Is this a broken stablizer bar end link?
 

During a routine wheel balance, the mechanic told me my right front end link was broken. But before I go make a service appointment, I just wanted to confirm that this is a broken sway bar end lilnk? I can't visually see it, I'm just holding the smartphone under the car. I take it the circled parts should be connected?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...ircled300.jpg/http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/3...circled300.jpg


Left side for comparison:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5964/leftlink300.jpg

Yes. Broken sway bar link indeed.

Thank you very much :)

no need to spend a ton of money at a service appt if you are out of warranty. Just order an OEM endlink and replace yourself, very simple job

This is for an aftermarket sway bar install but the steps are still the same if you wanted to tackle it yourself. Your job would go more smoothly because you are keeping the original sway bar. And just changing the links. And even easier still because your link is missing completely so you can use a vise grip on the nub and skip the allen wrench.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=sway+bar

Make sure you do both sides...the other side looks fubarred as well...

Tools and I do not get along, lol. Ya gotta realize, just cleaning the MAF is an "OMG is it going to start again?" kinda scary moment for me.

$88 parts and labor for one side at the dealer. Not too bad! I'll probably do both though, as was suggested, especially since Mazda revised the part.

Same thing happened to me about a month ago. I ordered some racing beat replacements.

Hey guys quick question-

Does anyone know how much stiffer the 'yellow dot' sway bars are compared to the 'red dot' ?
Searched a bit but only found the diameters. Looks like the fronts are a bit wider and rears are exactly the same diameter.

Just to close my thread, for future searchers it's around $150 for a dealer to replace both sides. All shiny now!

These are Mazda parts revised in 2008 apparently because of the problems:
F1Y1-34-150 Front Stabilizer Control Link, RH
F1Y1-34-170 Front Stabilizer Control Link, LH

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8590/newlink2320.jpghttp://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1795/newlink1320.jpg

hahaha gotta love how the picture looks like you added emphasis to the new parts ... but nope ... that's just a brand new shiny part .... dont worry, it will blend in after a week hehe.