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Step by step guide drop links
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:03 pm
by boyzie
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
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:07 pm
by waycar8
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
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:15 pm
by boyzie
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
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:11 pm
by mikeonb4c
Not hard provided the nuts arent seized. 100% worth it in terms of improved ride quality. good luck. mike

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:10 am
by boyzie
Just been under and there doesnt seem to be any play in them
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:19 am
by Veg_Ian
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.
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:48 am
by boyzie
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
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:50 am
by Veg_Ian
One side at a time
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:56 am
by boyzie
Veg_Ian wrote:One side at a time
Thanks mate will feedback. Does that go for replacing them too?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:29 am
by boyzie
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?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:18 am
by mick
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

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:22 am
by mick
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

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:23 am
by alant54
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
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:26 pm
by boyzie
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?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:14 pm
by mikeonb4c
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
