ARB rear droplink question

ViperKen

ViperKen

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
Joined
Mar 9, 2020
Points
135
Location
South Shields
Model of Z
1998 1.9
Hi all, after replacing my rear shocks last week, the car has developed a knocking noise at the drivers side rear end. After checking everything out, I noticed that the drivers side droplink has started to come off the ARB. The ARB is barely visible inside the bush whereas the passenger side it is protruding out of the bush.
I am going to replace both links, but when looking at the specs for the links some descriptions quote 60mm, one 50mm and others nothing.
My question is, what do these dimensions refer to ?
Plus can anyone recommend a good brand
Thanks
 
You need to measure the diameter of the links if you are replacing the bushes Ken. What you're describing indicates that the anti-roll bar has move towards the left of the car. This happens when the large mounting bushes wear and allow the bar to slip through the bushes sideways. New bushes and drop links are the way to go. Meyle, Febi and Moog all decent makes.

These are Febi brand bushes if you want to stay rubber and not go Poly.

www.ebay.co.uk

2x Anti-roll Bar Stabiliser Bush Rear/Right/Left for BMW Z3 E36 3.2 98-01 S50 | eBay UK

FOR BMW Z3, E36. Part specifications. This is an original quality part manufactured by Febi.
www.ebay.co.uk

Tony.
 
Thanks for the quick replies, I will measure the droplinks tomorrow.
Tony, never even thought about poybushes, something else to consider lol, would a mixture of ARB mounting poybushes and rubber droplink bushes work, or is it best to keep them all the same. I haven't come across any polybush droplinks, ... yet.
 
Never fitted rear drop link poly bushes type Ken but, once the main bar is mounted they may go on easier than rubber ones. Don't think I would mix the 2 types though.

Tony.
 
Hello ViperKen,

the rear anti roll bar links should all be the same 60mm, the Z3M may be different.

regarding the D bush there are 2 different bush sizes for the front and rear, on the rear a standard car has a 15mm roll bar, the sport version is a 16mm roll bar,
Before assembling put a Very small amount of rubber grease on the drop link rubber before pressing on and it should be effortless. Regarding recommended brands, for all suspension components go MEYLE especially HD where available, Lemforder, Moog, or Febi in that order. The advert is slightly misleading, it says Febi manufacture the Bush, this is incorrect, Febi do not manufacture any suspension bushes they are bought in from multiple sources. Only MEYLE and Lemforder manufacture, Febi and Moog are boxing companies, saying that a lot of their parts are of good quality.

I’m 99.9% sure there are no poly Bush drop links available.
Dakar
 
Unusual for it to knock unless its fully out, just for piece of mind check the anti roll bar bracket hasnt broke away from the car, the back plate is only held by 4 small spot welds which can fail and would still appear to be tight due to the pressure from the ARB.. It will take a good yank to see if its failed.........ask me how I know :whistle: Hope it's not the case.

1605278999539.webp
 
t-tony said:
You need to measure the diameter of the links if you are replacing the bushes Ken. What you're describing indicates that the anti-roll bar has move towards the left of the car. This happens when the large mounting bushes wear and allow the bar to slip through the bushes sideways. New bushes and drop links are the way to go. Meyle, Febi and Moog all decent makes.

These are Febi brand bushes if you want to stay rubber and not go Poly.

www.ebay.co.uk

2x Anti-roll Bar Stabiliser Bush Rear/Right/Left for BMW Z3 E36 3.2 98-01 S50 | eBay UK

FOR BMW Z3, E36. Part specifications. This is an original quality part manufactured by Febi.
www.ebay.co.uk

Tony.
Click to expand...
Hi Tony, measured up the droplink today and it looks like the 60mm refers to the bush hole centres dimension. Looks like I will be going with the Meyle brand, thanks for the advise, Ken
 
Nodzed said:
Unusual for it to knock unless its fully out, just for piece of mind check the anti roll bar bracket hasnt broke away from the car, the back plate is only held by 4 small spot welds which can fail and would still appear to be tight due to the pressure from the ARB.. It will take a good yank to see if its failed.........ask me how I know :whistle: Hope it's not the case.

View attachment 162767
Click to expand...
Going to be opening up those brackets to replace the bushes, will give them a good check. Fingers crossed their OK, the ARB is only just in the droplink, can't tell if it's engaged or not.
 
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