What could cause an end link to snap?
 

As I was going through the underside of my 2SS after running through a big pile of mud..... I pulled off my wheels and inner fenders to pressure wash all of the mud. As I was inspecting my front suspension, I noticed a rod that was snapped into 2 pieces. Not sure what it was attached to, so I stuck my head farther in and realized it was the sway bar end link!!!!! It has snapped in two!!!

Now I've been in and around building cars for over 20 years and I have never seen this on a street car. This car has never been on a track and the suspension is in stock form!!!

Does anyone have an idea what could have caused this breakage?

So you where four wheeling in the mud with a camaro?

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Hahahahaha. No.
I was driving on the local army post and on a road I drive on regularly, they had what seemed to be a mud slide over the weekend and I didn't really see it until it was too late, I thought is was just water.

I have broken a few(stock and aftermarket) on my 4th gens with just aggressive street driving and tight off and on ramps.

I had the same thing happen in my SS. Not sure if it was caused by a pot hole or bump of some kind. I don't think they are quite strong enough. I found mine getting ready to install my Pedders parts so I never put a stock one back on. No problems with the Pedders ones.

The stock end links on the 2010-2011 SS are pretty pitiful to be honest. It is not uncommon for them to fail especially when the car is driven aggressively. An end link upgrade is basically required if you go to stiffer aftermarket sway bars.

How big was the pothole you hit a while back?

potholes, curbs, improper torque etc many reasons. they are a cheap upgrade and easy diy

looks like the bushing are shot to hell as well.


sad if that happened in only 3 years, cheap parts.

This.

Those end links are like tooth picks especially the front ones considering their length.

It is pretty rare to see the end link break like your did, more times than not the ends get a lot of tolerance in them and become noisy. If I had to guess it was either a pothole, curb, or maybe even just a manufacturing flaw in the factory end link that created the failure.

Our BMR end links are much stronger than the factory units and are just as quite as the factory end links due to their design. If there is any way we can help you out let us know.

http://bmrsuspension.com/siteart/pro...K004_small.jpg

Yep this is fairly common, but not so much with the stock sway bars. But if you have to replace, upgrade! Feel free to call, PM or email me anytime with questions or pricing.

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007