Front anti roll bar drop link - snapped!

[rowey200]

Folks, I've identified a loud clunk while driving over a dropped kerb earlier today as a broken front anti roll bar drop link - the outer one that goes through the wishbone, see here:

http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/prod3693/Drop-Link-Front-Porsche-944-85-91---968-91-95/

This seems like a fairly simple job to swap over (by removing the nut holding the drop link in place and dropping it out), however, any advice gratefully received! Also, it looks like the new part does not come with a new bush in place - will I be able to fit the bush by hand or does it require a specialist tool to be pressed into place?

Many thanks in advance []

 

[zcacogp]

It's as straightforward as you describe (and the bushes slip on and off easily) but you will need to apply some significant force to make it all align to get it back together. I resort to putting a jack in the relevant place to push the bar into the right place.

If one side has gone then the other one won't be far behind, and you'll need to undo it to swap the first one over. On that basis, I'd change both at the same time.

You could push that one stage further and also change part 3 in this diagram on both sides:

They'll cost you less than a tenner from an OPC and are probably on their last legs if they haven't been changed.


Oli.

 

[vitesse]

Putting 7 into 6 will require some brake fluid as lubricant and a strong vice to squeeze the bush in

 

[rowey200]

Great stuff, thanks for the advice both! I'll defo do both outer ones, and perhaps as you say, might be worth doing the inner ones while I'm at it Hadn't considered my local OPC for parts (I'm Bristol based), will give them a call.

 

[chrisg]

At the risk of disagreeing with my fellow Forum posters....

I've recently found that the standard OPC bushes will slide in and out of the drop links/ holders and along the ARB fairly easily.

The trouble really happens when you try fitting powerflex bushes !

Putting 7 into 6 was almost impossible and nearly sliced a finger off in the process.

Anyhow, dont be put off by my inadaquencies.....

Chris

 

[zcacogp]

Have to say, I think I agree with Mr Inadequate - standard rubber bushes are pretty easy but powerflex (or any other polyurethane) bushes do put up a better fight. A vice and some lubricant is a good idea.


Oli.

 

[rowey200]

Thanks again all....I'm just going for standard items at present so should be fine re fitment! My Saturday morning job is sorted

 

[craiginuk]

Hi I did this on my turbo just a few weeks ago. Also used std porsche bits but did need to use a bit of washing up liquid and a vice to get 7 into 6. I found a jubilee clamp placed over the open end of 6 helped me locate 7 so that it pushed in nice and true. (That's me with my now office worker hands - you tougher types may well just do it without a vice)

Another tip is to have a 2nd jack or means of jacking the wishbone up gently while trying to fit 8 and 8 back into place. Makes it a little easier to get it all to line up if you take a bit of weight off the wishbone.

 

[rowey200]

Folks, OPC need to know the diameter of the anti-roll bar on my car (either 21.5mm or 25.5mm or 26.8mm).....in the absence of a vernier gauge is there any way to tell by build date etc?

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: rowey200
Folks, OPC need to know the diameter of the anti-roll bar on my car (either 21.5mm or 25.5mm or 26.8mm).....in the absence of a vernier gauge is there any way to tell by build date etc?

I'm not sure why they are asking; the part you need is the same for all ARB diameters. The only bit that changes is the bush (part 7 in the diagram), for which the inner diameter matches the bar.


Oli.

 

[rowey200]

Cheers for the reply - I've ordered new bushes as well so guess they need to know the size of the ARB to make sure they get the right ones in?

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: rowey200
Folks, OPC need to know the diameter of the anti-roll bar on my car (either 21.5mm or 25.5mm or 26.8mm).....in the absence of a vernier gauge is there any way to tell by build date etc?

I'm not sure why they are asking; the part you need is the same for all ARB diameters. The only bit that changes is the bush (part 7 in the diagram), for which the inner diameter matches the bar.


Oli.

 

[zcacogp]

Ah, now that does make sense.

The only reliable way to tell is indeed with verniers; ARB diameters varied with no apparent logic or reason. However the differences are quite large; you could try using a ruler and hazarding a good guess? Or wrap a piece of string around the bar and use this to measure the circumference, then use some maffs to tell you the diameter?


Oli.

 

[rowey200]

I should probably have a set of verniers in the tool box so will pick a set up today - that way I will know I'm ordering the correct bushes. Thanks, for your advice

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Ah, now that does make sense.

The only reliable way to tell is indeed with verniers; ARB diameters varied with no apparent logic or reason. However the differences are quite large; you could try using a ruler and hazarding a good guess? Or wrap a piece of string around the bar and use this to measure the circumference, then use some maffs to tell you the diameter?


Oli.

 

[vitesse]

Without an unnecessary purchase,all you need to do is using a suitable adjustable flat faced pipe wrench,adjust the jaws to grip the ARB-both the main dia & reduced dia-then measure the gap with a rule-simples!.

Also.if you look in the Porsche Classic parts lists,you will find all the alternative sizes with relevant dimensions for ARB,support bushes & droplink bushes-all the bushes need to be a tight fit on the diameter they assemble to otherwise they can't do their job properly.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

A screw adjustable spanner is the best out side a set of calipers.

 

[Frenchy]

Buy some red rubber grease / lubricant (I use Morris Lubricants) absolutely the best stuff for doing jobs like this plus a million other rubber related tasks.......................Oh Errr []

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Buy some red rubber grease / lubricant (I use Morris Lubricants) absolutely the best stuff for doing jobs like this plus a million other rubber related tasks.......................Oh Errr []

Bad, bad man. []


Oli.

 

[Ru2S7]

The exact same thing has happened to my nearside front ARB. I've ordered the drop link shown earlier from design911, plus two upper and one lower bush, although they didn't say anything about different diameters, I hope it all fits together!

 

[rowey200]

Thanks for the advice all, after speaking to OPC Bristol parts dept. they offered to measure the ARB for me, turned out to be the middle size (25.5mm). Ordered up all the bits to do both sides while I was there

 

[rowey200]

Thanks for the advice re this issue folks, all sorted yesterday [] It was a nice easy job, nothing was seized and I was even left with enough time to whip my front pads out to cure an annoying squeal that has been bugging me.

Nice new bits from OPC Bristol (great service BTW):

Can you spot the issue?

Job done (please excuse the messy Waxoyl, I got a bit carried away while under the car [])