Bongo Fury

Droplinks have become an annual replacement. However this time my HD ones haven't even lasted a year.

They normally fail the MOT and I dutifully replace them and carry on happily along. However last year I had to replace them beforehand as they were making a noise and again this year one has started making a noise.

They have lasted a similar amount of time when they were changed by a bongo specialist so I'm hoping I'm not doing anything wrong! But thought I'd check.

So I'm jacking up that wheel, removing the old one. Then putting the new one on, using a 16mm spanner on the back and an 18mm socket on the front.

Also when they 'fail', I don't think they really do fail. The ball joints feel fine, it fails because it goes loose between the nut and the back, so it flops around.

Often I can't shift the nut so have to destroy the nut to get them off. This time though, as they had only been on for a matter of months, I was able to undo the nut. I had a bit of a play but couldn't tighten it tight enough to stop the play. It just seems like there isn't enough thread. I found a thick washer the same diameter as the nut and put that on first and tightened it up. It has now taken all the play out and stopped the noise. Should there be any washers?

My first thought was that perhaps the tab on the suspension strut that it bolts through to was wearing thin, but it doesn't look to be. I guess it might be fractionally but nothing that you can tell.

While I was under there today, I also changed the ARB bushes as they had a bit of play in them, so I'm hoping that helps things too.

I was told by a Bongo fan ages ago that the main cause of premature drop link failure was too high tyre pressure especially on the front.

I know that some have their tyres at high pressure for fuel economy but perhaps this has some bearing on it.

I run at around 40psi.

What do you reckon to the fact that they don't actually wear the joints they just become loose on the top bracket?

mickc wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:51 am I was told by a Bongo fan ages ago that the main cause of premature drop link failure was too high tyre pressure especially on the front.

I know that some have their tyres at high pressure for fuel economy but perhaps this has some bearing on it.

I doubt it very much that the tyre pressure would affect the links as they are connected to the roll bar.

Logically to me it seems like they are stretching. I'm hoping it was due to the ARB bushes being worn and making it pull more than it should.

I will replace this one when I can get another pair.

Although I now have bigger problems

teenmal wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 3:28 pm

mickc wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:51 am I was told by a Bongo fan ages ago that the main cause of premature drop link failure was too high tyre pressure especially on the front.

I know that some have their tyres at high pressure for fuel economy but perhaps this has some bearing on it.

I doubt it very much that the tyre pressure would affect the links as they are connected to the roll bar.

But if they clonk when worn and going over uneven ground, would that not suggest that what happens at the wheel is transmitted somehow to them. And the higher the tyre pressure, the 'harder' the shockload?

mikeonb4c wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:28 pm

teenmal wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 3:28 pm

mickc wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:51 am I was told by a Bongo fan ages ago that the main cause of premature drop link failure was too high tyre pressure especially on the front.

I know that some have their tyres at high pressure for fuel economy but perhaps this has some bearing on it.

I doubt it very much that the tyre pressure would affect the links as they are connected to the roll bar.

But if they clonk when worn and going over uneven ground, would that not suggest that what happens at the wheel is transmitted somehow to them. And the higher the tyre pressure, the 'harder' the shockload?

Its quite normal to clunk when they are worn.

there is no tension on the roll bar , the only time its under tension is when one wheel is at a different height to the opposite wheel as when in cornering. ie antiroll.