Sway Bar Disconnect Weirdness? - Update!

[dcg2]

Went offroading with my 2021 Badlands today. Spent just about the entire day in 4L with sway bar disconnected. Had a great time. Switched to 2H, turned off sway bar disconnect.

Weirdest thing on the drive home. I had the tires aired down (20 psi) and drove a few miles to a gas station to air up.

After driving for a few moments. I thought I had a flat tire. Steering felt erratic and not good.

Pulled over, checked tires. They were fine. Started back on the road. It was fine.

Couple minutes later it feels like I have death wobble. Pull over again. No blobs of mud stuck in tires. Tie rods look fine.

Get back on road get tires aired up. Back on the road the "death wobble" happens again but not near as long.

Drive the rest of the way home (1 hr)... nothing. Feels right as rain.

Could the sway bar be intermittently disconnecting? I was going well over 20 mph each time this happened.

I got no messages, no codes. It didn't seem to be speed dependent.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

**** UPDATE! ****

Thank you everyone that contributed ideas and thoughts!

Turns out it was a toasted front bushing on the driver's side lower control arm. Dealer was able to confirm the issue and it's being replaced (thank you extended warranty - Bronco has 36,700 miles!) on Friday if the parts come in on time.

Sponsored

 

[SS Bronco]

The sway bar has little no effect on driving at highway speeds. Most likely alinement is out due to the tie rods pulling apart at the inner ball and socket.

 

[dcg2]

The sway bar has little no effect on driving at highway speeds. Most likely alinement is out due to the tie rods pulling apart at the inner ball and socket.

Appreciate your thoughts.

How that would happen 3 times, go away after stopping, and not show up again?

 

[RHeinz]

Sounds like you may have still been in four wheel drive, whether indicated or not. Drivetrain binding exhibits similar symptoms.

 

[swooshdave]

Sounds like you may have still been in four wheel drive, whether indicated or not. Drivetrain binding exhibits similar symptoms.

When he stopped to air up I bet it reset back to 2H.

 

[dcg2]

Sounds like you may have still been in four wheel drive, whether indicated or not. Drivetrain binding exhibits similar symptoms.

Definitely do not think this. I can easily tell the difference between 4H and 2H at highway speed after accidentally leaving it in 4H once and driving for a couple of minutes. Feels different.

My actual first thought was that it was a symptom of the steering rack. Getting "confused" or somehow not functioning properly.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[Mustangbruno]

Lane assist engaged?

 

[Lcubed]

i'm betting on a hunk of mud on the inside of one of the rims
that was not visible.

with or without the sway-bar disconnected, it shouldn't exhibit what you're describing. (the disconnect is either on or off, there's no in-between state)

 

[Snacktime]

You need to stop driving the bronco till you inspect the steering rack bushings and tie rods.

 

[SS Bronco]

Appreciate your thoughts.

How that would happen 3 times, go away after stopping, and not show up again?

The death wobbles can come and go depending on road conditions and speed. Hopefully it’s not a steering issue , but it’s very common in our Broncos to damage the tie rods. I would check the joint to see if it’s been pulled apart.

 

[dcg2]

The death wobbles can come and go depending on road conditions and speed. Hopefully it’s not a steering issue , but it’s very common in our Broncos to damage the tie rods. I would check the joint to see if it’s been pulled apart.

Ok thank you!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Went offroading with my 2021 Badlands today. Spent just about the entire day in 4L with sway bar disconnected. Had a great time. Switched to 2H, turned off sway bar disconnect.

Weirdest thing on the drive home. I had the tires aired down (20 psi) and drove a few miles to a gas station to air up.

After driving for a few moments. I thought I had a flat tire. Steering felt erratic and not good.

Pulled over, checked tires. They were fine. Started back on the road. It was fine.

Couple minutes later it feels like I have death wobble. Pull over again. No blobs of mud stuck in tires. Tie rods look fine.

Get back on road get tires aired up. Back on the road the "death wobble" happens again but not near as long.

Drive the rest of the way home (1 hr)... nothing. Feels right as rain.

Could the sway bar be intermittently disconnecting? I was going well over 20 mph each time this happened.

I got no messages, no codes. It didn't seem to be speed dependent.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Good morning! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

 

[dcg2]

Good morning! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

DMing you now

 

[userdude]

DMing you now

They'll just connect you with a Ford customer support who will direct you to go to your dealer service first.

I would definitely take it in and have the steering system looked at. I had issues when I was driving my Bronco back after replacing the steering rack but couldn't get an alignment before I drove back. Basically it darted around and followed the road in weird ways. What you're describing sounds like something steering related, like bent tie rod, warped rack bushing or CV. I don't know the sway bar will present as death wobble as much as body leaning in turns like on overpasses.

 

[dcg2]

Thank you everyone that contributed ideas and thoughts!

Turns out it was a toasted front bushing on the driver's side lower control arm. Dealer was able to confirm the issue and it's being replaced (thank you extended warranty - Bronco has 36,700 miles!) on Friday if the parts come in on time.

Sponsored