Hello there Fiat friends! :slayer:

I have a question about this link-rod thingy in the photograph (Right front wheel).

Firstly, what is the correct technical name for this?

Secondly, it appears the rubber bushes have been worn through, so I get that annoying knocking sound when I drive. If I do have it replaced - will it require wheel alignment too?
I ask this, because usually work with these components require wheel re-alignment. I ask, because that is quite a bloody mission here in Switzerland.

Thanks a million for advice!

No alignment needed, cheap to do too.

306maxi said:

No alignment needed, cheap to do too.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

oh, and they're commonly referred to as "droplinks".

They'll make the same horrendous clattering noise whether they're loose or worn - it sounds much worse than it is.

It's a dead easy DIY job. You can get a hex allen key/socket in behind the swivelling part to lock them when loosening or tightening the securing nut.

Aaah "droplinks" thanks guys!

Yes - it does sound quite bad, the tyre guy simply wiggled it and said that is the problem, and it didn't sound like that inside the car!

I am glad to hear that no alignment is required. You won't believe how scarce alignment shops are here. In my native South Africa, all drive-in tire-fitment places are hyper-modern with laser alignment. Here, in "modern" Switzerland, most tire places look like dark, dirty caves and alignment must be booked 2 weeks in advance!!

Had these replaced on my Panda Cross - no wheel alignment needed. They dont seem to last long, thankfully they are cheap to do.

Nice colour by the way!

Yes, the Anti roll bar droplinks can sound horrific from inside the car when they are shot, which doesn't take too long these days!

Most relate the terrible sound as dangerous failure and a costly one too, but they are cheap, not to hard to replace.
They don't effect the steering directly, but do tighten the handling slightly. (body roll)

The rubbers over the the little ball joints are now part of the MOT checks here in the UK, so a split or damaged boot will get flagged, though the rest of the link can be shot to feck, rattle badly and still pass!

They aren't always as noticable when shot as descrided, quite often with parts of the suspension, either the weight of the car on it's wheels OR the weight of the wheel/hub/tyre hanging (when jacked) can mask any play in these parts.

Generally a rattle from one wheel but felt across the front of the car or under your feet is an Anti Roll Bar issue.
If it's a clonk/knock limited to one side or the other, it's often something else.

To change them, jack up and support the car.
Remove the wheel.
There is usually a flat on the shaft shoulder close to the end of the rubber boot to get a spanner on the back to stop the shaft spinning as you undo the nuts.
There is also an allen key slot in the end of the shaft to hold, but if they've been on a long time and rusty/mucky, the allen is likely to slip and chew up.
If all else fails, a tight pair of grips clamped tight on the ball joints through the rubber boots can be enough, or just cut them off.

They just undo to replace nothing will collapse/fall off/drop, the new might need a bit of a jiggle or the anti roll bar pushing down a little to align the new up with the holes.

Buy quality ones rather than cheapo spanky wanky pattern, as the cheap rubber boots tend to turn to dust rather quickly and a dab of anti seize grease on the new threads should help them off in future, oh yes, you're likely to change them repeatedly!