Clanging noise from stabiliser/lower link

[Big and Daft]

I've been hearing a clunking/clanging noise coming from my front drivers wheel area. I've recently installed bigger wheels and tyres and though they were rubbing on the inside of the arch - but it turns out they are not.
While myself and a friend were bored today at work we had a look. The bolt that goes through the stabiliser and lower link isn't tightening so there is movement between them, so when I go over a bump the bolt on the nut bottoms out on the lower link.

The passenger side is tight with no movement between the two, so no clanking.

Should the nut be tightened up so the stabiliser and lower link are bolted together and if so, how much should the bolt stick out of the bottom of the lower link?


Sorry for the bad description, I'm a novice at car things - but slowly learning.
Thanks very much.

 

[Big and Daft]

I've put a red box around the bolt that is loose, hope it gives a better idea of what I mean;

 

[11redrex]

That's your drop link fella, cost about £6-£7, I've never replaced mine but I should imagine they're easy enough if you have a splitter.

 

[zippy656]

sounds like you need new bushes...

 

[Big and Daft]

There doesn't seem to be anything broke, I think if I tighten the nuts tops and bottom of the bolt it will be fine - I just wondered if it was normal to be that loose.

 

[11redrex]

The nuts should have split pins through them to stop them coming loose, if they're not there tighten the nuts to the specified torque and put split pins though.
To be honest you'd be as well to replace the drop link, as I doubt the spit pins have come out. It'll be difficult to tighten them up accurately if they're dirty and rusty as that will cause a lot of resistance. Also check the holes where they go through the lower link, I seem to remember reading it could wear and increase in size, then the drop link willl flap about (hmm) effectively making your anti roll bar useless.

 

[Big and Daft]

Cheers for the quick replies, I'll take it to my local garage.
I'm guessing its a fairly simple job and shouldn't take more than an hour?

 

[lacroupade]

Its defo your droplinks....get them from Milners offroad and just pay the garage to fit them....its an hours work (FOR THEM TO CLAIM ANYWAY!!).

Piece of cake to do yourself....the only thing you need is a couple of spanners and possibly a hand grinder as the ball joints sometimes stick in the anti-roll bar and need grinding off....but not an expensive job and should fix what I bet is a bit of a wallowy ride round corners...?

Splitter not required, theres nothing to split.....the lower end goes through the wishbone with a rubber bush either side and a Nyloc nut to hold it on, while the top end just bolts into the ARB.

 

[Big and Daft]

Got it sorted at the garage today and while it was in I asked them to change all the fluids (engine, transmission and diffs) and they discovered water in the front diff, the oil was emulsified. I don't know how long its been in there.

Its been changed and I haven't had any problems before or since. Any ideas on how it got in or is this a precursor to bigger problems?

 

[zippy656]

discovered water in the front diff, the oil was emulsified. I don't know how long its been in there.

Its been changed and I haven't had any problems before or since. Any ideas on how it got in or is this a precursor to bigger problems?

what you can check is the front dif breather pipe,

if youve gone through some standing water the dif will take a drop in temp and suck in whater ever, so a bad breather it will be water not air as its ment to be..

 

[makeitfit]

Check your breather pipe. Could be broken and then water's got in while wading:thumbs

 

[zippy656]

Check your breather pipe. Could be broken and then water's got in while wading:thumbs

i think some one just said that


:clap

 

[solarman216]

Got it sorted at the garage today and while it was in I asked them to change all the fluids (engine, transmission and diffs) and they discovered water in the front diff, the oil was emulsified. I don't know how long its been in there.

Its been changed and I haven't had any problems before or since. Any ideas on how it got in or is this a precursor to bigger problems?

Check the breather pipe, it commons with all the breathers from gear box transfer box and rear diff and terminates o s rear of engine bay, the rubber pipe to the front diff may not be on or could be split, Rick

 

[zippy656]

i think some one just said that


:clap

:clap:clap

 

[kbekl]

Check your breather pipe:lol:lol:lol:lol

 

[zippy656]

oh the fun


breathers! breathers! breathers! breathers!


breathers! breathers! breathers! breathers!


breathers! breathers! breathers! breathers!



sing out loud to the konga tune

 

[Big and Daft]

I'm getting mixed signals here guys, should I check my breather pipes or not?



Ta muchly!

 

[zippy656]

I'm getting mixed signals here guys, should I check my breather pipes or not?



Ta muchly!

should have got to spec savers!

 

[MudLifeCrisis]

should have got to spec savers!

And while you are there see if they have any breather pipes ;O)

 

[MudLifeCrisis]

The breather pipe on my rear axle has been hanging off for about 8 years now.