Parts for your 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero-Sway bars & links

2005 Mitsubishi Pajero sway-bars-&-links: what they do and how to look after them

Yes, the 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero is fitted with stabiliser (sway) bars and links at the front and rear. This is documented in the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Workshop Manual for the V7# series (2000–2006) under Front Suspension – Stabilizer Bar and Rear Suspension – Stabilizer Bar, and is also listed in the Mitsubishi ASA electronic parts catalogue for 2005 NM/NP models. So sway-bars-&-links are absolutely relevant on this model.

On this Pajero’s independent suspension, the sway bar ties the left and right wheels together to resist body roll in corners and during quick lane changes. The links (drop links) connect the bar to the suspension arms. The result is steadier handling, more predictable steering, and less lean with a loaded roof rack, towing, or on windy rural roads.

As part of regular servicing, it’s smart to give the sway-bars-&-links a once-over. The rubber bushes on the bar (D-bushes) and the link joints cop plenty of dust, mud and washboard roads, especially in Aussie and Kiwi conditions. When they wear, the Pajero can develop clunks over speed humps, vague turn-in, or extra body roll.

• Inspection tips (every 20,000–30,000 km or at each service): check for split or perished bushes, torn link boots, play in the link ball joints, and shiny “witness” marks where the bar has been moving in the mounts.
• Replacement advice: replace links in pairs on the same axle, fit new nyloc nuts, and torque fasteners with the vehicle at normal ride height to avoid preloading the bushes. A wheel alignment isn’t usually required for sway bar work alone.
• Off-road note: some drivers disconnect the rear bar for extra articulation, but it must be reconnected for on-road use to keep roll control and stability in check.

Quality aftermarket or OE-spec bushes and links make a noticeable difference to road manners without ruining ride comfort. If the Pajero is used for towing or carries a lot of gear, fresh D-bushes and sound links are cheap insurance against wobbly handling. A light smear of silicone grease on rubber D-bushes (if the material allows) can quieten squeaks, and anti-seize on link threads will make the next service easier.

Do all 2005 Pajero models have sway-bars-&-links?

They do. Petrol and diesel, SWB and LWB variants in the 2005 range were built with front and rear stabiliser bars and drop links as part of the Pajero’s independent suspension package. The factory documentation and parts catalogue list stabiliser components across the board for this model year.

How long do sway bar links and bushes typically last on a 2005 Pajero?

In normal mixed driving, links and bushes can last anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 kilometres. Frequent corrugations, heavy loads, beach work and mud will shorten that. Clunks over bumps, extra body roll, or visible bush cracking are the cues to replace.

Will replacing sway bar links require a wheel alignment?

No. Because the links and D-bushes don’t alter suspension geometry, a wheel alignment isn’t normally needed when only these parts are changed. If other suspension components are touched at the same time, it’s worth checking alignment.