A vehicle's suspension is an intricate system of linkages, springs and shock absorbers that work together to provide better braking and road handling. Sway bars, which connect via pins to the suspension, play an integral role in this system.
Sway bars are suspension components that connect the left and right, or opposite, wheels of a vehicle via lever arms linked by torsion springs. The sway bar optimizes the suspension’s body roll stiffness, or resistance to the load transfer of a vehicle outside of a turn.
Sway bars connect to the car body at two points at the left and right sides of the suspension system. This connection takes place via links that connect the lever arms. The sway bar is attached to the link via a cotter pin located on each end of the bar.
The sway bar cotter pin is a metal fastener containing two tines, or prongs, which are bent at the ends during installation into the sway bar and link connection to maintain stability. Cotter pins are meant to serve as permanent fastening devices, and they must be severed from the sway bar link in order to be removed.
