Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 12, 2015

• #1

Hi.
Need to replace the rear drop links as they are worn, and N/S one is clunking. I've done them once or twice on other vehicles, but with the ACE and things I was just wondering how to go about it.

Can I do it with the car on the ground or on ramps, or do I need to support anything before removing them?

Any help is appreciated.

Nev.

 

sierrafery

Well-Known Member

• Oct 12, 2015

• #2

you need only a jack to lift the anti roll bar after the upper nut of the link was removed(off course chock the wheels and pull the handbrake first)... my mechanic crawled under with a jack and replaced it in 15 minutes

 

Pawl

Well-Known Member

• Oct 12, 2015

• #3

If you lift the vehicle to get access, make sure you lift both sides to make there's minimal load on the links from the ARB.

 

Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 12, 2015

• #4

Brilliant. Thanks. I'll either reverse it up on to ramps then, or just raise the suspension to off road. I've ordered some OEM quality drop links, so that'll be a job for the weekend.

 

listerdiesel

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Oct 12, 2015

• #5

You'll probably need a cutting disc to chop them off, none of our were able to be undone through rusting of the socket hex.

Don't forget to buy new nuts for the links, I think they are M12 Fine, standard M12 won't fit.

Check before you order.

Peter

 

Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 12, 2015

• #6

Thanks Peter. I'll soak them in penetrating fluid all this week, but I've an angle grinder if needed! They don't look to rusty. Thanks for the heads up about the nuts. There's a very good fastening store nearby, so I can take the new links in, and they'll definitely have the nuts to fit them.

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #7

its better with wheel off top joint has 2 flats (16mm usually) often hidden by the joint gaiter, bottom 6, allen key, as lister diesel says cutting off is often the only way and new nuts are essential

 

Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #8

Ok, so is it best to get the back off the ground and sit it on axle stands and remove both wheels?

Thanks.

 

AceB

Active Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #9

On my non ACE I just lifted it on the off-road button and crawled under with the grinder.

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #10

Haystacks said:

Ok, so is it best to get the back off the ground and sit it on axle stands and remove both wheels?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

if you lift one wheel roll bar will be nuder torsion, both is better

 

SLN

Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #11

Hi just cut mine off as undoing them was impossible.but when one had broke it had damaged a ACE pipe the lower one from the box.which I think is the low pressure one so I have ordered the low pressure one when it came is was the other one with the coiled spring round it.which is the high pressure can I bodge it to fit.
Any help appreciated

 

Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 13, 2015

• #12

Ok. Thanks for all the input everyone. Fingers crossed I can get them off and replace without to much trouble now.

 

Haystacks

Active Member

• Oct 15, 2015

• #13

All done. Took most of the afternoon, as for all those who said, they'll need cutting off, well, guess what? You were correct! So what was a simple job turned out to be a bit off a faff! I did it backed up on some ramps, and the ARB never moved, so once the old ones were off it was just a simple case of bolting the new ones on. I did one side at a time, and it has cured the knock I had.

Thanks for all the good advice. That's another little job done!