Xantia Drop Links

Unread post by **KennyW** » 11 Aug 2006, 13:49

Hi Gang,

Just returned from France and while driving in Paris, just got of the Peripherique and taking a sharp left hand bend when there was a loud clunk when I hit a pot hole.
I had look under car short while later and could not see anything.I drove home with no further problems and nothing unusual with steering or suspension

I've just inspected car and found my driver's side drop link had sheared at the lower ball joint

I replaced both links approx 3 mths ago.
Anybody had any similair experiences and any suggestions to the reasons or is bad luck/good luck considering the distances I've driven.

Awaiting replies with anticipation

Kenny W

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 11 Aug 2006, 14:02

I have never heard of one shear, rattle yes. They dont seem to be as good a quality as the originals, it has been suggested that there isn't sufficient grease in them. On replacing them again, I would remove the rubber boot and make sure that it is full of grease.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 11 Aug 2006, 14:03

Bought an Xm V6 24v and the ride was superb compared to another 12v V6 I also run. That was until I had a closer look at the car and found it didn't even have a drop link fitted on the nearside!!

Seemigly the car ran better without it! Something the previous owner bprrowed for another Xm of plain forgot to fit back on?!!

Shearing a drop link knowing the diameter they come in sounds like the failure was a manufacturing defect.

Andrew

Unread post by **KennyW** » 11 Aug 2006, 14:07

Thanks for the replies,

Will be speaking to my supplier and showing him drop link and will be injecting grease into new and one already fitted.

As suggested a manufacturing fault was my guess.

Cheers Guys.

Kenny W

john alexander · Unread post by **john alexander** » 13 Aug 2006, 22:41

Hi my son recently bought a drop link for his focus , the end sheared off within a day. It was made by pearl. why say more john.

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 13 Aug 2006, 23:16

I put a drop link onto my xantia a couple of months ago.....it sheared as I was doing some citerobics after also changing the LHM. The car hadn't been moved anywhere since replacing the droplink. I was not a happy bunny.

This one was to replace one that had started rattling that had been changed 3 months earlier.

At the moment, this new one is OK....fingers crossed

Unread post by **alan s** » 13 Aug 2006, 23:55

Back in the dark ages when most drove BXs, we had this problem with creaks and crackles in the front end.
It was common to replace droplinks which in no time would repeat the dose.
To me it made no sense and was out of character for Citroen to have a problem that seemed to go on forever as CXs whilst never being the top of the tree for day to day reliability, could eventually be sorted once the problems were addressed correctly, so I set about looking for a final solution.
I did the job somewhere around 2001/2002 IIRC and to this day the problem has never reappeared. We have done it on our other BXs with same results.

Here is the write up I did at the time:

http://www.aussiefrogs.com/snippets/bx_clunks.htm

My guess is that there has been an attempt to rectify the problem using possibly plastics which work very well until 1300+ kgs comes crashing down on it. We found that these things definitely seize and let go with an horrific clunk if you manage to get one to turn in the vice. Greasing not only allows them to swivel silently, but the difference in ride and handling is quite noticeable.

Alan S

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 14 Aug 2006, 09:13

Good work Alan! I suspect my drop links too. I renewed them last December (about 18k miles ago) and have terrible creaking at the front. Almost sounds like CV joints except it's quiet on full lock. Put it on half lock and it pops and creaks like mad. Passed the MoT (end of June) with flying colours - "pristine underneath" I was told. I'll have a go at cleaning and greasing them.

Unread post by **KennyW** » 15 Aug 2006, 20:21

Thanks Alan S,

Just replaced snapped one and re greased as suggested will do other later on in the week when doing lower ball joint which appears to have a chewed up rubber cover.

Cheers
Kenny W.

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 22 Aug 2006, 09:41

Sorry to bring this back...

I didn't get around to lubrication and I'm pretty sure my drop links are clattering like hell now. I only did them both on 24 December! How long are these supposed to last?

The ones I fitted are GSF’s N42264A. These were £11.50 (ex VAT) each - are these the cheap ones? Does anyone know of better quality ones?

I notice pr.net quote £41.25 (ex VAT) for a drop link; this seems a bit excessive. Are they that much better?

Unread post by **KennyW** » 22 Aug 2006, 10:57

Hi Dave,

The drop links I got were only £5 each and they are the same ones used by Citroen

But if water gets to the lower ball joint especially, it siezes and thats what causes them to break.

Lubricating them properly prevents the problem and results in a smoother ride.AS Alan s said in the earlier posting.

Hope this helps.

Kenny.

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 22 Aug 2006, 12:36

Cheers Kenney, I will be sure to lubricate the next set I fit. It riles me because I shouldn't have to...

I complained to GSF and have had a reply. They will credit me with the cost of the ones I have brought but their best ones are £37 + VAT (these must be N42264, I suppose). It’s a bit of a jump, but not half as bad a Citroen.

Has anyone tried these? Are they any good?

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 20 Sep 2006, 11:54

I never did finish this thread off. Result was that I got the N42264 replacements (and a refund on the duff ones). Before fitting I greased them (a small amount of grease was there already).

Wow what a difference! Now 2k miles later I'm still smiling at the smoothness of the ride. These have made a tremendous difference to the ride quality - truly amazing!

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 20 Sep 2006, 13:34

the drop links dont make any differants to ride quality,as all they do is conect your anti roll bar to the suspension,the only thing you dont get after replacing them is the rattle rattle cloncks,also a local factors to me sells motorquipe parts and he chargesaround 36 squide each for the drop links
regards malcolm

Unread post by **alan s** » 21 Sep 2006, 00:02

Malcolm,

I found on my BXs that if the drop links were allowed to dry out, that it tends towards giving a more harsh ride as they seem to bind and then let go with a rush. Once they were greased there was a noticeable change in general feel.
It's hard to explain until you experience it, but whilst the ride isn't improved as in softness, the application definitely is improved by working in a more supple manner.
I've experienced it on a few now and when passengers who don't know what you've done comment on how they feel the change in ride and ask "what have you been doing to your car; it seems so much smoother" you know it's more than psychosematic.

Alan S