[Mk2] [Generic] Drop links worn after ~1000miles?

[Ste2]

Hello all

Had some pretty bad rattling from the front since installing BC coil-overs all round. Particularly noticeable from the front left side when going over uneven ground (up/down motion), I Initially thought it might be the top gland nut but having tightened them the noise was still there.... So jacked up the car, removed the wheels - nothing visibly wrong and no apparent play in anything (albeit only hand tested).

....so took off the drop links (left the roll bar disconnected) - went for a drive and the knocking is gone - so I have pretty much diagnosed this as being a drop link issue

I don't really know how to test for 'play' in the links but I noticed that not all of the ends of the drop links move as freely as each other. and all of them are 'weeping' lube/oil (some worse than others)

It would seem that they're knackered but as they are brand new I am reluctant to jump straight to that conclusion.

Presumably they would have only failed if installed incorrectly? Incidentally I did fit them with the 'nut-end' facing the car (I cant immediately recall why I did this (presumably clearance)

Any (helpful) advice welcome

PS - arb is a new Whiteline with new supplied bushes - arb brackets were checked and tight.

[T.F.S.]

Would seem to be a link issue in that case.

I sell very good aftermarket ones that will outlast the generics, its not unhheard of for them to fail quickly I am afraid, please see one of my customers issues here.
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... &start=720

[Driftlimits Performance]

Weeping grease isn't the end of the world. I suspect something is slightly amiss if they have gone that quick. Early BC did have front droplink issues, but would usually bend them. The should be no preload from one side to the other.

[ashley]

You sure the drop links were properly tightened up after you put your BC's in? Slightly loose and they will have knocked...might be worth whacking them back in and double checking

[Ste2]

Weeping grease isn't the end of the world. I suspect something is slightly amiss if they have gone that quick. Early BC did have front droplink issues, but would usually bend them. The should be no preload from one side to the other.

Thanks skywalker - could wear be anything to do with which way the threads were facing? And what do you mean by preload? I have noticed a little lateral movement in the bar

You sure the drop links were properly tightened up after you put your BC's in? Slightly loose and they will have knocked...might be worth whacking them back in and double checking

Did think that, was too keen to take 'em off to prove it was them! Maybe they have loosened themselves by being fitted the wrong way but they didnt budge at all by hand idk ... no massive rush, its been a good experiment running without a front arb ...felt like a better front/rear balance to the car, at least in the slowish tight corners ... Didnt push too hard as I told my gf the car might roll wihout the anti'roll'bar

Tfs may be in touch once i have got to the bottom of it

[synXero]

Mine knocked when I first fitted a set of new droplinks... Because I hadn't tightened them enough. I didn't have a ramp or anything so it was a total bodge.

Worth double checking.

[KarlBristol]

As TFS stated I can confirm that my genuine front Delphi drop links were badly perished and knocking after around 250 miles of usage. The car was only used in dry conditions and they were around 7-9 months old. As such it's certainly not unheard of for drop links to fail at under 1k miles.

I would suggest fitting your current drop links back on and tightening them up. Then drive the car for a bit, if the knocking comes backs you know that your issue is perished drop links (and not a tightening issue).

If your looking at replacing them personally I would recommend TFS' ones. Very sturdy, adjustable (which is a huge plus on dropped suspension) and even if the ends perish they can be swapped out so they are a huge step up to say Delphi ones. I bought TFS fronts this month and come pay day I'm buying rears as I was so impressed with them

[bobhatton]

I don't really know how to test for 'play' in the links but I noticed that not all of the ends of the drop links move as freely as each other.

There should be no free play in any of them, they should all feel very tight.
If they will fit Toyota stock ones would be the best to use.

[toxo]

genuine front Delphi drop links

That made me chuckle... about as good as genuine blueprint! I have had a set of those fail within a fortnight (admittedly involving a trip to Germany). There's a reason the Toyota ones are twice as thick, if not more.

[KarlBristol]

genuine front Delphi drop links

That made me chuckle... about as good as genuine blueprint! I have had a set of those fail within a fortnight (admittedly involving a trip to Germany). There's a reason the Toyota ones are twice as thick, if not more.

