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change drop links?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 7:56 pm
by chipvan
looks like i have the famous drop link noise when driving on bumpy ground.

Never done this job before,but seen posts on poss need to use angle grinder to remove stuck nut.

But when you re fit do you need to use a torque wrench ?

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:04 pm
by Diplomat
I just did them up tight!!!

It's not as though they are bolted into aluminium. They are eventually going to need grinding off anyway, that's by far the quickest way to remove them as the old ones are only going in the bin.


Frank.

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:11 pm
by chipvan
collio..will try and get some 2mrw from motor factors..thanks for the reply

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 2:55 am
by Northern Bongolow
get the ones from the bongo shop, a lot of research went into getting a good quality one stocked. =D> =D>
a lot of the cheaper ones had rubbers that would not stretch enough for the ball joint movement, and cheap ones joints seem to fail early, so if you buy these you wont need a grinder to get them off as they wont have had time to rust.

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:15 am
by chipvan
was just phoning round today,motor factors want43.75 + each!! made be adl?

There are two makes from shop,85 a pair or 19 each...so take it you are talking about the 85 ers?

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 9:19 am
by fanx_ta_ra
I fitted cheap droplinks described as for a Mazda Bongo about two years ago and they were shot in six months. Went to the motor factors to source some better ones and a very knowledgeable young guy there had a "hunch" as he called it, did lots of hunting around and came out with a pair of Vauxhall Vectra (1995 I think) links. Much thicker bars, more flexible and robust rubbers and they were only about £19 the pair. Yesterday I was under the van checking my front discs and checked out the said links and they were still in very good condition ........ no play and all rubbers fully intact after 18+ months so maybe this is an option you might want to look at. Before you go down the grinder route try spraying the nuts with WD40 or similar and then socket with extension bar....its worth a go.

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:00 am
by wonkanoby

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 2:25 pm
by mikeonb4c
fanx_ta_ra wrote:I fitted cheap droplinks described as for a Mazda Bongo about two years ago and they were shot in six months. Went to the motor factors to source some better ones and a very knowledgeable young guy there had a "hunch" as he called it, did lots of hunting around and came out with a pair of Vauxhall Vectra (1995 I think) links. Much thicker bars, more flexible and robust rubbers and they were only about £19 the pair. Yesterday I was under the van checking my front discs and checked out the said links and they were still in very good condition ........ no play and all rubbers fully intact after 18+ months so maybe this is an option you might want to look at. Before you go down the grinder route try spraying the nuts with WD40 or similar and then socket with extension bar....its worth a go.
Ditto, and they have served me well for 3 years. :-)

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 4:33 pm
by Northern Bongolow
try gen mazda ones, very good and last very very well. sit down when you phone though. if your keeping the van it makes some sense.

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 7:17 pm
by chipvan
Do the blue print ones Ian sells come with new nuts,saw a thread saying they didn't a couple of yeas ago..if they do not any ideas where to get em..?

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 7:40 pm
by wonkanoby
as i understand it the fine thread original might be hard to replace

but the course ones are just regular nuts so any were

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 7:47 pm
by chipvan
Just don't want to remove or poss cut them off without having new ones to re fit...can't e mail Ian as he does pm ,prob give him a call to confirm this

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:37 am
by Northern Bongolow
Northern Bongolow wrote:get the ones from the bongo shop, a lot of research went into getting a good quality one stocked. =D> =D>
a lot of the cheaper ones had rubbers that would not stretch enough for the ball joint movement, and cheap ones joints seem to fail early, so if you buy these you wont need a grinder to get them off as they wont have had time to rust.

and they come with the proper flanged nuts, tell ian you want the good ones :wink: :wink: , when he gets back from the welsh meet. :oops: #-o

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:50 am
by teenmal
These are quality products with a 4 years guarantee..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BONGO-2-5TD-F ... 23120e6c43

Re: change drop links?

Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 5:27 pm
by chipvan
northern b,yep i saw the thread that was on here that showed the cheeper ones v the blue print ones.The cheaper ones looked like the rubber couldnt cope with the bending.

so going on this i will get the good ones..bit more but worth it by the looks of it...

cant go to gen mazda one ,but it did look as the blueprint one iam sells are as good.