Hyundai Repair: bad stabilizer links?, sway bar links, hyundai elantra

Question
hi, i have an 03 hyundai elantra gls sedan.   it has been making a clicking, which kind of sounds like a thump, and it feels like its coming from the left front side.  i took it to a mechanic and he test drove it...and said he was about 75 percent sure without getting it up in the air and looking at it that it was the stabilizer links.  he said it would be about 125 bucks estimate to fix...but i dont have that money right now.  he said dont worry about it and if the stabilizer links do go, it wont be a life threatening situation, it will just be a rougher ride.  is this true?  and could it be anything else?  what do you recommend i do?  i wish i could get it fixed but i simply dont have that money right now.  is it easy to fix myself?  i have a rachet set and a jack...and my dad might have more tools at his house.  if you were me with not much money at all right now, and your car was making a clicking/thumping noise when you turned the wheel to the left and when you hit bumps now and then and sometimes when you braked...what would you think it is?  is it easy enough to buy the part and fix yourself?  any suggestions?  thank you for your time

Answer
Hi, Matthew.  I don't think it's your sway bar links making this noise, at least not in all the situations.  Worn sway bar links typically make a knocking noise when driving over small bumps or washboard type pavement, often more noticeable at slower speeds.  The fact that the noise occurs when steering and that you describe the noise with the word "thump" lead me to suspect that it may be an issue with the steering column intermediate (universal) shaft.  This, on the other hand, rarely occurs anytime other than when the wheel is turned, but will be aggravated if you're going over bumps or braking while turning.

As far as the stabilizer bar links go, the mechanic should have been able to tell you whether they were worn.  The simplest way to check for this is to pry up and down on the sway bar near the link while holding the link with your hand.  If the link is worn, you'll be able to feel it move in one of the ball joints of the link.  He's right, however, that the impact of this is minimal.  In fact, it won't even make the ride particularly rougher.  What'll happen is that the body of the vehicle will have a greater capability to lean in turns.

As far as replacing the links, you could probably do that yourself, but I've also seen them so stubborn they need to be cut off.  Start with some penetrating oil on the link threads and let it soak in for a while.  Then, using one 14mm wrench to keep the link rod from turning, remove the link nut with another 14mm nut.  As the threads on the new link will be clean, it should install much easier than the old link came off.