Xantia Drop Link keeps breaking / popping off bottom joint

[romie]

Did you deliberately quote that old saying arse-about?

I make up my own sayings as and when needed, any resemblance to real sayings, alive or dead is purely coincidental

Really sounds like poor quality parts more than anything else.

I agree. Bet those Lemforder ones last just fine.

Cool! Consider this one on test as of tonight! HA!

ta, romie

[addo]

Lemförder's double right-angle link is shown with washers and nuts, but not the other type.


.rorrim a otni gnikool dna potksed ym no depyT

[Mandrake]

Weird, I've had two sets of Lemforder drop links purchased in two different countries, no nuts or washers in either case.

Seems like pot luck!

[Chris570]

mine are the double right angle type, are yours mandrake? i'm wondering if they supply one part with and one not. Mine didnt come in a box, just a sealed plastic bag so that might shed some light on it

[romie]

mine are the double right angle type, are yours mandrake? i'm wondering if they supply one part with and one not. Mine didnt come in a box, just a sealed plastic bag so that might shed some light on it

Mine are: one right angled end and the other end is straight though, (the end whose ball joint keep popping out).

Cheers, romie

[Mandrake]

mine are the double right angle type, are yours mandrake? i'm wondering if they supply one part with and one not. Mine didnt come in a box, just a sealed plastic bag so that might shed some light on it

Mine were both the earlier type with only one right angle. I think addo has already solved the mystery a couple of posts up anyway. Looks like the double right angle ones come with them and the earlier ones don't.

Why is anyone's guess. It sure is annoying to receive them and then realise you have to make an extra trip to go buy nuts and washers to do the job. I was caught out both times.

Does anyone know for certain whether washers were fitted at the factory ? I fitted washers on both cars and I have a vague recollection of my earlier Xantia having washers on the nuts on the originals. I know a lot of people don't fit washers though, and it probably doesn't matter either way.

[Old-Guy]

The Lemforder ones don't come with nuts or washers for some reason. I just bought a small bag of standard nylock nuts and washers from B&Q when I fitted mine. Did you fit washers on yours ?

They used to, but don't anymore. Asked the question last time I bought a Lemforder drop-link from GSF (as I'd destroyed both nuts getting the link off) who then supplied the wrong size. Fortunately, I managed to 'borrow' a pair of new Nylocs (had to order up a bag of 10 to replace the 2 loaned nuts). Managed to find the remaining 7 recently when replacing a drop-link for the VSX's MoT.

[Mandrake]

Your local B&Q have a bag of the right size (size depends on year of Xantia) nylock nuts and washers on the shelf for just a few quid. They're not usually a good source of car related parts (although some of their tools are decent) but in this case they have the goods.

I took the new drop link in the store with me and tested the size of the nut through the plastic bag to make sure I had the right size.

[romie]

So fitted the Lemforder drop link. And smothered threads and hex drive holes in copper grease - again.
Was a bit of a pain to get this one in-between the two mounting points this time round.
Had to raise the suspension to max, prop front end up with axle stands. Then lower suspension to min and shove suspension up by the brake disc to get the drop link between the mounting points.

Am sure it wasn't this difficult last few times!

This led me onto thinking about the length of the link. Too short would def make this happen!
Unfortunately I didn't think to measure the Q-Drive parts, although according to ECPs site it was correct to my reg number and vehicle type. Also it was a 12mm thread.

Measuring the Lemforder part it was roughly 32cm, (mounting hole to mounting hole).
No help to me now, but no doubt I'll be checking on here again for this measurement on the next drop link I get in a years time! :p

So the Q-Drive parts were Euro Car Part, part number: 600545120
The Lemforder part number from ECP is: 600545125

I should go in and ask to measure that Q-Drive part to rule that out :/

And I should measure against the other side! Will crack on with that tomorrow.

Anywho, Lemforder part now on test!

Cheers guys, romie

Oh, interesting that you now have to enter the promo code displayed on the first page of ECP website to get 30% off - meaning back to the normal price. Basically they've raised the prices and added an extra step making the entry of a promo code necessary to get back to the original price! >:(

Are GSF and ECP the same people? They have exactly the same structure to their web pages?

[Old-Guy]

Are GSF and ECP the same people? They have exactly the same structure to their web pages?

GSF is the trading name of German Swedish & French Car Parts Limited, a private limited company with 16 shareholders.

Euro Car Parts was acquired by the American LKQ Corporation in 2011.

So no, they are not the same people.

[romie]

Are GSF and ECP the same people? They have exactly the same structure to their web pages?

GSF is the trading name of German Swedish & French Car Parts Limited, a private limited company with 16 shareholders.

Euro Car Parts was acquired by the American LKQ Corporation in 2011.

So no, they are not the same people.

Fair enough, they just stole ECPs website then? ;P

[Mandrake]

More likely they contracted the same web design company to design the website for them, or that both companies are using the same sort of CMS (content management system) and using a turnkey ecommerce design that is close to one of the template designs...

Its not the first time I've seen unrelated companies with similar looking web stores!