Driving a car with a broken droplink

[ryanthescot]

I managed to snap the drop link on my car last weekend so now the passenger side one is still there and intact but the drivers side is completely disconnected. I ordered replacements during the week which were meant to arrive today but typically they haven't been delivered.

Would there be any problem driving the car with 1 drop link connected and the other not? I can't imagine it would cause any issues other than less than ideal cornering (maybe a bit of roll) but wanted to make sure it's not a stupid idea.

Here's the droplink in all it's snapped glory

[vrsmxtb]

I drove an MX5 with a snapped rear droplink from Scotland to Kent. Slightly soggier handling at the back, and it rattled and knocked a bit but nothing major. Just make sure there's no risk of it moving about and getting stuck in brakes / wheel / puncturing tyre etc.

[Sensibleboy]

It could be a bit more oversteery than before but if you take it easy it should be ok.

[McWigglebum4th]

Would i drive my car with a broken drop link


No hesitation


Would i drive the OPs car with that broken drop link


No chance

As i would be wondering how it actually broke as the mount on the strut has the ball joint facing towards the camera and so does the one on the antiroll bar.

Something odd is going on especially they way it has failed

[imagineifyeswill]

I quite agree, didnt pay much attention until I read your post, looks like its been bent round the strut.

[McWigglebum4th]

ryanthescot said:

I managed to snap the drop link on my car last weekend so now the passenger side one is still there and intact but the drivers side is completely disconnected. I ordered replacements during the week which were meant to arrive today but typically they haven't been delivered.

Would there be any problem driving the car with 1 drop link connected and the other not? I can't imagine it would cause any issues other than less than ideal cornering (maybe a bit of roll) but wanted to make sure it's not a stupid idea.

Here's the droplink in all it's snapped glory

Erm

E46 drop link



Note how the balls joints face in opposite directions

[ryanthescot]

Haha that does look a bit broken. I guess the strut has actually turned/twisted and that's what caused the drop link to snap. Great.

I guess I will tighten up the strut then before I put the new drop links on.

[Spangles]

I'd be worried about the stretched brake hose too. Why are your struts loose in the hub? They should be flipping tight. I wouldn't drive it anywhere until that's sorted.

[McWigglebum4th]

No you are going to pull the strut and inspect the top mounts

As it needs a good amount of force to turn a strut in a clamp

[ryanthescot]

It's a drift car so it took a beating round driftland on Sunday (turns out it's harder than it looks) but the strut is clearly not fitted correctly so I'll get that looked at.

Guess I'll take a different car to the autotest tomorrow then! Glad I asked now, cheers.

[P I Staker]

What the fk is going on there.


That doesn't just happen...

[Spangles]

McWigglebum4th said:

No you are going to pull the strut and inspect the top mounts

As it needs a good amount of force to turn a strut in a clamp

I don't think seized top mounts would cause that, there'd be quite a bit of give in the springs. Stranger things have happened though.

[essayer]

ryanthescot said:

Haha that does look a bit broken. I guess the strut has actually turned/twisted and that's what caused the drop link to snap. Great.

I guess I will tighten up the strut then before I put the new drop links on.

That should NOT happen. That's some force to actually bend and snap the drop link

[jamieduff1981]

I'm gobsmacked. I've always had to batter hub carriers off the bottom of struts. Is the pinch bolt even there?

That droplink has been wrapped around it. I've seen droplinks pop their balljoints. I'm astonished that the balljoints withstood that and the link itself bent and fractured. Definately do not drive that.

[ryanthescot]

Think I'll be putting it in a garage then to get sorted. What is it that holds the strut in place? There's the 3 bolts in the top mount but what holds it at the bottom?

[jamieduff1981]

Not specific to E46s but the normal method is that the hub carrier casting has a split on the inboard side with flanges facing each other. There's a hole drilled through both flanges, one threaded, one plain. A hefty bolt goes through both holes and pulls the flanges together, closing the split and clamping the strut tightly in place.

I'll bet your pinch bolt is either broken or missing.

[TallPaul]

whats going in with the locking ring near the bottow of the strut?

[ryanthescot]

It just got mot'd last week - surprised that it passed. I'll get it sorted then. Thankfully it lasted the 4 hours of drifting without me even noticing.

[Sump]

Something not right here, I think the shock has twisted out of position here.

[ging84]

is it's mum's net's annual general meeting tonight?
where have all the i wouldn't take a chance, safety first, 4 matching tyres always changed at 3mm brigade ?