Play In Rear N/S Wheel

[Gary406]

just done the shoppin trip up to iceland and notinced a knocking from the rear N/S wheel, at 1st i thought it was something in the boot so checked when i got home,

then i decided to just wobble each wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock all was solid except rear passangers side, it has quite a bit of play causing the knock !!

does this sound like bearing or could it be a droplink ??

there is no wining sound when driving even at 50mph, but i do have a loud noticable "clunk" when i hit ruff road and bumps

[HimBigChief]

Sounds like a top link to me.

[Gary406]

glad you said that its a bit cheaper than a wheel bearing

are they plastic on the back ?

[HimBigChief]

Nope, they're metal. The plastic bit you're on about is the droplink on the back.

[Gary406]

? ? ? you lost me there cheif ..

im talking about the back

[jasper5]

The drop link is plastic but the top horizontal link is metal with a ball joint at the wheel end and an adjustable nut and bolt at the inner end....there's a how-to on this.
Your problem will almost certainly be a worn top horizontal link rod.

[Gary406]

ahh right m so theres 2 at the back. didnt know , cheers cheif

ok cheers jasper will get them ordered off ebay now

thanks

[Gary406]

ive found the how 2,

whats he mean about being carefull with the tracking ? when changing the rear top link,,,

[HimBigChief]

The top link controls both the camber and toe in of the rear wheels, so it's best to get the car 4 wheel aligned whenever you change the top link rod. I'm sure there'll be someway to mark so you can put the new one back in more or less the same place (like when counting number of turns when taking track rod end off).

[ianjoh]

Just remember that when removing the bolt/adjuster dont be tempted to rotate the bolt, hold it with a spanner and turn the nut only.
Easy mistake to make when access is tight, only it will feck the adjuster, been there done that

[teamster1975]

Definitely top link, beware of the ebay cheapies as they don't last 5 minutes (as I found out )
I would get the wheel alignment checked when you've replaced it (and do both sides!) as you will probably get shoulder wear on the tyres.

[poddack]

I replaced my rear droplinks in reaction to a MOT advisory, then a full 4 wheel alignment afterwards. mmmmmmmm smooooooth

[Gary406]

so if i replace my own and accidently knock tracking off a 4 wheel allignment will sort it out ?

[teamster1975]

so if i replace my own and accidently knock tracking off a 4 wheel allignment will sort it out ?

Yes it will.
It all depends whether the wheel alignment had been done before with the link flopping about! *cough* kwikfit *cough*