I would go for shorter and stiffer ones. When i polybushed the front end of our Subaru and did the balljoints, rack ends and tie rod ends i also put on polybushed alloy droplinks to replace the plastic (yes, plastic) droplinks that are standard on Subaru's.

the cumulative effect of all these changes was quite big

306maxi said:

I would go for shorter and stiffer ones. When i polybushed the front end of our Subaru and did the balljoints, rack ends and tie rod ends i also put on polybushed alloy droplinks to replace the plastic (yes, plastic) droplinks that are standard on Subaru's.

the cumulative effect of all these changes was quite big

Click to expand...

Only change the length if the operating range is out of limits, i.e. the bent part of the ARB (which acts as a lever on the actual centre part of the bar) is at such an angle that it wouldn't act upon said bar correctly. I suspect *this* is where you saw the difference.

the drop links were still standard length as the car isn't lowered at all.

306maxi said:

the drop links were still standard length as the car isn't lowered at all.

Click to expand...

306maxi said:

I would go for shorter and stiffer ones.

Click to expand...

I was answering this.

bgunn said:

They won't be flexing by any meaningful amount either, otherwise they'd break.

Click to expand...

Eh...if they don't flex they break.

Cheers

D

rallycinq said:

Eh...if they don't flex they break.

Cheers

D

Click to expand...

The drop links operate the movement of the ant roll bar. Sure, they have some pivoting action at the ends but they don't flex overall. They just act as a lever.

rallycinq said:

Eh...if they don't flex they break.

Cheers

D

Click to expand...

They're not made of wood, you know.

The drop links are not high tensile steel, and if flexed repeatedly in that way, they *will* fracture due to work hardening.

As said, the ball link on the end of the link pivots, allowing them to act as a lever on the ARB; I think the issue Jason has been having is not due to flex, but due to the plastic cupped balljoints wearing, causing free play. They are made this way to help damp some of the NVH that you'd otherwise get.

So by changing them for rose joints (which are metal/metal), you lose that slight damping effect, but more importantly, you increase the wear resistance, and gain some adjustability. So I don't think he over thought them at all.

bgunn said:

They're not made of wood, you know.

The drop links are not high tensile steel, and if flexed repeatedly in that way, they *will* fracture due to work hardening.

As said, the ball link on the end of the link pivots, allowing them to act as a lever on the ARB; I think the issue Jason has been having is not due to flex, but due to the plastic cupped balljoints wearing, causing free play. They are made this way to help damp some of the NVH that you'd otherwise get.

So by changing them for rose joints (which are metal/metal), you lose that slight damping effect, but more importantly, you increase the wear resistance, and gain some adjustability. So I don't think he over thought them at all.

Click to expand...

Your opinion, not all metals work harden, stainless is the most notorious.

Next time you replace a drop link put it in the vice and ping it.

Cheers

D

rallycinq said:

Your opinion, not all metals work harden, stainless is the most notorious.

Click to expand...

No, it is material fact. ALL metals have a propensity to work harden if repeatedly placed under bending stress. So to avoid this you engineer the system to not place your workpiece under bending stress, using compression or tension instead.

rallycinq said:

Next time you replace a drop link put it in the vice and ping it.

Cheers

D

Click to expand...

Anything will bend if force is applied to it in a way that it is weak enough to distort in. However, the ARB drop links are placed in tension and compression by their design, due to the way the thrust loads generated by the movement of the suspension are translated into torsion on the ARB.

Yes agree with bgunn...the load is generated vertically through the drop link so in that plane there is no flex. If they were loaded sideways then yes there would be flex.

Ok I have reached the limit of my tolerance for the Fiat 500's stock handling. (ok for sure my topmounts are perished completely after 85,000 km's driving fast on greek roads but the handling was never excellent even brand new).

I have just ordered my billie B14 from Germany! So, depending on how long that takes 2-5 working days they are saying and it will be shipped with DHL so shouldnt take too long and I will be going to Fiat tomorrow to get some topmounts for the car all is looking good for the end of the week!

Thank you everyone for helping me with the advice if it wasnt for you guys i would not have any knowledge on these things!

Price has been discounted from 800 euros to 600 euros so now may be a better time than ever to get yourselves some billies if you havent done so already!