Drop links - Lemforder or Meyle?

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:34 pm

After receiving my car back from the indy to fix an a knocking issue I am having up front, they came back with a long list of suspension related issues I am not aware of, most of them at the back. So they replaced worn control arm bushes they spotted but noise is still present to which they said would be the drop links.

Youtube video shows this is a not a big job to do so I'll give this a go myself now that I have replaced my trolley jack.

Should I use Lemforder or Meyle drop links?

Since the indy has check the car over (and hopping they have not missed anything), I was wondering if there is anything else I should replace while the front is up in the air. I won't attempt anything with ball joints as I understand its not an easy thing!

Thanks

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 3:05 pm

Personally, I'd use Meyle.

henrym3 · Post by **henrym3** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 7:29 pm

Lemforder are a recognised OEM supplier and generally are more expensive. Meyle are also a top brand and you certainly won’t go wrong with either.

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:13 pm

Have used both brands and the only 2 id usually consider now for most things

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:12 am

I use Meyle if i can get the part.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:35 am

gone with Lemforder in the end since. I could pick that up today and fit while the weather is good instead of waiting for Meyle from ebay which could take over a week.

Do the drop links have to be tightined under load or ok in the air?

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:25 am

cooa99 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:35 amDo the drop links have to be tightined under load or ok in the air?

If they're ball-joints, in the air is fine. Rubber bushes need to have the weight of the car on the wheels.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Thu Sep 16, 2021 12:56 pm

thanks, I just hope its turns out to be an was job.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:56 pm

Always my luck

I can't get the drop links off. I need a really flat 18mm open end wrench which I can't find anywhere

henrym3 · Post by **henrym3** » Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:01 pm

I ended up taking an angle grinder to a spare 18mm and making it a bit thinner to fit in there. It was an old open ended that comes with the BMW toolkits

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:49 pm

unfortunately, i don’t have a grinder but i do have a dremel.

Another option I am looking at is a bicycle cone spanner if i can find one tomorrow

Greydog · Post by **Greydog** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:17 am

I use an old Bicycle spanner file to fit tapped in place cable tie to drop link undo nut, repeat other end.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:49 pm

It turned out to be a horrible job. I could not find a bicycle spanner so used my Dremel to grind down a spanner.

I tried with that but the bolts were just to tight even though it opened a little. Also once loose the thin spanner to hold the back steady just kept coming off. 3hrs later I used the Dremel to cut the bolt off. I wished I had done that from the start. I must have gone through 7 metal discs.

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