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Alfa 147 2007
Had it a week rear suspension has been a bit knocky and its booked in thursday assumed it would need the drop links doing
Had a good look underneath it tonight and the short drop link from the anti roll bar to the suspension is missing a bolt at the top and flapping about.
Id imagine its been doing this for a week
Can i limp it to work 10 miles
And will any small local garage have or be able to get (same day) the part?
Can i limp it to work 10 miles
Id imagine its [b][u](already)[/u][/b] been doing this for a week
Now, I admit IANAM but those 2 in that order suggest an obvious answer to me
Comon part can be had from most motor factors the same day. Not being able to see what it might foul or damaged as it flaps about i couldnt say if its safe or not. Potential to damage brake lines fuel tank and lines dependint where it is and which end has come off. Can you not secure it yourself? Or fully remove?
Cant secure it as threaded almost flat
Suppose taking it off completely might be an option as the bolts are easily accessible
So.... assume its ok to fully remove?
Since one end is disconected its doing nothing at the moment so fine to remove.
Cycle to work and get the part yourself and fit it, or get a mobile mechanic out?
Got AA/RAC cover? Would they tow you to a garage?
Perhaps zip tie it up out of the way so it doesn't foul anything, otherwise it will probably be ok.
Be thankful it's just the droplink. My dad's 156 had the lower wishbone, inner bush bolt "disappear", having been [s]fixed[/s] under recall by the local [s]Alfa dealer[/s] Nissan dealer who'd just been fired by Nissan. Apparently Alfa's (in fact the whole fiat group's) use of Metric fine threads on suspension components didn't compute in the hands of a Sunderland mechanic.
Zip tie remains of drop link to ARB or wishbone depending which end has fallen off, drive to buy new one. Or, as it's an Alfa, and they don't handle properly anyway, just leave it off. As it's the rear suspension, no ARB will make the car MORE stable anyway, so no safety issue....
Tim, If you can remove then do so. They are common parts to fail so the garage will be able to get one (although best to replace in pairs) the same day. Quick and easy to replace too so not an expensive job wither.
If you can't remove then try and tie it up out of the way.
I'm surprised you didn't realise it was on the way out as they tend to knock like hell when worn.
Drop links are around £10 each and an easy job to fit yourself. Treat them as consumables!
Quite rare for rear ones to fail though.
They're only easy to fit yourself if they're not rustedtf! I lost a day of a weekend once trying to get one off an old Mondeo, then still took it to garage to whip off with blowtorch and air tools.
They're only easy to fit yourself if they're not rustedtf!
I've been there too and normally if it's the original droplink it will be sod to remove.
Rear wear just as quick as fronts, especially with out potholed roads.
If it's a plastic one then you can sometimes snap it off the remaining ball. Metal then cable tie. Most of them rust up so need a bit of brute force to undo, one way I've done it on Peugeot is put a jack under it and push it up to seize the joint and then undo the nut but most of the time I end up snapping the drop link off and big mole grips on the ball or resort to the age grinder.
Ones I have fitted on the other hand come off easy as I but a big blob of copper slip or underseal on the exposed thread.
Or, as it's an Alfa, and they don't handle properly anyway, just leave it off. As it's the rear suspension, no ARB will make the car MORE stable anyway, so no safety issue...
Odd, I'd always read that Alfas were supposed to be great handling, compared to most mass-market cars.