of other brands do as well.

https://www.hrgoffroad.com/sway-bar-end-links-for-lifted-2021-2023-bronco-sport/

BTW- If you're wanting to off-road your vehicle, I also highly recommend their front skid plate! It's held up very well to the abuse I've put it through so far and saved my front bumper many times over.

 

[CrashBend]

Hi everyone,
I recently purchased a certified used '22 Big Bend with 13k miles from a local ford dealership. When I got the car home I noticed that the previous owner had installed a lift kit (I didnt notice it while looking the car over/on the test drive) and front sway bar end links are missing leaving the front sway bar just hanging disconnected from the shocks. I took the car back to the dealership and asked them:

A-if the addition of aftermarket parts could potentially cause warranty issues for me in the future?

B-if they could either install the missing end links or remove the lift kit entirely and revert the suspension to stock?

They told me don't worry it will be covered under warranty still but they wont add the end links nor remove the kit. When I pushed further they told me "according to Ford leaving the swaybars disconnected is the correct method for installing a lift/leveling kit and they can recommend a 4-wheel shop to take it to if I am still unsatisfied. This does not seem correct to me. I asked to see the documentation and if I could get it noted some place that the car passed certification with the lift kit installed and was denied both these requests. I was then told to call ford customer service directly and see what they suggest. I called ford customer service and they offered no solution/answers either. Can anyone confirm that not having the front swaybar connected after a lift install is the correct/acceptable method? Any suggestion on what you might try given a similar situation with the dealership?
Thank you!

I have a 2021 BS Outer Banks. I had a lift kit put on it. The sway bar remained and it is still intact. I had a local shop do the work for me as I will not take my Bronco, or any car, to my local Ford Dealer. The shop manager is a "not nice" person. I have almost 25,000 miles on the OB now and no problems with the lift kit or sway bar.

 

[J-DUB]

Thank you guys so much for the insight. I am not new to cars but I am new to the more off road platform of these Bronco sports and this information is extremely helpful. I ordered the sway bar endlinks that Rawah652 suggested so I have a plan b for when the dealership again tells me to get lost. Thanks again!

 

[J-DUB]

Well, I'd like to post a bit of an update to this situation. Happily I can report that after returning to the dealership prepared with some more knowledge, I was able to rationally discuss the issue with a different service manager and they agreed its not correct and they would remove the lift and return the car back to stock. I may be the first person to actively remove a lift on one of these but it clearly wasn't installed right and I can feel better knowing I have everything correct. The difference in response between the 2 service people I spoke to is shocking and goes to show you really have to push to get things done sometimes and not take no for an answer. Thanks again for all the help guys!

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