Lemforder droplink lasted one day?!

JJ0063 · 01-20-2015, 03:15 PM

So I recently refitted my OEM front suspension but my new droplinks didn't arrive so I had to use the slightly shorter ones for a couple of weeks. This was fine although one quickly started knocking after a few days.

I purchased a pair of Lemforder ones on Friday from ECP, which I fitted on Sunday afternoon - they went on fine although it does seem that the droplinks are at full capacity (movement wise) when the steering wheel is straight. I thought this was odd but the strut alignment pins are in the right place.

Is there any other reason the drop link would fail so soon? I'd literally done 18 miles or so to work when I heard it go.

It's not snapped, it's literally popped out of the ball joint where it mounts at the top.

Cheers

Nickos · 01-20-2015, 03:51 PM

No idea. I fitted a pair to my e46 before I sold it a month ago which were fine for the 1k I did on them. Maybe a dodgy unit or batch.

rime92 · 01-21-2015, 03:54 AM

Judging by your older threads it's most likely your mistake.

Icekube · 01-21-2015, 05:34 AM

fitted it upside down?

Phil325i · 01-21-2015, 05:49 AM

Try Meyle HD (Heavy Duty). You won't go wrong...

http://www.meyle.com/en.html

JJ0063 · 01-21-2015, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icekube

fitted it upside down?

No, checked & they are fitted correct sides and correct way up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Try Meyle HD (Heavy Duty). You won't go wrong...

http://www.meyle.com/en.html

I did order Meyle HD's from ebay but they didn't arrive so I had to claim my money back through eBay, hence then just going to ECP to save the hassle!

I'll take it back and exchange it on Saturday, I know everything is fitted correctly as I've had the wheel alignment done.

gaza01 · 01-21-2015, 08:20 AM

Sounds like they were the wrong size. You were probably given the wrong part especially if they were on the limit once fitted and the car flat. With the car flat the links they should be neutral ie the 90 degrees

JJ0063 · 01-21-2015, 12:04 PM

I'm wondering that now.

It's difficult to explain but with the steering wheel straight, the ball joint on the top of the drop link was at full 'lock' to one side if that makes sense?

I was using shortened droplinks with the coilovers, had to use them on the standard shocks/springs for a week and there were no issues with them, they fitted fine.

I'll whip them both off at the weekend and take them back, they can double check & replace as necessary.

Thanks guys.

JJ0063 · 01-25-2015, 09:25 AM

So I took the broken one back, swapped it for a new one, took them both off the car, checked they were the right side (they were) and right way up (they were) fitted them and thought this time Id try lock to lock whilst it was on axle stands... As soon as I turn to left lock the drivers side snapped the joint again!

I'm now going to take both back and get a refund as I'm certain they must be supplying incorrect parts. The links look identical but have different part numbers.

The steering wheel is straight but the drop links are at almost full capacity of the ball joint. I have checked the strut and the alignment pins are 100% in the right place!

Help! I'm sick of doing this every weekend lol

JJ0063 · 01-25-2015, 02:59 PM

Just ordered whiteline adjustable ones.. They can't not work!

Icekube · 01-26-2015, 03:16 AM

that looks wrong.

if you look at the ARB joint(at the bottom), the balljoint is not centered, which it should be, top and bottom, if its fitted correctly and is the right part.

what is the lemforder part number you are using? is it actually the right one?

rime92 · 01-26-2015, 03:57 AM

I like the way you solving the problems

why the Fuck you need adjustable drip links when your suspension is 100% standard

Icekube · 01-26-2015, 04:33 AM

actually...

you have the struts on the wrong sides of the car!

the arb link on the strut is meant to be on the door side, not the front bumper side!

you can see here on this, that the ARB mount is on the opposite side to the brake union (union is just above the left hand in the image).

i knew something didnt look right!

JJ0063 · 01-26-2015, 04:40 AM

I pissing knew it, I was laying in bed last night half asleep & suddenly thought about it.

Bollocks.

simmo1985 · 01-26-2015, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icekube

actually...

you have the struts on the wrong sides of the car!

the arb link on the strut is meant to be on the door side, not the front bumper side!

you can see here on this, that the ARB mount is on the opposite side to the brake union (union is just above the left hand in the image).

i knew something didnt look right!

I was going to say something similar. Maybe op has two shocks the same?

