The rear sway bar is one of the biggest limiting factors for down travel on a lifted Ford Bronco. Once you add a lift kit, the factory sway bar end links run out of length and start holding the rear axle up before the suspension can fully cycle. Core 4x4 built their Crawl Series rear sway bar end links specifically to solve this — longer to match the lift and equipped with Johnny Joints on both ends for maximum strength and flexibility off-road.
In this quick install video, Spence from Core 4x4 walks through the removal of the factory rear end links on a 2022 Ford Bronco and the installation of the Crawl Series replacements. The whole job takes about 15 minutes per side with basic hand tools.
Fitment: 2021–present Ford Bronco (full-size, all trims)
Why Replace the Factory Rear End Links?
The factory rear sway bar end links on the Bronco use a ball-joint-and-stud design with limited travel. On a stock-height Bronco driving on pavement, they are perfectly adequate. But when you add a lift kit — even just two or three inches — the rear sway bar becomes the limiting factor for suspension droop. The factory end links are too short to let the axle drop to its full travel, which means you are leaving articulation on the table every time you hit the trail.
In this build, Spence has the Bronco at three and a half inches of lift. Without upgraded end links, the rear sway bar was physically preventing the rear axle from reaching full down travel. The Core 4x4 Crawl Series end links are longer to match the increased ride height and use Johnny Joints instead of the factory ball joints, giving you unrestricted movement in every direction.
Product Overview: Crawl Series Rear End Links
Each kit includes a pair of rear sway bar end links with:
- Johnny Joints at both ends — spherical joints that rotate freely in all directions, eliminating the binding you get with the factory ball joint design
- Longer length matched to the lift — sized specifically for the Bronco with a lift kit so the sway bar does not limit down travel
- New grade hardware — all new bolts and nuts included; you will not reuse any factory hardware
- Heavy-duty construction — built from thick steel tube, significantly stronger than the stamped factory links
Key point: On this Bronco at 3.5 inches of lift, the factory rear sway bar was the single biggest limiting factor for down travel. Swapping the end links is the fastest, most cost-effective way to reclaim that lost articulation without disconnecting the sway bar entirely.
Tools Required
This is a straightforward unbolt-and-replace job. Here is what you need:
- 18 mm wrench — for removing the factory end link hardware
- Small ratchet with 9 mm socket — to hold the factory ball joint stud from spinning while you loosen the nut
- 19 mm wrench — for installing the new Core 4x4 end link hardware
- 19 mm socket — for the opposite side of the new hardware
- Torque wrench — you will torque the new hardware to 65 ft-lbs
Removal: Taking Off the Factory End Links
Removal is quick and only requires two tools:
- Get the Bronco in the air — on a lift or jack stands so the rear suspension is hanging freely
- Locate the rear sway bar end links — they connect the sway bar to the axle housing on each side, right next to the coilover shocks
- Hold the stud with the 9 mm socket — the factory end link uses a ball joint with a stud that will spin freely if you do not hold it in place
- Remove the 18 mm nut from the top and bottom of the factory end link
- Pull the factory end link out — it should slide right out once both nuts are removed
Tip: The factory ball joint stud will spin if you just try to wrench the nut off. You need the 9 mm socket on the top of the stud to hold it stationary while you turn the 18 mm nut below. This is the only tricky part of the removal.
Installation: Bolting On the Crawl Series End Links
Installation is the reverse of removal, but even simpler because the new hardware does not have the spinning-stud issue:
- Position the new end link between the sway bar mount and the axle mount, aligning the Johnny Joints with the bolt holes
- Thread the top bolt through the frame-side mount and Johnny Joint
- Thread the bottom bolt through the axle-side mount and Johnny Joint
- Hand-tighten both bolts before final torquing
- Torque both bolts to 65 ft-lbs using a 19 mm socket and wrench
- Repeat on the other side
Torque Specs
| Component | Torque Spec |
|---|---|
| Crawl Series end link mounting bolts (top and bottom) | 65 ft-lbs |
What the Upgrade Solves
With the Crawl Series end links installed, the rear sway bar is no longer the limiting factor for down travel on this build. Here is what changes:
- More rear axle articulation — the longer end links allow the sway bar to cycle through its full range without bottoming out or pulling the axle back up
- Better off-road performance — more down travel means more tire contact on uneven terrain, which means more traction
- No binding — Johnny Joints move freely in every direction, unlike the factory ball joints that resist rotation under load
- Durability — the heavy-duty steel construction and Johnny Joints are designed for trail abuse, not just highway driving
- Rebuildable — when the Johnny Joints eventually wear after years of use, you replace the joints, not the entire end link
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Content
- 2022 Ford Bronco 3.5 Inch Lift Kit Install — the full lift kit install on this same Eruption Green Bronco with Falcon coilovers and Icon UCAs
- 3 Methods to Rebuild or Repair Your Johnny Joints — maintenance guide for when your joints eventually wear
- Why You Need Control Arms — educational overview of what control arms do and why suspension upgrades matter
Shop Ford Bronco Parts
Fitment: 2021–present Ford Bronco (full-size). Questions? sales@core4x4.com | (385) 375-2104
