Drop links - any advice please

[mike996]

Evening all,

Not sure if anyone can help me in clarifying a problem....

After amny months of investigation, I think I may have found the problem which is causing a "bumping" noise from the rear offside suspension. I believe the issue is the rear drop links - i.e the small metal link between the suspension and the torsion bar.

The rear offside drop link is somehat looser than the nearside drop link - no matter what angle I put the car at. Does anyone know if it is supposed to be loose - I can twist it around the horizontal plane, but there appears to be no apparent slack in the actual joints of the drop link (upper and lower).

Anyone had this issue before? Are they supposed to "swivel" like this?

Cheers Guys

[wildoliver]

Torsion bar? On a 996? Must admit I'm struggling here.

BTW don't suppose you want to buy another midget do you as you miss your old one

[mike996]

One of those "huh" moments!! Can think of only a couple of people who could go that far back!!! OH-P? How did you know it was me? How very very bizarre> Put me out of the confusion. So flabergasted, dont know what to say!

[wildoliver]

well either I'm psychic or it says so on your profile!

[mike996]

Ah, forgot about that one - still bizarre though as I was talking to a mate in Leeds about the fact that I really missed my old MG Midget (Teal Blue, Round Wheel Arches, Chrome Bumpers) just this weekend. Wife would remove body parts if I came home with one though. With a rusty boat hook.

996s do have torsion bars too (act as anti roll bars, or perhaps just the posh name for them). I found the correct (I hope) name for them by downloading several Gigabytes of 996 workshop manuals from the net. Or maybe having just one of those off days

[mike996]

AKA Sway bars

[sportsandclassic]

hello

the drop links must be soild no play in them at all..

also the anti-roll bar on the car (where the drop link connects) also wear bushes

[rumplestiltskin]

Plus side is that I had my front drop links done at a specialist & it was "only" around £130 all in (if I remember correctly, was a few years ago)

R.

[wildoliver]

I'm with you now I thought you meant anti roll bars. Yes sounds like the bushes have gone!

[mike996]

Great stuff - much appreciated guys - and apologies if my terminology wasnt as accurate as it should have been. Got a quote to do this from Paragon - £130 spot on. Will update you and let you know if it fixes the banging noise.

Thanks again

[hussar10a]

I like Paragon, use them now and again and have always found them good to deal with and straight up.

[mike996]

Agree with you - that is where I got the car from in the first place. Jamie, Mark and Mick are all good guys - the occassional hiccup, but always resolved - but as they are only round the corner from me, there is also the covenience factor!

[hussar10a]

Dont forget Carl or he'll feel left out !

[mike996]

ooops - sorry Carl (forgot his name - know the face though) - in Parts if I recall. I was going to look on their website to check, but can never remember the web address - I know it has a gb in their somewhere!