Step by step guide drop links

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:03 pm

Hi everyone, sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but all I can find from the search is symptoms and where to source the parts.

I would really appreciate it if someone could guide me through replacing the front drop links and bushes.

Is there anyway of checking for sure if the clunking noise is deffinatly the droplinks or bushes.

Cheers

Adam

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:07 pm

give them a shake if their is or feels to be any play in them then most probably drop links, are you suffering from clucnks and bangs when going over bumps?,if so its your drop links.

this thread may be some use

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... drop+links

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:15 pm

thanks for the quick reply. Yep clunking over little bumps in the road, didn't notice when I was test driving.

Im a complete newb to doing my own repairs but would really like to give it a go.

If anyone has a guide on how to do this it would be greatly appreciated

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:11 pm

Not hard provided the nuts arent seized. 100% worth it in terms of improved ride quality. good luck. mike

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:10 am

Just been under and there doesnt seem to be any play in them

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:19 am

You need to take the weight of the suspension. Jack it up and drop the wheel onto blocks or similar so that weight is taken off the droplinks. Then give them a wiggle. If sloppy then they are probably shot. For the price they are, if in doubt replace them anyway.

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:48 am

Veg_Ian wrote:You need to take the weight of the suspension. Jack it up and drop the wheel onto blocks or similar so that weight is taken off the droplinks. Then give them a wiggle. If sloppy then they are probably shot. For the price they are, if in doubt replace them anyway.

Thanks, can I jack up one side at a time or do I have to take the weight off both wheels

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:50 am

One side at a time

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:56 am

Veg_Ian wrote:One side at a time

Thanks mate will feedback. Does that go for replacing them too?

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:29 am

okay now I feel like a div

I have jacked up the wheel but how do you take the weight off the wheel? Do you just pop a brick under the tyre and lower the tyre on to the brick?

mick · Post by **mick** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:18 am

I think it means the weight is off the wheel when it is jacked up at the jacking point - ie the wheel can be spun freely

mick · Post by **mick** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:22 am

Veg_Ian wrote:You need to take the weight of the suspension. Jack it up and drop the wheel onto blocks or similar so that weight is taken off the droplinks. Then give them a wiggle. If sloppy then they are probably shot. For the price they are, if in doubt replace them anyway.

Whoops ! You were right first time - jack up, then lower gently onto blocks or bricks, as Veg Ian said

alant54 · Post by **alant54** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:23 am

Hi Boyzie.....my dodgy droplink was discovered by rocking the Bongo from side to side with someone feeling the drop link joints for clunking......this was after two mechanics failed to locate the problem in our local mot station...

Alan

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:26 pm

Okay thanks everyone for the advice.

I managed to jack a wheel up at a time and gave the drop links a shake. The front two had quite a bit of play in them so I will be changing them. The back two didnt budge but the bushings seem very worn (see pics) so Im gunna try replacing them.

I was very confused about where to jack up the back wheels. Can some one take a look at the below pictures to see if I did it correctly and also is this an appropriate place for the axel stand?

Correct jack point?

Worn bushing?

Okay axel stand position?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:14 pm

boyzie - my memory is so bad, I cant recall where I jacked and put axel stands when I did mine, but from your photos:

1) anti-roll bar bushes look knackered. I'd replace them and rear drop links for peace of mind. YOu should with luck notice a big improvement in ride.

2) Axle stand position looks sound / good. I seem to recall having similar anxieties and voicing them on BF and I got reassuring advice. Have you searched for drop-link threads as you may find advice (I think I did a thread on Help! Just doing drop links - or something like that)

3) Jacking position looks odd, but cant remember what I did except it was clear enough what you should use from lookng at my Bongo Owners manual (do you have one of those?)

I expect a more expert person than me will be along with advice soon

Good luck

Mike