Replaced droplinks today

[bikerdude666]

Well I had a few spare minutes today so decided I'd get on and change the 'old' drop links. I say old, but they have only been on the car since early last June, and this is the 2nd set of rubber boots on them. The quality of the rubber is shockingly bad, here's a few photos of the state of them when removed, this set of rubber boots had only been on since October...

[gnu]

Shocking

Where are they from, and have you found some OEM spec replacements?

[grs6680]

this is my job for saturday while my car has its mot as one is banging like a bi.... so going to change both.

[roverbarmy]

I use red rubber grease on all exposed rubber and plastic parts (applied with an old toothbrush) and it seems to keep the rubber supple and prevent drying out).

[Arctic]

Those are nasty it looks like they have completely dried out do you drive in a really dusty area, also anywhere there is cement based products used ? it looks like something as eaten at the rubber.

I greased up a set of drop links today, first time I have tried this make so will be testing them out for a while before reporting back about them.

[bl52krz]

Hi Steve. I don’t know if it is the picture, but those rubber covers don’t look to good. You will have to let us know what make and or where you got them from if they are any good.

[MSS]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

I use red rubber grease on all exposed rubber and plastic parts (applied with an old toothbrush) and it seems to keep the rubber supple and prevent drying out).

I would have thought KY Jelly would be the most reliable.


Actually, I've just thought of a use for condoms - outer protective layer for the droplink boots. Let's hope the manufacturer's do not start importing these from China.

[Andy_with_a_screwdriver]

Originally Posted by mss

Actually, I've just thought of a use for condoms -

I've always wondered what to do with them....


Seriously though, Bikerdude let people know what brand they are so we can avoid them like the plague! They are shocking for under a year old, any warranty???

My old ones were far better than that and must be a few years older. The rubber was fine but the joints had too much play in them.

I did my offside one today, there was a small amount of grease in them but I added a lot more.

Spread a bit over the outside too. I used CV grease.

Two photos from last week of the nearside and one today trying to show that there is not much grease in it, in fact you can just make out the talc coating the inside of the boot.

[clf]

I replaced one today, that I had to be honest, expected to replace. I injected a little more grease into the boots in the hope that they will do well, it cannot do any harm, or can it?

I imagine if too much grease was able to get below the ball joint, it would pop out (unlikely I know, but if it were to get to that stage the boot would leak first I assume). But we are considering the suppleness of the boot, and lubing the outside, but could the grease not damage the boot from the inside, if it were cheap 'rubber'?

I've also noticed the joints are stiff at first and this too got me thinking. If they are sitting static for a longish period of time, with 'just enough' grease, this could possible lead to dry maybe corroded sections of the joint. The extra grease we add, then sealing the corrosion and allowing it to possibly rot further, again from the inside out.

Just some additional thinking I had today replacing one of mine.

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[RogerHeinz57]

Also, not sure what grease is being used on the boots outside, but Rubber grease would seem to be a favourite as it is formulated for rubber / synthetic similar products.