Drop Links - Whats the latest thinking?

[Andy JB]

Its clear my 97 Chimaera 500 requires new drop links again due to the dreaded rattle, this will be my fourth set in 30k miles!

Having used Steve Heaths RJ links & Leven links i note these are not available with options now from TVR Parts, Race Tech and some Ebay alternatives. Whats the current line of thought or alternatives i may have missed?

I run the car on road and track & have it quite firm & lower than standard so i guess it gets a hammering. I also note they make a significant difference so i don't want cheap i want the best to maximise the existing set up with limited options available.

[Mr2Mike]

Honda Accord Mk7 drop links fit the front according to an ex-Chimera owner here. In terms of aftermarket parts nothing touches the durability of the Meyle HD drop links, better than OEM in many cases.

[bomb]

Fourth set in 30K miles !! How do they get such a hammering - I see you do track days but surely they should last longer than that.

[Andy JB]

bomb said:

Fourth set in 30K miles !! How do they get such a hammering - I see you do track days but surely they should last longer than that.

Agreed but that is 2x sets in 14 years around 7 years & 8k miles per set - this will be the 4th set incl originals.

[pmessling]

The problem with the SH ones was lack of weather protection. I do believe he later on offered boots for the rose joints.

My cerbera ones siezed so replaced the rose joints with stainless steel ones and boots. Good bit of lube and should last a long time. Easy to replace as well.

[trev4]

I have fitted the Honda accord ones to the front and ford Mondeo to the rear.
If you ask on the chimaera section I'm sure Chimp on gas will be able to point you in the right direction, he had a thread with all the details on there a while back.

[Colin RedGriff]

I fitted the uprated Racing Green ones about 5 years ago and have had no issues since.

Racing Green's part department is now TVR Parts

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/by-model/griffith/...

[ianwayne]

I devoured all the threads on here and went with Honda Accord ones on the front. Been fitted 9 months and doing fine (facelift '96 model).



You may want a better quality / more well known make and I'm not suggesting this supplier but a quick search shows this type as the ones I used:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Accord-1998-02-RE...

Some have used Honda Civic ones which are a bit shorter.

I used Mondeo estate ones on the rear but they sat at a fully articulated angle and the rubbers split on both within 600 miles (3 months) so I've removed the rear ARB completely again for now.



Others have heated and bent their rear ARB to get better drop link alignment, but I've now had it powder coated so I'm considering going back to the type with ball joint at one end only.

Mitsubishi / Volvo ones seem to be exactly the same (in pictures anyway!) as the 'uprated' rear TVR ones only cheaper:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-VOLVO-V40-S40-1995-...

Possible TVR tax??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-TVR-CHIMAERA-CERBER...

Edited by ianwayne on Tuesday 4th September 08:15

[Mr2Mike]

ianwayne said:

Mitsubishi / Volvo ones seem to be exactly the same (in pictures anyway!) as the 'uprated' rear TVR ones only cheaper:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-VOLVO-V40-S40-1995-...

Possible TVR tax??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-TVR-CHIMAERA-CERBER...

You can't go by pictures on eBay, very often the same picture is used for hundreds of different parts and in this case the part numbers show they are different. The ones listed for the Chimaera are intended for a Mk3 Toyota RAV4 (2005-), various equivalent parts below:

A.B.S.: 260597
ASHIKA: 10602236
BENDIX: 042592B, 042645B
BLUE PRINT: ADT38588
BORG & BECK: BDL6972
COMLINE: CSL7194
DEEZA: TY-L172
DELPHI: TC2628
FAI AutoParts: SS2875
FEBI BILSTEIN: 31558
FEBI BILSTEIN: 42984
FIRST LINE: FDL6972
FLENNOR: FL0067-H
FLENNOR: FL0068-H, FL0137-H
HERTH+BUSS JAKOPARTS: J4892061
JAPANPARTS: SI236
JAPKO: 106236
JP GROUP: 4850500609
KAGER: 85-0798
KAVO PARTS: SLS-9081
MAPCO: 51367, 51392HPS
METZGER: 53052919, 53055218, T-2020
MEYLE: 30-160600004
MONROE: L13631
MOOG: TOLS6581
NIPPARTS: N4892046
NK: 5114538
NPS: T405A56
OCAP: 0503095
OPTIMAL: G7-1248, G7-1276
QUINTON HAZELL: QLS3630, QLS3630S
RUVILLE: 926959
SIDEM: 45368
SPIDAN: 50019
SWAG: 81942984
TOYOTA: 48830-42020, 48830-42022
TOYOTA: 4883042020, 4883042021
TRISCAN: 850013631
UNIPART: GSJ6160