Wen I was looking at replacing my drop links I was told that Delphi parts were comparable to Toyota ones. Usually I choose Toyota OEM every time but figured I would give another company a chance.... Hindsight is a wonderful thing

I refuse to use any Delphi parts in future on my car, especially given the fact that I have complained to them and they have ignored me. Useless parts and even worse customer service

[bobhatton]

genuine front Delphi drop links

That made me chuckle... about as good as genuine blueprint! I have had a set of those fail within a fortnight (admittedly involving a trip to Germany). There's a reason the Toyota ones are twice as thick, if not more.

Wen I was looking at replacing my drop links I was told that Delphi parts were comparable to Toyota ones. Usually I choose Toyota OEM every time but figured I would give another company a chance.... Hindsight is a wonderful thing

I refuse to use any Delphi parts in future on my car, especially given the fact that I have complained to them and they have ignored me. Useless parts and even worse customer service

If you got them off eBay they could have been made by any young child in China.
Keep clear of eBay if you want any type of quality.

[MartinF]

If you got them off eBay they could have been made by any young child in China.
Keep clear of eBay if you want any type of quality.

Have you actually seen the amount of genuine Toyota parts on EBay recently?

[bobhatton]

If you got them off eBay they could have been made by any young child in China.
Keep clear of eBay if you want any type of quality.

Have you actually seen the amount of genuine Toyota parts on EBay recently?

Genuine parts?

Only one place to get Genuine Toyota parts from.

[ashley]

If you got them off eBay they could have been made by any young child in China.
Keep clear of eBay if you want any type of quality.

Have you actually seen the amount of genuine Toyota parts on EBay recently?

Genuine parts?

Only one place to get Genuine Toyota parts from.

Toyota, or TCB, or camskill...there's three

[bobhatton]

Have you actually seen the amount of genuine Toyota parts on EBay recently?

Genuine parts?

Only one place to get Genuine Toyota parts from.

Toyota, or TCB, or camskill...there's three

Only one place I would trust Toyota.

TCB are a real pain sending out aftermarket parts even when only Toyota parts have been asked for.

I see no point in going to buy Toyota parts at Camskill when they can be got at Toyota.

[ashley]

Trevor has always sent me the genuine Toyota parts I've asked for (but I do make sure I ask), and what's more he under cuts my local Toyota garage because he passes on his trade discount

[Race Idiot]

If you got them off eBay they could have been made by any young child in China.
Keep clear of eBay if you want any type of quality.

I guess you wont be buying any genuine oil filters from toyota then because most of them are made in the denso factory in china or thailand nowadays. I personaly use mahle filters made in austria.

I mean yeah oem parts are better than unbranded ebay crap, but I fail to see how stuff like the oem leads made by sumitomo are better than leads made by ngk. I'm sure everyone buys toyota branded sparkplugs and wiperblades because they are so much better than ngk/denso/bosch non toyota branded ones.

I've had super duper oem the best ever droplinks made by japanese monks for toyota fail in less than a year. I've also had ones from a trader on here that lasted a couple of months tops.

[T.F.S.]

I've had super duper oem the best ever droplinks made by japanese monks for toyota fail in less than a year. I've also had ones from a trader on here that lasted a couple of months tops.

I would hope they were not supplied by myself, I give a years warranty and take the quality of the parts quite seriously..

One of the reasons I started making the links was because I bought a set of droplinks for circa £80 and it was just a bit of mild steel studding with some £1.80 ends.

[Race Idiot]

I would hope they were not supplied by myself, I give a years warranty and take the quality of the parts quite seriously..

One of the reasons I started making the links was because I bought a set of droplinks for circa £80 and it was just a bit of mild steel studding with some £1.80 ends.

No this was years ago.

[MartinF]

Genuine parts?

Only one place to get Genuine Toyota parts from.

Yep, genuine parts. People do get rid of there cars and have original parts on their shelves which they no longer need, also dealers do sometimes have excess inventory that they want to shift quickly.