Checking drop links

[mattyg]

Hi All

Starting to get a rattlling noise only slight but got the mot up soon and want to start getting on top of things. I changed all the drop links last july with the cheap ones off ebay. My question is how do you know if they are knackered while there still on the car ?. When i took the old ones off the bottom joint was wobbling around, How do mot testers check them without taking them off ?. I know its probably the cheap drop links but is there anything else i can check that would cause a simular rattle.

Thanks Matt

[jasper5]

It's a bit awkward, but with the car flat on the ground....grab hold of the anti roll bar and move it up and down you will feel and see any movement in the link rod ball joint...or...get a bar under the anti roll bar and lift it up and down, any movement will show.
Also, grab the link rod and pull the ball joint, any movement will be obvious.

Pushing down on the suspension will also show movement in the link rod, obviously you will need an assistant.

An mot tester will usually pull down on the suspension whilst the car is on the ramp as well as the above.

[mattyg]

Thanks will give that a try

matt

[lozz]

Jasper5 advice is spot on as always,

thats how icheck the drop links too,
with no weight on the wheels, sometimes you carnt feel any play in them,
ithink thats why alot of cars get through the mot with failing Droplinks,