Auto Parts: Sway Bar Link, sway bar link, chevy lumina

Question
Hello. Last night a piece came loose from under my 2000 Chevy Lumina. It dragged the ground and eventually fell off. After explaining what the piece looked like to my step dad and a mechanic, they are pretty sure that it was the sway bar link. I'm taking it in tomorrow to have it looked at but wanted to find out if by it dragging, will that cause damage to the sway bar itself and also, does this have anything to do with the struts? I've heard that struts are ridiculously expensive and just afraid that the two go hand in hand. Thank you!

Answer

rear sway bar link     Was it on the front or the back?  There is no link on the front sway bar, but there is on the rear, although it does not look like a conventional sway bar link.  I'll enclose a picture.  If it was under the car in the middle, then it was probably an exhaust hanger or piece of heat shield.  When something like this happens it's a good idea to stop and retrieve the part so that there is no confusion about what came off.  If it was a heat shield, the mechanic may not even be able to find where it came from.