Anti-roll bar droplink

[944cabby]

Just changed my anti-roll bar droplink on the passenger side.The old link looked like it had had a knock at some point as it's actually "oval" in shape now.Took her for a spin and it did feel better and tighter on the front end but it seems to have made the brake judder worse.Calipers off again tomorrow i think.

 

[944psi]

Well worth doing. I replaced my front ARB bushes last Sunday. Makes a difference. The front bush under the PS reservoir was interesting.

You may be able to spot the old bush in this photo.

Phil

 

[Paul Fraser]

Where did you source your bushes and how much please. I see they are not split so do they slide on from the end of the ARB? I assume you did all four? Thanks.

 

[Indi9xx]

The drop links are now getting to an age and level of corrosion where they are all begining to fail.

If anyone needs to change them, and has the 30mm 968 MO30 anti roll bar fitted, I recommend the Cup drop links as the standard ones are not up to the job. Even the 968's with MO30 roll bars with the correct std factory links go through links like they are going out of fashion.

The bushes like the one in the photo above, swell when they have power steering leaking onto them, even if its a fine mist from a pump just about to leak. Its one of the things we keep an eye out for during services... If we see a swolen link like this we normally ask the customer if the power steering pump groans in the mornings when first used.

 

[944psi]

I got a full set delivered from Exeter OPC (01392 822800). I think the part numbers will depend on the size of ARB you have but I got mine for around £34 +vat.

The bushes do slide onto the bar. For the bushes on the bottom of the drop link I used a bit of Fairy liquid to ease them in.

Phil

 

[Diver944]

I've got an offside droplink coming from Exeter at the moment too. It's definitely a wear and tear item at our cars age. The N/S went on the S2 about 6 years ago, the N/S went on the Turbo about 2 years ago and now it's the turn of the offsides []

 

[Paul Fraser]

Thanks for the info. There is a related post on Porsche-1 at the moment funnily enough with some pics:

http://www.porsche-1.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=748

 

[Big Dave]

John
You mention the "cup" drop links..
Are they a more substantial piece of kit.??
+ any idea of there cost.??

 

[Indi9xx]

The cup drop links are about £98 each (ouch!)

The standard drop links are a strip of metal which is looped around into a circle to captivate the bush with a shaft welded on over the join which hooks upto the wishbone.

They tend to fail where the two ends join.

The cup ones are made from stronger seamless tube to captivate the bush and a stronger shaft and therefore do not split like the standard ones.

 

[Big Dave]

John.
Ta for the info.....

BUT
At £98 EACH [ huge OUCH ],ill think ill pass on them...

 

[Fen]

For close to £200 the pair you'd not be far off the price of a proper front ARB with very solid mounts, Rose jointed drop links and adjustment.

 

[sawood12]

I've mentioned on a previous post that the drop link stiffening brackets which I think are KLA industries part are a steal at £20 a pair and triangulate the drop link to the chassis. They stiffen the drop link and i'm sure would provide more support for them and possibly prevent some of the failures mentioned here. You can get them from ESS.

Also it's important for us not to forget that our cars are getting on a bit now so it's no surprise that the odd rubber bush will need replacement here and there.

 

[Fen]

I admit I haven't looked at them, but I assumed the KLA strengthener is for the ARB mount rather than the drop link, no?

 

[333pg333]

Yes the KLA parts are for the front sway bar support which do triangulate. A couple of pieces of bent metal it you want to know. I got them. I guess they do something? As for the drop links, what is the major purpose of them? I would like to get the full Weltys but they're very expensive by the time the get down under. There are some copies but I don't know what they're like.

 

[Fen]

The drop links are the connection between the end of the ARB arm and the suspension (as opposed to the mounts which hold the ARB to the chassis). As with everything suspension there is a compromise between harshness and rigidity and the standard drop link has small bits of rubber acting as bushes - getting rid of the rubber and the give it offers makes the ARB function more direct and more consistent and predictable, but at the expense of harshness.

Copies of the Weltmeister bars would probably be fine so long as they are quite faithful copies. The reason I bang the drum for the Weltmeister bars is that the fronts come with a lump of metal about 15cm x 4cm x 2.5cm to use as a mount (that isn't going to give at all), they are much stiffer than 968 M030, they use Rose joints and they have adjustment front and rear - smooth adjustment by means of a clamp round the bar, not the "understeer, oversteer or something in between" of the 968 rear ARB. The drop links don't like road salt unfortunately so I have kept mine well coated in anti-corrosion wax, but aside that hassle and the inevitable extra weight compared to the Porsche ARBs I can't see a downside and the benefit is clear.

 

[944Turbo]

I believe it is Lee Noble of Noble cars who dislikes ARB's as a solution to handling ills,
Tony

 

[sawood12]

Well unfortunately unless you've got a center of gravity that is lower than the suspention wishbones (in which case the car would roll into the corner instead of away from it) you are going to need ARB's like it or not. Even F1 cars have ARB's.

 

[944Turbo]

This wasnt where I read it but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_(car)
" Although looking to be track derived, the M12 performs very well on both road and track, with surprisingly good ride quality, but a rigid feel. This is acheived by having no anti-roll bars on the car (with the exception of the hardcore M400). This allows suspension to be made hard without making a back breaking ride"

Mr Noble has a dislike of ARB's and can make his cars handle without them. However upgrading them on a 944 is no bad thing - I have 968 M030 bars myself.

Tony

 

[333pg333]

I thought that arb's had little to do with ride comfort, more to inhibit roll. You would think that shocks, springs, bushes, bearings, tyres etc would have more impact on harshness than arb's? PS slightly O.T. but what effect do engine mounts have on our cars? That is to say I've seen products such as Lindsey Race solid engine mounts and wondered if they would have any adverse effects in comparison to the stock ones?

 

[Peter Empson]

I have to admit I was surprised at quite how much the ride deteriorated when I had the M030 bars fitted, up until that point the ride was very good, particularly consdering that that my springs are quite a lot firmer than stock.
In fact if I was doing it again I would go much firmer with the springs, but that's going completely off topic!
Best regards,
Peter.