My Steeda swaybar was absolute garbage and broke in half

[aspect]

I ordered the Steeda rear swaybar back when they came out and let it sit around for a while until installing in Oct 2022. Truck has not been autocrossed, rallycrossed, or even driven on gravel roads more than a couple times. The stiffness of the bar was set to "medium".

After a few months the bar was squeaking constantly, so I shot some more grease into the bushing and that seemed to resolve the issue.

On my way back down from the ski hill last week with about 100lbs of stuff in the back, I noticed some extra clunking from the rear end. This road is paved the whole way, but does have some bumps, potholes, etc. I thought it was just the snowboard gear bouncing around. After unloading everything, the clunk was still there. I stuck my head underneath after a day or two and found that the swaybar apparently had CRACKED IN HALF right by one of the bushing brackets. There is a bit of a washer/spacer/guide attached to the bar at the bushing mount location and it cracked right through the middle of this exact location. The bar is hollow which was not what I expected, but maybe this is standard for all swaybars...I'm not really sure.

I don't really know what to say with this. The shop I work with has never seen a swaybar break, and they build lots of race/rally vehicles. This seems completely unacceptable for a swaybar to break in half under normal vehicle use and speaks to either a super under-engineered product or a disturbing lack of process control in the manufacturing process. I do not understand how a company making suspension components could let this flimsy tube make it into their inventory.

Have I contacted Steeda? Not yet, this just happened today. I'll pass it to them and see what they say...not that I would be particularly enthusiastic about putting another one of their bars back on my vehicle.

EDIT: I contacted Steeda and they are sending another replacement bar. They did not really say much else. I asked for some comments on the failure as I am hesitant to use the replacement one. I will update if I get any more feedback from them.

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[Bwicka]

Beyond wild !
Used a lot of steeds parts back in my fox 5.0 mustang days, had mad respect for their quality!
Keep us posted on the outcome please.
Still unbelievable!
I raced off road for 9 years .Nevada 1000,2000 , Vegas to Reno 6 times Never seen a sway bar broke in half!

 

[fossil]

I've had nothing but good from Steeda.
BTW what grease did you shoot into those poly bushings? I use that supper sticky PITA stuff recommended for poly.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Hmmm, I would have taken the time to contact Steeda before taking the time to declare them junk on social media. I don't know, maybe I'm a patient sort....

 

[mdl20813]

Guess I know what I’ll be checking this weekend. Rear end of my Mav has been noisier than usual recently so let’s see if my Steeda is still in one piece

 

[aspect]

Lol, wow. I wonder what the different Maverick aftermarket swaybar was that cracked in half? Hrmmm.

I will edit my original post with an update from Steeda. They are sending me a replacement bar under warranty but didn't have much else to say. I asked if they can comment on this failure as I'm pretty skeptical of putting another one of these on my truck. I'll post another update when I hear more.

 

[aspect]

Beyond wild !
Used a lot of steeds parts back in my fox 5.0 mustang days, had mad respect for their quality!
Keep us posted on the outcome please.
Still unbelievable!
I raced off road for 9 years .Nevada 1000,2000 , Vegas to Reno 6 times Never seen a sway bar broke in half!

Yeah, I haven't talked to a single person who has ever seen a swaybar break. It makes me wonder if this bar is even stiffer than stock when obviously the wall thickness is not sufficient. I have no way of testing spring rates on a swaybar but something like this really makes me doubt the product and wonder if Steeda just focuses on getting a fitment to work rather than developing a good upgrade.

 

[Harry's Humble Hitch]

You are far from the first person to brake one of those bars from Steeda. Try a solid bar from Brian Goodwin.
https://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/61-3291.html

 

[gunnmitten]

Hmmm, I would have taken the time to contact Steeda before taking the time to declare them junk on social media. I don't know, maybe I'm a patient sort....

and yet if they had gone to Steeda and had not made a post about their experience.... thanks @aspect for your report and thanks to @Harry's Humble Hitch & @Justin.23 for providing a potentially more reliable alternative.

 

[rlhdweman]

A sway bar should be solid.

 

[Vtec87pr1]

Damn mine still working i better keep and eye on it.

 

[fossil]

PSA, poly bushings hate petroleum based lubes. they attack the poly making it sticky and eventually cause failure.
I have one rubber bushing in my Cobra track car, upper rear control arm. Everything else is heim joints or poly. Up side is that it tracks like a go cart. Down side the ride is rough and poly bushings get noisy (squeaky) and need lube every 3-4 years max. Knew that going in so installed zerks and cross drilled all the bushings that require lube, A arms, rear suspension arms, yes. Engine, transmission, steering rack bushings, no. I have a hollow sway bar and panhard bar in the rear.
My go to is SUPER LUBE Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease. It's pricey as grease goes but does the job and you can use a grease gun. Every 2 years has been enough though it's not as good as the hellish stuff that comes with poly kits.

 

[Automan21]

Ive put alot of aftermarket sway bars on my cars over the years. They were all solid and you can feel (weight) and hear (Ting vs Thunk) the difference. Solid is the only way to go. Sorry about the bar, at least you got a replacement.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

and yet if they had gone to Steeda and had not made a post about their experience.... thanks @aspect for your report and thanks to @Harry's Humble Hitch & @Justin.23 for providing a potentially more reliable alternative.

True... But I would have contacted the vendor first and included that exchange as part of the social media posts. Again... it's just a patience thing... Perhaps Steeda will offer money that will allow the OP to purchase and therefore also recommend one of the aforementioned alternatives.

It's clear the OP was given an inferior product (hollow sway bar), so not disagreeing... Just wouldn't have rushed to post it up immediately without knowing the vendors response..

 

[Montana]

A sway bar should be solid.

First thing I thought too.

Not cool.

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