Is this drop link broken?

[TheBALDpuma]

My wife's Mazda has clunking noise coming from the front somewhere, so I got underneath to have a nosy and make sure there wasn't anything hanging off, and all I could see was this wonky looking drop link...?

[BenS94]

Possibly -when is the noise most noticeable?

[TheBALDpuma]

BenS94 said:

Possibly -when is the noise most noticeable?

5-30mph on anything other than a totally slick perfectly smooth surface. It's literally noticable all the time driving around town

For reference, the otherside...

[BenS94]

TheBALDpuma said:

BenS94 said:

Possibly -when is the noise most noticeable?

5-30mph on anything other than a totally slick perfectly smooth surface. It's literally noticable all the time driving around town

For reference, the otherside...

Definitely the droplink then, yes.

[itcaptainslow]

Grab the anti roll bar nearest the drop link and give it a good shake. You’ll feel any play in the drop link ball joint.

[richhead]

Its not "broken" it maybe making a noise tho, but the rollbar bushes would be the first thing i would check

[jjones]

In my experience even a mm play in the drop link ball joint will result in a pretty bad clonking over slight bumps.

[Bobupndown]

That drop link just looks as if it's twisted, obviously having a ball joint it's intended to do so. Is there any actual play in it?

[stevieturbo]

looks a little bit more twisted than you'd expect. What's the upper end look like ?

[E-bmw]

stevieturbo said:

looks a little bit more twisted than you'd expect. What's the upper end look like ?

^^^^ Wot 'e (they) said.

It is definitely not sitting right, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is stuffed, as above try to give it a yank/twist & see if there is any play in the bushes.

The noise you describe, could be this if is stuffed, but could also be pretty much any one of the suspension bushes on that side.

[Turkish91]

For the sake of how cheap they are, I’d change them.

If the link isn’t at fault, looking at the difference between the two it may well have a worn roll bar bush on the one side. But I very much doubt one side would have worn distinctively more than the other, unless when fitted one side ended up being under load or something daft like that.

[MRichards99]

If you want to check that the drop link is at fault but you're unsure whether it's causing the noise, remove it and go for a drive. If the noise has gone, then you can purchase a replacement in the knowledge you're not wasting money on something that won't fix the issue.

[E-bmw]

Turkish91 said:

unless when fitted one side ended up being under load or something daft like that.

Not relevant, it is a ball joint it would just spin slightly in the bush if it was installed with the suspension unloaded, and then loaded afterwards

The issue you mention is only relevant on "void bush" type suspension joints.

[Turkish91]

E-bmw said:

Turkish91 said:

unless when fitted one side ended up being under load or something daft like that.

Not relevant, it is a ball joint it would just spin slightly in the bush if it was installed with the suspension unloaded, and then loaded afterwards

The issue you mention is only relevant on "void bush" type suspension joints.

Not so sure. For example, if the rollbar clamps have been torqued to the frame with one side full extension and one side jacked up, it could have induced some twist in the bar, causing the differing of appearance between the lower joint of the left and right drop links.

Unless of course the OP has taken these photos with one side of the car jacked and the other not.

[E-bmw]

Turkish91 said:

E-bmw said:

Turkish91 said:

unless when fitted one side ended up being under load or something daft like that.

Not relevant, it is a ball joint it would just spin slightly in the bush if it was installed with the suspension unloaded, and then loaded afterwards

The issue you mention is only relevant on "void bush" type suspension joints.

Not so sure. For example, if the rollbar clamps have been torqued to the frame with one side full extension and one side jacked up, it could have induced some twist in the bar, causing the differing of appearance between the lower joint of the left and right drop links.

That wouldn't induce twist in the bar, the bar will just rotate in the D-bush, then the tie rod ball joint will just rotate in itself.

[TheBALDpuma]

It was up on stands on both sides. I could move the ARB and the droplink but it didnt feel like any movement in the ball joint. I haven't got back under it to have a look at the top end, but yeah it just seems far too twisted to my eye!

[RicksAlfas]

Worth checking for a broken spring. We've had it where they break but stay located so it's not immediately obvious.

[President Merkin]

Bit of housekeeping - if you do change the droplinks, make sure the car is lifted both sides before undoing anything. If one wheel is on the ground, the roll bar will be under load & that would be bad.

[E-bmw]

Just because it is twisted doesn't mean it is at fault.

If there is no play in it and it is free to move it isn't the problem.

That is what you need to check, they can sit any way they want to.

[President Merkin]

That is true & it's also the case failing suspension parts can have very little play & still clunk away. Pry bar around everything is needed & a good look round all bushings while you're in there.