Drop link

[mark21TD]

How meny miles do you guys get from a drop link ?

My left hand one was changed 23k ago (not sure where it came from) just before I brought the car, I changed the right hand one a week later (gsf) and now the R/H is knocking, is this normal to go in this time ?

[steve_earwig]

They don't seem to last very long, my D8 had 2 sets in 5 years and not many miles, my '9 had some when I got it, sounds like it'll need some more soon.

[HimBigChief]

Sometimes you get lucky and they last for ages, sometimes for a year or so. Mine take a pounding on the country roads around here so I'm not too fussed about replacing them every now and then.

[poddack]

I replaced all four on mine a year ago, one of the front links lasted two months.

[bangernom1cs]

HI,
For me...not very long.
I changed them all a couple of months back (see the knowledge base) and the rears (weakest) are bangin away
like mad. I imagine I've done about 15-20 k on them which is a bit less than average.
I treat them like fuel and just do them when needed. So much so that I keep a spare set in readiness at home.

T

[mjb]

Interesting - I've only had to change one, and that's because I had to remove it and the allen hole rounded

[mark21TD]

I've just been out and checked them, no movement at all with the car jacked up or on the ground
I've leavered things about with the jack handle and can't find any movement on the ball joints wishbones ect eather side.
So where is the knocking coming from.
It knocks on and uneven road surfice, over pot holes ect and seams to be coming from the front right.

[jasper5]

You could try looking to see if the nuts holding the link on have come loose, it does happen.

Are the "D" bushes alright on the anti roll bar?

Try moving grabbing the wheel at the top with it on the ground and pulling it towards you, see if it knocks then, sometimes a ball joint will knock when you do this but not when you have it jacked up.

[mark21TD]

Jasper, i've had a look at the ARB bushes and they don't look that great.

I've checked the ball joints as you surgested and nothing.

so I'll change the ARB bushes and see.