996 C4S drop link orientation
Discussion
After doing my own front suspension overhall (including new drop links identical to the old ones) - Porsche have done a 4 wheel alignment and are telling me the drop links are installed incorrectly and are fouling a brake line, in fact they told me the right and left were switched. Being a C4S I don't believe left and right are different. I assumed that this must mean they are upside down, checking this, it makes no difference which way up they are, the bolts at each end are at right angles to each other. So turning them up the other way up makes no difference.
Looking at various photos it looks like the nut on the bottom of the drop link should be on the inside of the anti-roll bar, but there is a slot in the carrier for the other end of the drop link that looks made for the captive nut on the bolt of drop link. This is not possible with the drop links I have, as the orientation of the drop link bolts is 180 degrees out of alignment.
Can anyone shed light on this mystery it is driving me nuts! I do wonder if the wear to the brake line is nothing to do with the drop link and is more to do with it being incorrectly fitted by Porsche a couple of years ago, but need to be sure before I go back to them. It certainly looks to me like the wear on the lines has been there for a while and is only when the car is on full lock.
Thanks for any help and photos, please put me out of my misery!
Looking at various photos it looks like the nut on the bottom of the drop link should be on the inside of the anti-roll bar, but there is a slot in the carrier for the other end of the drop link that looks made for the captive nut on the bolt of drop link. This is not possible with the drop links I have, as the orientation of the drop link bolts is 180 degrees out of alignment.
Can anyone shed light on this mystery it is driving me nuts! I do wonder if the wear to the brake line is nothing to do with the drop link and is more to do with it being incorrectly fitted by Porsche a couple of years ago, but need to be sure before I go back to them. It certainly looks to me like the wear on the lines has been there for a while and is only when the car is on full lock.
Thanks for any help and photos, please put me out of my misery!
Thanks Chris but I haven't answered my question. The key facts are:
1. The L and R drop links are the same (1 part number)
2. The drop link is the same either way up.
3. There is a cut out in the carrier which seems to fit the nut on the inside of the drop link bolt which forces the drop link to be fitted with the roll bar end nut on the outside closest to the wheel which results in minimal/ no clearance on the brake line.
If anyone can share a photo of a C4S or turbo drop link installed with both ends visible then I would really appreciate it.
Alternatively I will call Porsche tomorrow and will report back.
Cheers
1. The L and R drop links are the same (1 part number)
2. The drop link is the same either way up.
3. There is a cut out in the carrier which seems to fit the nut on the inside of the drop link bolt which forces the drop link to be fitted with the roll bar end nut on the outside closest to the wheel which results in minimal/ no clearance on the brake line.
If anyone can share a photo of a C4S or turbo drop link installed with both ends visible then I would really appreciate it.
Alternatively I will call Porsche tomorrow and will report back.
Cheers
Chris, I wish it was that simple. They match the ones taken off the car and these from Design911 C4S droplinks
PhilD said:
Thanks Chris but I haven't answered my question. The key facts are:
1. The L and R drop links are the same (1 part number)
No, they are not. If you transposed either to the other side, all would be 100%1. The L and R drop links are the same (1 part number)
PhilD said:
2. The drop link is the same either way up.
Only on the same side.PhilD said:
3. There is a cut out in the carrier which seems to fit the nut on the inside of the drop link bolt which forces the drop link to be fitted with the roll bar end nut on the outside closest to the wheel which results in minimal/ no clearance on the brake line.
There should not be, you need to turn the nut to tighten the BJ so in can never be captive. On the other hand the BJ may have a flat on it you can't ordinarily see, that locks into the cutout making the BJ captive, to prevent it turning when you tighten the nut (a very common issue with a used part rather than a tight new part) so it is perfectly logical for this to be further reinforcement that you have it wrong (as per Porsche's diagrams).Swap them over. One of the simplest jobs on a Porsche, I'm replacing an o2 sensor right now and the only way that's coming off is with the entire exhaust system removed.
996TT02 said:
There should not be, you need to turn the nut to tighten the BJ so in can never be captive. On the other hand the BJ may have a flat on it you can't ordinarily see, that locks into the cutout making the BJ captive, to prevent it turning when you tighten the nut (a very common issue with a used part rather than a tight new part) so it is perfectly logical for this to be further reinforcement that you have it wrong (as per Porsche's diagrams).
Swap them over. One of the simplest jobs on a Porsche, I'm replacing an o2 sensor right now and the only way that's coming off is with the entire exhaust system removed.
I know it is only a really simple job - which is why it is driving me nuts! I also have Porsche's workshop manuals and the diagrams you refer to (which show a C2 incidentally) where the lower drop link nut is on the inside! The drop links I have will only fit with the nut on the outside as you can see from the photo's below.Swap them over. One of the simplest jobs on a Porsche, I'm replacing an o2 sensor right now and the only way that's coming off is with the entire exhaust system removed.
The original drop links off my car, as you can see are identical, switching left to right or upside down has no effect.
The new drop link taken out so you can see the flats on the lower spring platform that hold the inside captive nut on the drop link and stop it spinning as you tighten the outside nut.
and finally the old drop link and new drop link together so you can see they are the same part.
I am awaiting a call back from Porsche - if I get no help on the phone then I will head over to the dealer later for face to face advice from a tech.
Apologies that the last two photos have spun though 90 degrees. The left of the photo is top.
Edited by PhilD on Monday 23 May 12:35
I suspect that if you placed the 2 new ones side by side, you would see the difference. Assuming of course that both sides are assembled in the same manner on the car i.e. nut on the inside. If one side (the one not in the pics) is "correctly" assyd then yes they would be identical.
I also would not exclude that (has this car been bought new?) one side had the wrong drop link either from new, or if ever previously replaced.
I'll take a look at mine albeit a Turbo but only later today.
I also would not exclude that (has this car been bought new?) one side had the wrong drop link either from new, or if ever previously replaced.
I'll take a look at mine albeit a Turbo but only later today.
I did wonder if the thread could face towards the back of the car, but as can be seen clearly below the ridges on each side of the hole on the lower spring platform stop a bolt being tightened cleanly and look far better designed to hold the captive nut on the drop link, so having the threaded portion facing forwards and the drop link on the 'wrong side' inside of the arb.
Porsche have kindly agreed to put the car up on ramps and talk me through it on Wednesday morning, fingers crossed that can be the end of it.
Porsche have kindly agreed to put the car up on ramps and talk me through it on Wednesday morning, fingers crossed that can be the end of it.
On some models the ARB drop links are the same side-to-side:
On some they are handed:
If Design 911 are listing the same part no. for each side, but the parts are different for each side, they appear to have confused something (or missed a prefix/suffix from the part no.). I'm afraid I haven't exhaustively identified what is fitted to which models. I agree the Design 911 website appears to offer the same part for either side of your 996 C4S, but then it clearly shows a handed part in the catalogue drawing:
If the parts that came off your car are identical left-to-right then I think someone has fitted the wrong part in the past.
On some they are handed:
If Design 911 are listing the same part no. for each side, but the parts are different for each side, they appear to have confused something (or missed a prefix/suffix from the part no.). I'm afraid I haven't exhaustively identified what is fitted to which models. I agree the Design 911 website appears to offer the same part for either side of your 996 C4S, but then it clearly shows a handed part in the catalogue drawing:
If the parts that came off your car are identical left-to-right then I think someone has fitted the wrong part in the past.
Edited by griffter on Tuesday 24th May 07:30
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