Xantia ARB drop link lifetime

[evilclive]

Is losing a drop link in a year, 6000-odd miles reasonable? Failed MOT last year, both replaced, one failed MOT this year.

[jgra1]

quite normal Clive..

I would say cheap drop links may only last a year, although it is possible to extend that by adding some grease into the 4 ends.. My cheapies have been in there longer than that though..

Lemforder (spelling) ones seem a good bet I think..

more members will advise.,.

John

[Peter.N.]

I replaced the rears on my 406 last year for the MOT, have just had to do it again 11,000 miles. I usually add extra grease but I don't think I did last time.

Peter

[Timmo]

i'd have thought it would depend quite a bit on what type of driving your doing, if your mainly motorway use would have said a lot longer than if your country lanes or city speed bump roads??
cheapies from ebay - £12 pair, i wouldnt expect to last much more than a year, in the past having changed them on the 205/309GTi's the Bx 16v and brothers V6 406, the ones ive had direct from pug lasted a lot longer than the ebay cheapies, the gsf ones were cheap for the Bx and lasted quite well,

incidentally, did it fail on the rubber boots on them??

[Peter.N.]

The boots went on mine, why I can't see, the new ones came with a plastic cover over them - which I couldn't fit because it prevented you getting to the flat with a spanner to stop the ball turning. I have to drive over several hundred yards of forest track before I get to the road then that's pretty rough. The suspension on my XMs seems to last forever.

Peter

[Timmo]

Mine failed on the boots too, annoyingly, if I'd put the car in a fortnight prior it Wouldn't have failed on them but been an advisory!
I've never had the pleasure of a ride in an Xm, (have a DS though! ) but have been assured that they are very magic carpety! The Xant is towards the start of the Every thing must have Rock hard suspension era, There's a heck of a difference between the BX and the Xant,
My old 309Gti used to go through a few drop links, but then I drove it like I stole it Pretty much Every drive (got it when I was 19!) And I had it lowered, strut braced etc. So to be expected! But both brother and I noticed a Lot more wear on them when pops moved to a Road where you couldn't get to without Full road width speed bumps!

The plastic covers are there to prevent damage in storage/transport iirc?? Quite a few peoe suggest slipping the boots off and Greasing them up with as thick a grease as you can to elongate the life of them??

[RichardW]

The OE ones are Lemforder, and they last about 60k on early cars (bottom end joint straight on), and over 100k on the later cars (90deg at both end). Don't fit anything else! I've just bought some for mine (the later ones) from carparts4less for £17.40 a side - these are to replace the originals (at 125k) - I expect them to outlast the car.

[xantia_v6]

On my V6, I changed them in 2004 with genuine Citroen items at 60,000 miles, now at 186,000 miles, they are still in good condition.

[Old-Guy]

I replaced the original N/S just under 3 years ago at about 85k and the O/S one a year later at around 90k. Following forum advice, Lemforder from GSF both times - now on 106k and no signs of any rattles despite the dreadful state of some minor country roads here in Gloucestershire.

[HDI]

Cheap types from my local factor only survive a year or so but I got some Delphi ones last month and they appear of much higher quality at not much more. We'll see !

[citroenxm]

I have NOT changed them on mine yet - 40k..

Not sure why.... when I lived at the farm and travelled the rough road every day.. it was almost a link every two months..

Mostly dual carrage way now.. well, almost all of it except when I do visit the farm