Snapped ARB droplink
Discussion
Between a track day at Blyton Park and a week of spirited driving in the Highlands, I've managed to shear my offside rear ARB droplink at the wishbone! Between that and a shot nearside rear damper the back end is now slightly wobbly!
Looks simple enough to just unbolt and replace, but any tips?
Looks simple enough to just unbolt and replace, but any tips?
Not sure if you're mk2 or mk1.... If you have the hex bolt shaft, be careful not to strip it to keep life from getting complicated.
Mine broke the same way at my first autosolo with sticky tyres. I replaced them with the Racing Beat ones (purchased from their Europe web site) which are around the same price as factory Mk2 links but more sturdy and also adjustable. I guess one tip is to have both fronts up in the air, and use a jack under the suspension arm to help line up the bolts and holes before tightening to the spec torque.
Mine broke the same way at my first autosolo with sticky tyres. I replaced them with the Racing Beat ones (purchased from their Europe web site) which are around the same price as factory Mk2 links but more sturdy and also adjustable. I guess one tip is to have both fronts up in the air, and use a jack under the suspension arm to help line up the bolts and holes before tightening to the spec torque.
Edited by arthurc604 on Monday 9th July 14:52
Typhoons said:
In a MK1 lowering the car puts a lot of strain on the drop links due to the way the angles line up. Rose jointed or similar drop links solve this.
Would an adjustable droplink like the racing beat ones help with this. It appears that the Steve Heath Engineering who did the rose jointed ones are no longer trading?Typhoons said:
In a MK1 lowering the car puts a lot of strain on the drop links due to the way the angles line up. Rose jointed or similar drop links solve this.
My car is 50mm lower than stock, has uprated FM ARBs and I am using "cheap" pattern drop links sourced from Euro Car Parts.All of the conventional "wisdom" dictates that my drop links will snap every time I go around a corner. Sorry to report that they are in fact all intact and in working order.
That doesn't mean there isn't extra strain on your drop links & ARB mounts, just that's it's all hanging together for you at the moment. My grandfather smoked heavily his whole life. Died at 89 from age related illnesses, not cancer. You might never have a problem, it just makes it more likely.
When working on the ARB and its links you MUST have BOTH wheels off the ground otherwise the ARB is still in tension, as it were.
But yes, they just bolt on and off. Bog standard pattern parts will be fine, think mine are by Lemforder.
If they are seized/stuck, just hacksaw them off. Worth undoing the ARB bushes and giving it a clean up and grease where it passes through.
But yes, they just bolt on and off. Bog standard pattern parts will be fine, think mine are by Lemforder.
If they are seized/stuck, just hacksaw them off. Worth undoing the ARB bushes and giving it a clean up and grease where it passes through.
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