01-20-2015, 03:15 PM	#1
JJ0063 Captain 68 Rep 937 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2014 Location: . iTrader: (1)	Lemforder droplink lasted one day?! So I recently refitted my OEM front suspension but my new droplinks didn't arrive so I had to use the slightly shorter ones for a couple of weeks. This was fine although one quickly started knocking after a few days. I purchased a pair of Lemforder ones on Friday from ECP, which I fitted on Sunday afternoon - they went on fine although it does seem that the droplinks are at full capacity (movement wise) when the steering wheel is straight. I thought this was odd but the strut alignment pins are in the right place. Is there any other reason the drop link would fail so soon? I'd literally done 18 miles or so to work when I heard it go. It's not snapped, it's literally popped out of the ball joint where it mounts at the top. Cheers
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-20-2015, 03:51 PM	#2
Nickos Private First Class 10 Rep 127 Posts Drives: e92 325d Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	No idea. I fitted a pair to my e46 before I sold it a month ago which were fine for the 1k I did on them. Maybe a dodgy unit or batch.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2015, 03:54 AM	#3
rime92 Banned 3 Rep 32 Posts Drives: bmw 335 e93 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: horley iTrader: (0)	Judging by your older threads it's most likely your mistake.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

01-21-2015, 05:34 AM	#4
Icekube Captain 46 Rep 891 Posts Drives: E87 130i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Livingston iTrader: (3)	fitted it upside down?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2015, 05:49 AM	#5
Phil325i Brigadier General 615 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	Try Meyle HD (Heavy Duty). You won't go wrong... http://www.meyle.com/en.html __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2015, 08:20 AM	#7
gaza01 Colonel 105 Rep 2,692 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London iTrader: (3)	Sounds like they were the wrong size. You were probably given the wrong part especially if they were on the limit once fitted and the car flat. With the car flat the links they should be neutral ie the 90 degrees
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2015, 12:04 PM	#8
JJ0063 Captain 68 Rep 937 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2014 Location: . iTrader: (1)	I'm wondering that now. It's difficult to explain but with the steering wheel straight, the ball joint on the top of the drop link was at full 'lock' to one side if that makes sense? I was using shortened droplinks with the coilovers, had to use them on the standard shocks/springs for a week and there were no issues with them, they fitted fine. I'll whip them both off at the weekend and take them back, they can double check & replace as necessary. Thanks guys.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-25-2015, 09:25 AM	#9
JJ0063 Captain 68 Rep 937 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2014 Location: . iTrader: (1)	So I took the broken one back, swapped it for a new one, took them both off the car, checked they were the right side (they were) and right way up (they were) fitted them and thought this time Id try lock to lock whilst it was on axle stands... As soon as I turn to left lock the drivers side snapped the joint again! I'm now going to take both back and get a refund as I'm certain they must be supplying incorrect parts. The links look identical but have different part numbers. The steering wheel is straight but the drop links are at almost full capacity of the ball joint. I have checked the strut and the alignment pins are 100% in the right place! Help! I'm sick of doing this every weekend lol Last edited by JJ0063; 01-26-2015 at 04:52 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-25-2015, 02:59 PM	#10
JJ0063 Captain 68 Rep 937 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2014 Location: . iTrader: (1)	Just ordered whiteline adjustable ones.. They can't not work!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-26-2015, 03:16 AM	#11
Icekube Captain 46 Rep 891 Posts Drives: E87 130i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Livingston iTrader: (3)	that looks wrong. if you look at the ARB joint(at the bottom), the balljoint is not centered, which it should be, top and bottom, if its fitted correctly and is the right part. what is the lemforder part number you are using? is it actually the right one?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-26-2015, 03:57 AM	#12
rime92 Banned 3 Rep 32 Posts Drives: bmw 335 e93 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: horley iTrader: (0)	I like the way you solving the problems why the Fuck you need adjustable drip links when your suspension is 100% standard
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-26-2015, 04:33 AM	#13
Icekube Captain 46 Rep 891 Posts Drives: E87 130i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Livingston iTrader: (3)	actually... you have the struts on the wrong sides of the car! the arb link on the strut is meant to be on the door side, not the front bumper side! you can see here on this, that the ARB mount is on the opposite side to the brake union (union is just above the left hand in the image). i knew something didnt look right!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-26-2015, 04:40 AM	#14
JJ0063 Captain 68 Rep 937 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2014 Location: . iTrader: (1)	I pissing knew it, I was laying in bed last night half asleep & suddenly thought about it. Bollocks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote