What’s Included?
The complete kit includes:
- 1 front stabilizer/sway bar
- 2 front sway bar end links
- 2 sway bar mounting bushings
- 2 bushing retainers
- 4 mounting screws
That makes this a more comprehensive repair than simply replacing worn end links.
What Does the Ram 1500 Front Sway Bar Do?
The front stabilizer bar connects the left and right sides of the front suspension.
During cornering, the outside suspension compresses while the inside suspension unloads. The sway bar twists in response and resists some of that difference in suspension movement.
This helps control:
- Body roll
- Cornering stability
- Steering response
- Transitional movement
- Excessive chassis lean
That’s especially important on a full-size pickup with a relatively high center of gravity.
Symptoms of Worn Ram 1500 Sway Bar Components
The sway bar itself is a relatively simple steel component, but its bushings and end links wear over time.
Common symptoms include:
- Clunking over bumps
- Knocking from the front suspension
- Excessive body roll
- Loose handling
- Poor transitional response
- Worn sway bar bushings
- Loose end-link joints
- Corroded mounting hardware
A damaged or heavily corroded stabilizer bar can also justify replacing the entire assembly.
Why Replace the Links and Bushings Together?
The sway bar can’t function properly if its mounting components have excessive play.
The chassis bushings locate the center section of the bar while the end links connect it to the suspension.
A worn end link can create a delay before the sway bar begins transferring load.
Deteriorated mounting bushings can allow the entire bar to move.
Replacing all of these components together provides an opportunity to restore the system instead of chasing one clunk at a time.
Better Handling for the Ram 1500
A properly functioning front sway bar helps keep the truck flatter and more predictable during:
- Highway ramps
- Lane changes
- Emergency maneuvers
- Curving roads
- Loaded driving
Don’t expect a sway bar replacement to transform a Ram 1500 into a Viper.
Physics has reviewed the curb weight and declined the request.
But restoring the factory stabilizer system can make a worn truck feel considerably more controlled.
Heavy-Duty Steel Construction
The replacement stabilizer bar uses high-strength steel construction designed to withstand the repeated torsional forces generated by suspension movement.
Corrosion-resistant protection is particularly valuable on trucks exposed to:
- Rain
- Snow
- Road salt
- Mud
- Off-road conditions
The included end links and mounting hardware are likewise designed as direct replacements for the original components.
Can This Kit Fix Front Suspension Clunking?
It can if the noise is coming from worn sway bar links or mounting bushings.
Typical sway-bar-related noises include knocking or clunking while traveling over:
- Potholes
- Driveway entrances
- Speed bumps
- Uneven roads
However, front suspension noise can also originate from:
- Ball joints
- Tie rods
- Control arm bushings
- Wheel bearings
- Struts or shocks
- Steering components
Inspect the suspension before replacing parts.
Installation
This kit is intended as a bolt-on replacement without welding or fabrication.
A typical installation involves:
- Safely raise and support the truck.
- Remove the appropriate splash shields or components obstructing access.
- Disconnect both sway bar end links.
- Support the original stabilizer bar.
- Remove the sway bar bushing brackets.
- Remove the original stabilizer bar.
- Compare the replacement bar with the original.
- Install the new mounting bushings.
- Position the replacement stabilizer bar.
- Install the supplied retainers and hardware.
- Install the replacement end links.
- Torque all hardware to factory specifications.
- Check clearance throughout the suspension.
- Road-test the truck.
- Reinspect the hardware.
Follow the appropriate Ram service procedure and torque specifications for the exact model year.
Does a Sway Bar Replacement Require an Alignment?
Normally, no.
The sway bar and end links don’t directly establish:
- Camber
- Caster
- Toe
If no alignment-related suspension components are disturbed during installation, replacing the sway bar generally doesn’t require an alignment.
If the truck already has uneven tire wear, wandering or other alignment symptoms, checking the alignment is still worthwhile.
Recommended Applications
This kit is particularly useful when restoring the front suspension on a higher-mileage Ram 1500.
It’s suitable for:
Daily driving
Towing and hauling
Highway use
Work trucks
4WD trucks
Suspension restoration
For trucks used extensively off-road, inspect the sway bar and links regularly for impact damage.
Is the 55398938AC / 55398938AB Sway Bar Kit Worth It?
For a compatible 2009–2022 Ram 1500 4WD, this complete front sway bar kit provides a straightforward way to replace the stabilizer bar and its major wear components simultaneously.
With a new bar, links, bushings and mounting hardware, it addresses multiple potential sources of unwanted suspension movement and noise in one repair.
For older Ram trucks with worn front suspension hardware, that’s often considerably smarter than replacing one component and waiting for its equally ancient neighbor to start clunking next week.
Vehicle Fitment Summary
2009–2010 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD
2011–2018 Ram 1500 4WD
2019–2022 Ram 1500 Classic 4WD
Does not automatically fit the 2019+ Ram 1500 DT. Verify OE part number before ordering.
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