Anti Roll Bar Link Washers

Nolathane anti roll bar link washers are hardened cupped washers that support and clamp the bushes on bushed anti roll bar links. Often overlooked during a repair, the washers control how each bush compresses, keep it centred on the link and spread the clamping load evenly. Fitting correctly sized, undamaged washers is one of the simplest ways to make a anti roll bar link repair quiet and long-lasting.

Each listing shows the washer dimensions and pack contents, so you can match the washers to your link bolt and bushes before ordering.

The Role of Cupped Washers in a anti roll bar Link

A bushed anti roll bar link uses a bolt or threaded rod that passes through the end of the anti roll bar, also called the anti-roll bar or stabiliser bar, and through a bracket on the control arm (wishbone) or axle. A bush sits on each side of the bar and the bracket, and a cupped washer sits against the outer face of each bush. When the nut is tightened, the washers squeeze the bushes against the bar and bracket.

The cupped shape matters. The raised rim wraps around the edge of the bush, holding it in shape as it compresses and stopping it from spreading outwards. The flat centre spreads the load across the face of the bush rather than concentrating it around the bolt hole. Together, these functions keep the bush seated, centred and working within its designed range.

Why anti roll bar Link Washers Fail

Washers are exposed to the same water, grit, salt and road impacts as the rest of the link, and they carry constant clamping load. Common problems include:

• Dishing or flattening: Over-tightening, or repeated heavy loads, can bend a washer so its cup flattens or turns inside out. The bush then loses support at its edge.
• Corrosion: Rust thins the washer and roughens its surface, reducing strength and wearing the bush face.
• Pull-through: If the washer is too small or the bush has worn, the washer can start to push into or through the bush.
• Cracking: Low-quality or brittle washers can crack under impact, allowing the bush to move freely.
• Wrong size: A washer that is smaller than the bush face concentrates load, while one that is too large may not locate the bush properly.

Signs Your Washers Need Replacing

Worn or damaged washers often show up alongside worn bushes. Look for:

• Washers that are bent, flattened or visibly distorted.
• Bushes bulging out past the edge of the washer, or squeezed unevenly to one side.
• A washer that has started to embed into the bush.
• Heavy rust, pitting or flaking on the washer surface.
• Knocking or rattling from the anti roll bar link area even after bushes have been replaced.

If you are replacing anti roll bar link bushes, it is good practice to replace the washers at the same time. New bushes clamped by old, distorted washers will not seat correctly and can wear out quickly.

Why Hardened Washers Matter

anti roll bar links see constant cycling loads every time the vehicle corners or travels over a bump. A soft washer gradually deforms under this load, losing its cup shape and its clamping effect. Hardened washers resist this deformation, holding their profile so the bush stays supported and the clamping force stays consistent over time.

Hardened cupped washers also tolerate correct tightening without dishing, giving the installer more confidence that the bush is compressed evenly and that the setting will last.

Choosing the Right anti roll bar Link Washers

Washers must suit both the link bolt and the bushes. Before ordering, check:

Inner Diameter

The inner diameter must suit the bolt or threaded rod, with a close fit so the washer stays centred and cannot shift sideways.

Outer Diameter

The outer diameter should match or slightly exceed the face of the bush, so the cup rim wraps around the bush edge without leaving the bush unsupported.

Cup Depth and Profile

The depth of the cup and the shape of the rim must suit the bush profile. A shallow cup suits a flatter bush face, while a deeper cup suits a more rounded or barrel-shaped bush.

Quantity

Most bushed links use four washers per link, one against each bush half. Check how many your links use and order enough for both sides of the vehicle.

Compare your measurements with the dimensions shown in each listing.

Fitting anti roll bar Link Washers

Support the vehicle securely, ideally with the suspension at normal ride height on a drive-on hoist or ramps, so the anti roll bar is not twisted during assembly.

Remove the nut, old washers and bushes, noting the order of each part. Clean the anti roll bar eye and lower bracket, and check the bolt or threaded rod for bending and thread damage. Lightly grease the bush contact faces with a polyurethane-compatible bushing grease, then reassemble the stack in the original order.

Each washer should face so that its cupped side wraps around the bush. A washer fitted upside down will press its edge into the bush and cause rapid wear.

On sleeved links, tighten the nut until the sleeve is firmly clamped. On links without a sleeve, tighten until the bushes are evenly compressed and the washers are seated, without crushing the bushes or dishing the washers. Use a locknut or second nut where specified, and re-check the assembly after the first few hundred kilometres.

Washers and Bushes Working Together

The washer and the bush are a matched system. Even the best polyurethane bush cannot perform properly if its washer is distorted, undersized or fitted the wrong way. Likewise, new washers will not fix a bush that has cracked or compressed.

Nolathane polyurethane link bushes offer outstanding abrasion resistance, increased tensile strength and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering. When they are paired with correctly sized hardened cupped washers, the bushes stay seated and compressed as designed, helping the anti roll bar respond quickly and the link stay quiet.

Limitations and Trade-Offs

Washers restore correct clamping, but they do not change how the anti roll bar or bushes behave. If the bushes are worn, the link bolt is bent, the anti roll bar eye is elongated or the mounting bracket is cracked, those parts must be repaired or replaced.

Over-tightening is the most common installation mistake. It can dish even a hardened washer, crush the bush and transmit more noise and vibration into the cabin. Follow the fitting guidance and tighten evenly. Washers in exposed positions will still corrode over time, particularly on vehicles used near salt water or on dirt roads, so include them in regular suspension inspections.

Compliance

anti roll bar links contribute to vehicle stability, so any repair must keep the vehicle safe and within the standards that apply where it is registered. In the UK and Europe, suspension components, including anti roll bar links, are checked at the MOT or periodic roadworthiness inspection. Tell your insurer about any suspension modification.

Nolathane Suspension Experience

With more than 50 years of experience in replacement and upgrade suspension components, Nolathane develops parts for mechanics and DIY owners. That focus on practical repair, restoration and upgrade solutions includes small but important hardware such as anti roll bar link washers, designed to help every bushed link perform as intended.

Warranty and Support

Nolathane anti roll bar link washers are backed by our warranty. Our fitment guarantee means the washers you receive match the dimensions shown in the listing, and a 60-day returns window gives you time to confirm the fit. Our local support team can help match washers to your bushes and link bolts, and offer fitting advice.

Shop anti roll bar Link Washers

Link washers belong to our universal anti roll bar links range.

Measure your link bolt and bushes, compare them with each listing and choose the washer kit that suits your anti roll bar links. Orders are sent with fast shipping, so you can complete a quiet, properly clamped anti roll bar link repair.