Rear anti roll bar drop links.

[Acousticplayer]

Hello All.As part of my ongoing efforts to bring the Z out of retirement I set about the task of overhauling the braking system at the weekend. Removed the rear n/s wheel and found that the drop link had become detached from the end of the roll bar.On checking the o/s found that that one was just about hanging on by a thread.

The knowledgebase contains an article about this very problem apparently written by Mike Fishwick and reproduced with his permission by GazHyde.

The article refers to a modified drop link being introduced in September 1999 which it is said solves the problem.

Has anyone any experience of this and presumably if I order a pair of new links I will be guaranteed the modified versions

Thanks.

 

[Stormy_be]

Hello,

Wwhich connecting gave in?
The trailer-arm to the droplink, the droplink to the ARB, or the connection of the ARB to the car?
(for all 3, there are beefed-up versions)

A picture might explain it all.

Regards, Koen

 

[Acousticplayer]

Hi Koen,thanks for coming back. Nothing has actually broken.The article in the knowledge base explains the problem fully and has a clear photo.The drop link has become detached from the end of the ARB.The nearside has come off completely and the offside is almost off. Since there appears to be nothing to prevent such movement it is difficult to visualise how a modification to the drop link would work.

Regards David.

 

[GazHyde]

I only recreated the article from what was supplied, but I would imagine that what ever is supplied these days would be the correct version.

 

[Stormy_be]

I would suspect that it will only be able to "jump over" the thicker end of the ARB-bar, when the bush inside the droplink is past it replacement date.

 

[Acousticplayer]

The link comes off the thin end of the ARB so there is no question of it going further up the bar and the bushes on my link are not worn in any way. I am just finding it hard to imagine what modification to the link would prevent this from happening given the set up.
Anyway I have ordered new links so perhaps all will become clear when they arrive.

 

[Acousticplayer]

Well the mystery deepens.One of my new ARB links arrived this morning (I ordered two-only one arrived--no one can get anything right these days). The new one is identical to the old one except it has a different number and the bush is embossed with the name "BOGE " as described in Mike Fishwick's article. The number ties in with the number for the modified part according to Real OEM.

Anyone any further thoughts?

 

[Aceman]

@Acousticplayer not sure if I am barking upt the wrong tree here as my memory gets increasingly fuzzy in later life but are you the owner of my previous red Z3 2.8 or have we just met before as Leicester is the last know origin of my little red Z3.?

 

[Acousticplayer]

HI Ian.Yes I'm the one.

 

[Aceman]

Ahh in that case when I had your zed and totally refreshed the suspension I did replace the drop links and I am pretty sure they were the updated versions, certainly bought them from my local BMW dealer.

Anything else you want to know about the car that I haven't already talked to you about previously ?

 

[Acousticplayer]

Hi Ian.Thanks for that.That might explain one thing but casts doubt on another.The details of what you did to the car do refer to the drop links but on the front suspension only.Certainly the rear drop links show no sign of wear so if you replaced them that would be why my new ones are exactly the same as the ones already on the car.However if they are the "modified" version why have they departed themselves from the ARB when the "modified" ones were designed to solve that problem. Strange !

Just as a side do you know if the Clutch delay valve was ever taken off?

Probably have a few more questions as I continue to wake her up as she has been virtually laid up for the last four years.

Regards

David.

 

[oldcarman]

Oh how fortunate you are to have @Aceman as a reference guide!! I lucked out with my first car Trinity as the PO had an Independant BMW shop so a wealth of knowledge came with the car, not that I've needed it. All it needed once it finally made the voyage and transport was a brake light bulb and 4 tire (which I was aware of). Good luck! JIM

 

[Aceman]

No idea why they have popped off again but the reason I replaced them was exactly the same however the ones I took off were very perished so presumably the originals from new. I did replace the fronts too when I changed all the shocks and springs.

I never touched the clutch hose and CDV so presume it is original. Other things I did from top of my memory were all the belts and thermostat with coolant change although that could do with changing again by now if not done in your ownership.

Just give me a shout if you need more info happy to oblige.

 

[Brian4]

The only reason I can see that they may have popped of is if the U shaped bracket bolted to the swing arm is bent slightly so that the drop link is pointing slightly away from the end of the ARB. I seem to remember on mine the brackets were angled slightly so perhaps they have been put on the wrong way round. Just a thought Ian @Aceman no criticism intended.

 

[t-tony]

I tested a 98 R reg 3 series last week and 1 of the front drop links had obviously been replaced last year but it hadn't been aligned properly with the bracket on the lower arm and had ruined the bush in the lower eye by this year!

Tony.

 

[Acousticplayer]

Hi Brian,nice to hear from you (I'll update you on my ABS problem in due course). Yes I noticed that slight angle on the support bracket.It is obviously meant to be there as the new ones I have are the same. Not sure how much of the ARB protrudes through the bush but am wondering if a star lock washer would fit on and whether that might help secure it.

Thanks Ian for your help and the input from others.

 

[Brian4]

The drop links are certainly a tight fit to go back on when new and if the bracket have a slight angle I guess this should point towards the centre of the car.

 

[Aceman]

Honestly can't remember now as it was around 6 years ago but I am usually quite careful how I assemble things as I am a medical engineer so lives depend on it. Although thinking about I would probably have reassembled it as I found so if they were slightly misaligned in the first place that maybe why without me realising thinking the original drop links that were perished were the cause they kept dropping off.

 

[Stormy_be]

I guess you could drill a very small hole in the ARB and put a washer and a split pin in.
Although the ARB is very hard metal, so you should drill at low speed.

 

[Acousticplayer]

Yes Stormy that is another idea but it needs a suitable length protruding from the bush and I don't know if there is enough.Another possibility would be to drill and tap the end of the ARB and screw in a bolt.