Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

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ecohouse1
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Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by ecohouse1 »

Morning Chaps

My Xantia TD is rattling at the front down the 1/3 mile rutted farm track that I live down. Had the front wheels off and notice that the rubber boot is torn on one of the RH joint upper ball hence the rattle.

Had a look on GSF website and I notice the one I need from the pics is the link with the 90 degree at the top but straight down at the bottom where is bolts into the ARB. What are the 90 degree each end ones for? I was going to go for Lemforder but there is only one listed with the correct joint "angles"

Cheers

Alan
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by RichardW »

Not quite superloopy...

Early cars had 1 90 one straight, and were smaller thread
Later cars had 1 90 / one straight but were larger thread (most Xantias)
Only very late cars (2000 on) had the two 90 type (these are much longer lived than the earlier type!).

carparts4less had the lemforder ones (later double 90s anyway) and under £20 when I bought some. Don't bother fitting cheap ones - unless you want to do it again within 12 months.
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by Mandrake »

I just fitted a pair of lemforder droplinks from carparts4less on my 98 V6, which takes the larger thread but still has the straight joint at the bottom. No problems at all, they arrived quickly, fitted perfectly and seem good quality.

The only gotcha is lemforder don't supply any new nylock nuts or washers with them - so pop down to your local hardware store to get a small bag of nylock nuts and washers! (I got mine from B&Q for a few quid)

carparts4less also list the earlier smaller threaded variety but I don't recall seeing any double right angle joint versions...

You might find this thread of some interest when preparing to do the droplinks:

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=40662" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
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1978 CX 2400
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by Mandrake »

Anyone have a picture of the double right angled droplinks fitted to a car ? I'm struggling to visualise why a right angled joint at the bottom would be any better than the earlier arrangement of horizontal sway bar and straight balljoint ?
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by Foggyoutcome »

I've just fitted those ones you mention from gsf I think £10.50 each . I slipped the rubber down to see how much grease they put in, it was nothing at all, so I filled them all to the brim with it. Should last a little bit longer that way.
I only do 5 thousand miles a year if that . If I was doing allot more I would go for the better ones mentioned.
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by Peter.N. »

I use that trick, filling them with grease prior to fitting but with the latest offerings, presumably from China, the rubber perishes within about 12 months and lets all the grease out :x

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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by john »

how do you get the grease in? do the rubbers just pop off?

ive got to new 1's waiting to be fitted to Berl, might give it a try if i know how to do it.
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by RichardW »

Mandrake wrote:carparts4less also list the earlier smaller threaded variety but I don't recall seeing any double right angle joint versions...
Mine came from there... and they had nuts :?
Mandrake wrote:I'm struggling to visualise why a right angled joint at the bottom would be any better than the earlier arrangement of horizontal sway bar and straight balljoint ?
Dunno why they are better but they are - the originals (90 / straight) generally lasted about 60k, mine is still running an original double 90 at 135k (albeit with some play in it) - I only changed the original OS one about 8k ago. I guess if there is a 90 at the bottom then the shock loading direct into the ball is less.
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ecohouse1
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My Cars: Rover 75 CDT TourerAuto , , Mercedes 190E 1.8 1993, 2CV6 Special 1987, Peugeot 206 1.1 2001. Repairs and maintenance of two Hyundai i10s
Deceased
Xantia TD Estate 1999 (now with Chris Morewood)
Xsara 1.9D Saloon
BXTZD Break
BXTGD Hatch
Peugeot 309 1.9D
Various 2CVs
Porsche 924 lux
Porsche 924S
Renault Clio 1.4 Auto
GSA Pallas
Triumph Herald 1200
x 3

Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by ecohouse1 »

I remeber a few years ago my now ex wife used to drive a nice white 4 door Xsara 1.9 DW8 and it rattled - when I jacked up the front the ARB had actually snapped!! and was swinging around!! - I didn't notice a major difference in the handling!! I usually just cut them of with the Grinder, but might try the blowtorch trick!

Ordered 2 Lemforders from Carparts 4less - £18.90 each freeP&P

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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by HDI »

My '99 Xantia HDi has drop links with a 90 degree at each end, I also believe there are two sizes of thread, M10 & M12, mine is M12. Delphi are pretty good quality too.
As has been mentioned the main failure mode on pattern links is the rubber boot breaking up and allowing the grease to be washed out. Pity we can't find some good quality rubber boots !
Now using '00 Xantia LX HDI, pov spec :(
My past Citroens :-
'00 Xantia SX HDI, now dead due to accident :(
'99 Xantia HDI 110 Exclusive, RIP :(
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'96 Xantia TD LX
'96 ZX TD
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Re: Ordering New Front Drop Links for Xantia TD Estate

Post by Mandrake »

I found that I had to be careful to avoid twisting the rubber boots around during fitting - its not hard to do by mistake, which would lead to the rubber boot failing quick smart. The trick is to hold the centre still with an Allen key and do 90% of the tightening with a big ring spanner, only doing the final tweak with a socket...

Because the boots are clamped tight at both ends they won't tolerate the ball joint being rotated. Once fitted the joints can't rotate (much) in operation.
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
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