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Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:38 pm
by Gary406
just done the shoppin trip up to iceland and notinced a knocking from the rear N/S wheel, at 1st i thought it was something in the boot so checked when i got home,

then i decided to just wobble each wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock all was solid except rear passangers side, it has quite a bit of play causing the knock !!

does this sound like bearing or could it be a droplink ??

there is no wining sound when driving even at 50mph, but i do have a loud noticable "clunk" when i hit ruff road and bumps

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:40 pm
by HimBigChief
Sounds like a top link to me.

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 4:48 pm
by Gary406
glad you said that :lol: its a bit cheaper than a wheel bearing :lol:

are they plastic on the back ?

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 5:28 pm
by HimBigChief
Nope, they're metal. The plastic bit you're on about is the droplink on the back.

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:08 pm
by Gary406
? ? ? you lost me there cheif ..

im talking about the back 8)

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 7:51 pm
by jasper5
The drop link is plastic but the top horizontal link is metal with a ball joint at the wheel end and an adjustable nut and bolt at the inner end....there's a how-to on this.
Your problem will almost certainly be a worn top horizontal link rod.

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:05 pm
by Gary406
ahh right m so theres 2 at the back. didnt know , cheers cheif

ok cheers jasper will get them ordered off ebay now

thanks

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:15 pm
by Gary406
ive found the how 2,

whats he mean about being carefull with the tracking ? when changing the rear top link,,,

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:39 pm
by HimBigChief
The top link controls both the camber and toe in of the rear wheels, so it's best to get the car 4 wheel aligned whenever you change the top link rod. I'm sure there'll be someway to mark so you can put the new one back in more or less the same place (like when counting number of turns when taking track rod end off).

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:41 pm
by ianjoh
Just remember that when removing the bolt/adjuster dont be tempted to rotate the bolt, hold it with a spanner and turn the nut only.
Easy mistake to make when access is tight, only it will feck the adjuster, been there done that :roll:

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:15 pm
by teamster1975
Definitely top link, beware of the ebay cheapies as they don't last 5 minutes (as I found out :x )
I would get the wheel alignment checked when you've replaced it (and do both sides!) as you will probably get shoulder wear on the tyres.

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:35 pm
by poddack
I replaced my rear droplinks in reaction to a MOT advisory, then a full 4 wheel alignment afterwards. mmmmmmmm smooooooth

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:54 pm
by Gary406
so if i replace my own and accidently knock tracking off a 4 wheel allignment will sort it out ?

Re: Play In Rear N/S Wheel

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:42 pm
by teamster1975
Gary406 wrote:so if i replace my own and accidently knock tracking off a 4 wheel allignment will sort it out ?
Yes it will.
It all depends whether the wheel alignment had been done before with the link flopping about! *cough* kwikfit *cough*