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[jonny2112]

Changed the front passenger side droplink today.
It was a right nightmare, and I didn't remember it being that bad a job the last time I changed them on my old MFL 

Then I realised what I was doing wrong ............. any guessses 

[feeutfo]

Jacked only one side?

Didn't hold the inner flat on the ball joint and it was just spinning round?

[jonny2112]

Jacked only one side?

Didn't hold the inner flat on the ball joint and it was just spinning round?

Yep!! Spot the numpty 
Thankfully I caught on quickly, or I could still be at it!!

[tidla]

As the old forman would say,

You just cant get the staff these days!

[jonny2112]

As the old forman would say,

You just cant get the staff these days!

 

[plym ian]

what would jacking one side have anything to do with it? pardon my ignorance

[Entwood]

what would jacking one side have anything to do with it? pardon my ignorance

Antiroll bar is now under full "tension" as it "thinks" the car is in a massive turn !! Grounded wheel extremely heavy, jacked wheel extremely light ! = mahoosive roll

Jacking both sides there is no weight on either wheel so the antiroll bar is "relaxed"  - no roll

[feeutfo]

Compress the suspension on the non jacked side, and the roll bar rises on the non jacked side rises.

On the jacked side, the side your working on, you will then have a roll bar fully raised, and shock absorber fully extended.

Therefor, when the drop link nut is undone, the ball joint wont come out as its under massive tension. So you have to lever the toll bar about to remove it. The lever it back to refit. Which is a complete swine.

Jack the other side as well, and you'll see the roll bar lower as the suspension levels out. Then bingo, it all lines up, piece of pesh.


Provided the lock nut isn't seized of course.

[feeutfo]

Ps this also why play in a drop link is impossible to find if only one side is jacked. The torsion strength on the ball joints is massive. There's no way you'll move the roll bar by hand to feel the play.

But jack both sides, the roll bar is relaxed, then the play can be spotted very easily by wiggling the roll bar by the lower drop link ball joint.

[omega3000]

I thought drop links and suspension parts were meant to be replaced in pairs ?

[feeutfo]

I thought drop links and suspension parts were meant to be replaced in pairs ?

I would. But it's not so critical with these. There's either play or there isn't. And what play there is doesn't affect the handling. They just knock.

But ordinarily, its a fair bet the other one won't be far behind. So may as well do both sides while BOTH sides are up in the air.

[jonny2112]

I thought drop links and suspension parts were meant to be replaced in pairs ?

I will do, but the parts I ordered didn't match  so I thought I'd replace the dodgy one while I had the chance 

[plym ian]

ok I understand now, but I have always replaced mine with one side jacked up with no problems at all.

but then mine is a pfl if there's any diffrence

[henryd]

ok I understand now, but I have always replaced mine with one side jacked up with no problems at all.

but then mine is a pfl if there's any diffrence

There isn't

[VXL V6]

I thought the droplink was knocking on mine until I looked underneath and saw the oil from the bladder of the wishbone bush dripping down.

That's another car that's breaked to drive now then.

When will my bad luck end.