VW Caddy Maxi Rear ...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] VW Caddy Maxi Rear Drop links change... anyone done it?

7 Posts
5 Users
0 Reactions
165 Views
 FFJA
Posts: 400
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Legend has it there’s a few VW owners in the mtb world so...

Has anyone replaced a rear drop link on a VW Caddy? 12 plate if it makes a difference. Failed MOT and don’t want to wait ages for a garage so will have a go myself.

Not that mechanically minded so any advice or top tips welcome!


 
Posted : 18/05/2018 1:15 pm
Posts: 11605
Free Member
 

<p>Wire brush the threads (or gently run a thing hacksaw blade around them), bit of plus gas and hope like hell you get the nuts off without rounding the hex slots and resorting to grinding.</p><p></p><p>Other than that it's a very easy job, you just need to jack up both sides, put it on axle stands, remove the wheels, remove the old ones, put on the new ones, tighten before torqueing (or the torque wrench will do nothing) put the wheels back on and you're done. Get decent branded ones like Lemforder or Febi Bilstein and they should last.</p>


 
Posted : 18/05/2018 6:07 pm
 FFJA
Posts: 400
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I’m going to have serious words with whoever decided that a teeny little Torx Head in the end of the bolt was the ideal way to stop it turning. It was so close to being off before it stripped!

And as for the top bolt, that hasn’t budged a millimetre even with plus gas/breaker bar....

back to it tomorrow then. Sigh.


 
Posted : 19/05/2018 8:18 pm
Posts: 11605
Free Member
 

<p>Easiest option at this point is angle grinder, nut breaker or hacksaw in that order of preference. If you can't get it first time don't waste time on it.</p>


 
Posted : 19/05/2018 8:21 pm
Posts: 119
Free Member
 

Firstly I’ve not done a caddy specifically but a good nit splitter is always so much quieter than a cutting disc


 
Posted : 19/05/2018 10:23 pm
Posts: 39449
Free Member
 

Nut splitters my tool of choice for drop link nuts as you rightly point out the tits not really up to it when rusty even after it's been cleaned up


 
Posted : 20/05/2018 5:38 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My caddy droplinks were the same with torx socket on the end of the link bolt. I used a pair of mole grips on the other side of the bolt to hold the round flange  bit. I had to use a set of grips to close the mole grips as it needed to be tighter than  i could get by hand.

I also bought a better quality set of links which have spanner flats on the round bit that i used the mole grips on, they are much easier to remove.


 
Posted : 20/05/2018 9:17 am
 FFJA
Posts: 400
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks for the top tips people 🙂

Farmer friends welding torch until red hot soon shifted the nuts in the end....

Struggled with ARB bush but also couldn’t make it have any play however much I pulled and pushed it.

Kwik Fits fail is a Halfords ‘not even an advisory’ it would seem......... 🤔


 
Posted : 22/05/2018 9:16 pm

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!