The links found on the ends of the sway bar in your 2001 Ford F-150 connect the sway bar to the lower control arms of the front suspension. The sway bar controls body roll in a turn by providing additional spring rate to the front suspension. By linking both front lower control arms to the frame and to each other, additional spring rate from the sway bar is transferred to the suspension on the outside of the turn to prevent spring compression and body roll.
Raise and support the front of your F-150 using a floor jack and jack stand. Apply the parking brake and block the rear wheels with wheel chocks for added safety. Position the jack stands under the front of the frame and lower the truck onto the stands.
Remove the old link by unbolting it from the sway-bar and the lower control arm. The sway bar links are located on the outer ends of the sway bar and connect the sway bar to the lower control arm. Hold the long bolt that passes through the link, sway bar and control arm using a 14 mm wrench and unscrew the lock nut on the lower side of the link using a 14 mm socket and ratchet. Slide the bolt out and the remaining parts of the link will fall out as well.
Open the link kit and slide a cupped washer and one of the rubber bushings onto the new long bolt. Slide the bolt up through the lower control arm and install another cupped washer and rubber bushing onto the bolt so that the bushings are against the control arm and the washers are on the outside of the bushings, sandwiching the bushings on either side of the control arm.
Slide one of the metal tube-shaped spacers onto the bolt and then install another cupped washer and rubber bushing onto the bolt so that the rubber bushing is against the sway bar. Push the bolt through the sway bar end and install the remaining bushing and cup washer.
Use the floor jack to raise the lower control arm up so the bolt passes through the sway bar sufficiently to allow the lock nut to be installed onto the long bolt. Screw the lock nut onto the end of the bolt and tighten it securely. Tighten the lock nut until the rubber bushings are compressed and begin to bulge out at the center.
Raise the truck off the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the truck and test drive it to verify the new links do not rattle or pop when hitting bumps and turning. If noises are present, additional tightening of the link bolt will eliminate them.
