Sti5 Type-R - DropLink Failed - VERY Close call
13 January 2011, 01:58 PM
#1
Sti5 Type-R - DropLink Failed - VERY Close call
Hi all,
driving STi5 Type-R , wet B-road cruising along a few twisties when I came to a tight bend. Car in front so slowed down and brakes seemed to lock up (only done bout 10 miles on new front stock Discs and Mintex Pads) and car skidded towards on coming car as wheels seemed to turn right by themselves.... S**T myself let go of brakes and car corrected itself.... Anyway tried driving off and noticed car pulling and not wanting to drive forward.
Slowly managed to get the car back to investigaate as i knew something wasn't right, low and behold the bloody standard droplink had come apart...!!!
Now if that isnt a reason to upgrade i don't know what it is.
Raf.
p.s. Anyone know where i can get a set of whiteline drop links at a good price???
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3342/typerlink.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7344/typerlink2.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9751/typerlink1.jpg
driving STi5 Type-R , wet B-road cruising along a few twisties when I came to a tight bend. Car in front so slowed down and brakes seemed to lock up (only done bout 10 miles on new front stock Discs and Mintex Pads) and car skidded towards on coming car as wheels seemed to turn right by themselves.... S**T myself let go of brakes and car corrected itself.... Anyway tried driving off and noticed car pulling and not wanting to drive forward.
Slowly managed to get the car back to investigaate as i knew something wasn't right, low and behold the bloody standard droplink had come apart...!!!
Now if that isnt a reason to upgrade i don't know what it is.
Raf.
p.s. Anyone know where i can get a set of whiteline drop links at a good price???
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3342/typerlink.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7344/typerlink2.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9751/typerlink1.jpg
Last edited by RAF1; 13 January 2011 at 01:59 PM. Reason: adding pics
Not clever!
13 January 2011, 03:10 PM
#4
Paulo you were right after invesitgating further i notice a part that looks like it has also snapped... Think its the lower arm..??
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6739/image003ul.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6897/image001kz.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6739/image003ul.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6897/image001kz.jpg
Last edited by RAF1; 13 January 2011 at 03:12 PM. Reason: add pics
13 January 2011, 03:24 PM
#5
That looks more like it, the result was breaking the drop link 
I just couldn't see how that was possible and now we know why. That could have been much worse and I've not seen one fail before, I guess it's had an impact at some time in its life.
I just couldn't see how that was possible and now we know why. That could have been much worse and I've not seen one fail before, I guess it's had an impact at some time in its life.
13 January 2011, 03:25 PM
#6
Paulo you were right after invesitgating further i notice a part that looks like it has also snapped... Think its the lower arm..??
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6739/image003ul.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6897/image001kz.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6739/image003ul.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6897/image001kz.jpg
i was just about to post that your drop link has no effect on where your wheel sits, the standard drop links are very good and the only reason it has failed is because of the other suspension damage.
Trending Topics
13 January 2011, 06:26 PM
#9
IN fairness, expecting a piece of rubber on your suspension to last more than 10years in its original state is "really" pushing it.
The rubber on most of the car's suspension is past it prime after 5 years anyway (top mounts, bushings, rack mounts etc.) and if used in winter on salt roads, it takes its lower arms and pivots, sping ball joints etc.
In fact 10yrs, I'd say you did very well. Its an old car mate. If its not had the salt washed off every week during winter and its left outside when not in use, it does take it toll.
My MY97 was mint underneath, I washed off underneath everyweek, summer AND winter. And it was garaged overnight in a heated garage. Now my mate has it, never cleans it and keeps it outside. I went over it on the ramp a few months back and its shocking how quickly its detriorated in the space of three years.
The rubber on most of the car's suspension is past it prime after 5 years anyway (top mounts, bushings, rack mounts etc.) and if used in winter on salt roads, it takes its lower arms and pivots, sping ball joints etc.
In fact 10yrs, I'd say you did very well. Its an old car mate. If its not had the salt washed off every week during winter and its left outside when not in use, it does take it toll.
My MY97 was mint underneath, I washed off underneath everyweek, summer AND winter. And it was garaged overnight in a heated garage. Now my mate has it, never cleans it and keeps it outside. I went over it on the ramp a few months back and its shocking how quickly its detriorated in the space of three years.
14 January 2011, 08:26 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
alloy arms dom not simply snap IME........their will most likely have been some impact thro accident, kerbing, etc. in the past to cause it and its just been a time bomb
alyn
alyn
14 January 2011, 11:14 AM
#14
Depends, its down to componsition of the alloy; some alloys degrade worse than pressed steel. Magnesium content being one thing that spring to mind as its quite a reactive metal, even when used within an alloy.
It may not be so bad on scoobs I guess, as I say its down to the composistion of the alloy. But alloy arms on say, BMWs can corrode quite badly; although on them the bushes and balljoints fail long before the arms do.
Once the alloy is pitted, its weakend. So it cannot handle as much stress as brand new one, due to it creating crack initiation points and allowing fracture propagation etc. (good old fashioned metallurgy terms there
).
Of couse, the other common cause is people/garages/cowboys jacking the car up on the lower arms
Thats a sure way to ***k them up good and proper.
It may not be so bad on scoobs I guess, as I say its down to the composistion of the alloy. But alloy arms on say, BMWs can corrode quite badly; although on them the bushes and balljoints fail long before the arms do.
Once the alloy is pitted, its weakend. So it cannot handle as much stress as brand new one, due to it creating crack initiation points and allowing fracture propagation etc. (good old fashioned metallurgy terms there
).Of couse, the other common cause is people/garages/cowboys jacking the car up on the lower arms
Thats a sure way to ***k them up good and proper.
14 January 2011, 11:21 AM
#15
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
![[-(o)-]'s Avatar](https://www.scoobynet.com/customavatars/avatar70911_1.gif){kind=avatar}
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Between a speed bump and a pot hole
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nasty. Pot hole? Or fatigue type failure of the alloy without the warning signs.
Theres an upside to steel (which were coincidentally standard fit for classic STi Wagons
)
Theres an upside to steel (which were coincidentally standard fit for classic STi Wagons
)
14 January 2011, 11:34 AM
#16
Both probably - component weakened with age, then just some potholes to start off a fracture.
Anyway; I think my alloy argument maybe irrelevent in this case, as I just had another quick look at a the pics and it looks like the pin may have sheared off. (need to see it on the otherside to be sure)
...in both cases this pin is made of hardened steel.
Anyway; I think my alloy argument maybe irrelevent in this case, as I just had another quick look at a the pics and it looks like the pin may have sheared off. (need to see it on the otherside to be sure)
...in both cases this pin is made of hardened steel.
Last edited by ALi-B; 14 January 2011 at 11:39 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
12
18 November 2015 07:03 AM
