Front drop links

[ianwayne]

I've been getting a headache reading the archived threads about alternative front drop links and haven't been able to get a definitive answer. I've already ordered rear ones from a Mondeo Mk 3 estate that should so the job better than the old fixed, hopeless rubber cup item. Some owners report having to have the ARB bent, others that they fit straight on. Hoping it's the latter because the location points seem under each other to me. The old ones were are a ridiculous angle through the wishbone plate as fitted.

Many old threads suggested those from a late 90's Honda civic but I've rejected those as just looking too short, although some have 'made' them fit.

Honda Accord ones from '98 - 2001 have been referred to many times, with part no 51320-S84-A01 but the orientation is all wrong:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-HONDA-ACCORD-MK7-199...

The original ancient ones have the rods about 135 degrees in rotation from each other.



These seem to be the ones?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-FRONT-ANTI-ROLL-BAR-S...

It doesn't help that many sellers use a generic image that bears no resemblance to what they really look like. And many sellers are listing drop links with the rods almost pointing in the same direction and others the ones above, supposedly for the same car like these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Accord-Mk7-1998-20...5EAAOSw41xXPEqm

There are of course dozens of different part numbers listed for the same items too.

Edited by ianwayne on Sunday 8th October 20:40

[phillpot]

If you have a decent Motor factors local why not ask them to get a pair in for you, that way you can see before you buy

[sparkythecat]

As a general rule, the shorter civic ones work on the earlier cars and the accord ones work on the later cars.
This thread tells the story
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[ianwayne]

Read that all the way through already, as well as others. Several owners found the civic ones too short (mine is a '96 car). You can tell by the photos that they are quite a bit shorter than the originals.

Motor factors are rarely cheaper than fleabay, although a fair suggestion, and at £13 they're substantially cheaper than the 'TVR' ones.

[sparkythecat]

I was one of the posters on the thread I linked to who successfully fitted the Accord drop links, which are longer than the Civic ones

The parts numbers I used wereBluePrint ADH28507 & ADH28506

Edited by sparkythecat on Sunday 8th October 22:48

[N7GTX]

Yes, the earlier cars seem to take the Accord ones, 98-03, and the later cars the Civic ones. My '94 has had the Accord ones on for 2 years with no issues.

[ianwayne]

Thanks for that. Interesting. Some say earlier cars Honda Civic and later cars Accord; others vice versa!

I was trying to get links with the rods in approximately the same orientation as the old ones. You can, of course fit the ones that come illustrated in some sales with the rods at only about a 45 degree angle from each other, but the nuts will both be on the same side in the same plane, sort of. Since they will have more articulation than the old OEM type, this is likely not an issue.

I'll try a cheap set of Accord ones, it not being a major issue to change them again if they aren't up to the job.Getting the anti-roll bar out for refurb without swearing too much was harder!

[FoxTVR430]

I'm in the exact same position. After reading pages and pages of opinions I was also left confused.
So I will follow your thread with interest.
P.S. I have an early one from '93

[Classic Chim]

Racetech ones fit on late cars and these have been on mine for 18months with no issues.

This is my 2000 car and the shorter civic ones did not fit so I’m assuming they fit early cars

[N7GTX]

Looked up my invoice. Lemforder 632600035 from Eurocarparts. Price has gone up so best wait until they have one of their offers on, usually 30% off.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Honda_Accord_2....

[Classic Chim]

N7GTX said:

Looked up my invoice. Lemforder 632600035 from Eurocarparts. Price has gone up so best wait until they have one of their offers on, usually 30% off.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Honda_Accord_2....

I paid double that,,,, but they are shiny

[N7GTX]

Classic Chim said:

N7GTX said:

Looked up my invoice. Lemforder 632600035 from Eurocarparts. Price has gone up so best wait until they have one of their offers on, usually 30% off.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Honda_Accord_2....

I paid double that,,,, but they are shiny

Lol, you rich southerners and all that. Got to be careful with the pennies in Yorkshire tha' knows.

[skiver.]

Accord droplinks on mine...'96 car.

[FoxTVR430]

Classic Chim said:

Racetech ones fit on late cars and these have been on mine for 18months with no issues.

This is my 2000 car and the shorter civic ones did not fit so I’m assuming they fit early cars

Looking at yours and mine I see they almost look the same length & orientation (or is it me ) and mine's a 1993 ??

Here's mine during the strip down.

[GR_TVR]

N7GTX said:

Looked up my invoice. Lemforder 632600035 from Eurocarparts. Price has gone up so best wait until they have one of their offers on, usually 30% off.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Honda_Accord_2....

Use code OCT10 and it's £14.36 delivered.

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/search/632600035

[ianwayne]

FoxTVR430 said:

Looking at yours and mine I see they almost look the same length & orientation (or is it me ) and mine's a 1993 ??

Here's mine during the strip down.

They look a bit shorter than off my '96 car but not much. I can see why the Civic ones would fit.

I've ordered Accord ones and will update when they're fitted, good or bad. But it'll be a while since the car has no suspension at all at the moment, shocks and wishbones removed.

[ianwayne]

OK, front suspension now rebuilt and the Honda Accord drop links fitted. They were a bit awkward, don't tighten one side up first and then expect to get the other end in. Every day you learn something.



Took me a while because I realised after fitting them to the refitted front ARB (and that was fun with the radiator still in the car!) that I'd got the steering arms the wrong side. Good job I checked a few images or the first time off the stands would have bent the steering rods! Had to remove and refit them again. I liked the fact the rods of the links had 5mm Allen key slots in the end to aid tightening AND removal.

This thread was about front drop links but I'll add here the rear Mondeo Mk3 Estate ones. One joint is at full articulation to fit them so I can understand why some have had the rear ARB bent in by about 10mm. However, the old ones went through the upper mounting hole at about a 45 degree angle anyway when I removed them! Apologies for it being a bit blurred:



Edited to add: This is a Nov 1996 car so facelift bonnet & front grill slat with longer boot lid, if that is any help. I've seen images of earlier car using shorter Civic droplinks and since the ARB is symmetrical unlike the rear one, it can be twisted down a bit so they also may have fit, to confuse the issue!

Edited by ianwayne on Sunday 29th October 06:57

[Belle427]

The Mondeo rears only lasted a week on mine before shearing off due to the angle they were working at.

[Andav469]

Those Mondeo links do seem to be at an extreme angle, this is how mine looks with the Leven ones

[ianwayne]

I admit the rear droplinks may fail, but at only £13 for the pair, I'll give them a go. As mentioned by others, the rear ARB doesn't do a fat lot and some people drive with it disconnected.

Other threads mention the Leven ones failing after not too many miles as well. From phazed in 2014:

" I am the first to say, "pay the correct price for the right bit of kit" but my Levens all had play after 15 K miles so an alternative was sought..."

Probably one of the easiest things to change again if necessary.

Edited by ianwayne on Sunday 29th October 09:55