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Old 26 September 2005, 02:05 AM
  #1  
cookstar
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Default Drop links???

Could someone please explain to a technical newbie, what the hell these are, when i asked what to start with on modding my suspension these are the first things people recommended

Any info on these including price, ease of fitment etc would be great people

Some pics would be cool too,



Thanks


Cookie
Old 26 September 2005, 09:00 AM
  #2  
DaveW
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They connect the anti roll bar (ARB) to the suspension. The normal ones are a plastic 'C' shape with two bushes and they flex during cornering. Replacing them with stronger metal links stops this flexing, so helping the car stay flatter during cornering.

You can get them for about £40-£80 a pair, depending on whether you want ones that work or that also look pretty (read that as steel or alloy).

Its easy enough to fit them, just undo the bolts, remove, and fit the new ones. But you have to do this WITHOUT the car jacked up or it puts the ARB under tension making it harder to fit them.

Dave.
Old 26 September 2005, 10:22 AM
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ozzy
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This is the plastic REAR oe one. Front one is just straight (on a UK classic anyway).

As Dave says you can get a pair of solid steel ones for about £40 a pair. If you want bigger, colourful alloy ones then expect to pay double the price.

I have instructions and pics on my website if you want more info. Installation between classic and newer models should be identical (although parts may vary).

Stefan
Old 26 September 2005, 11:28 AM
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JohnD
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See my thread from last week on this subject.
I remember a group buy some time ago on Whiteline stuff - wish I'd taken part now!
I'm in the market for front and rear ARB droplinks and ARB to body poly bushes.
www.superflex.co.uk www.powerflex.co.uk
JohnD
Old 26 September 2005, 01:40 PM
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Butty
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I had some whiteline rear links last week from rallynuts:
http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/Chassis%5F1637/

Good prices, items were really in stock and had quick delivery.

NIck
Old 26 September 2005, 02:07 PM
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doug2507
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Originally Posted by JohnD
See my thread from last week on this subject.
I remember a group buy some time ago on Whiteline stuff - wish I'd taken part now!
I'm in the market for front and rear ARB droplinks and ARB to body poly bushes.
www.superflex.co.uk www.powerflex.co.uk
JohnD
I'm after some aswell, a new group buy perhaps.....?

Doug.
Old 26 September 2005, 03:17 PM
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JohnD
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Originally Posted by Butty
I had some whiteline rear links last week from rallynuts:
http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/Chassis%5F1637/

Good prices, items were really in stock and had quick delivery.

NIck
All I need in one supplier, however, looking at the Whiteline drop links it says except Sti! I was under the impression that these items were compatable? I'm sure those on my 03 STi are the same as the WRX? Can someone confirm one way or the other?
JohnD
Old 26 September 2005, 03:28 PM
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DaveW
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John,

If its the fronts then the STI ones are already metal links and don't need uprated.

Dave.
Old 26 September 2005, 07:22 PM
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cookstar
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thanks for your answers and pics guys.


Is this a worthwhile mod to do on its own then?
Old 26 September 2005, 08:34 PM
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mgcvk
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Definitely worth it. Mine were £45 plus vat at API fitted at last service. Just gives you a bit more "tautness" at the rear. Apparently best when combined with a new anti-roll bar and I think the whiteline one is around £75.
Old 26 September 2005, 08:44 PM
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JohnD
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Originally Posted by Butty
I had some whiteline rear links last week from rallynuts:
http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/Chassis%5F1637/

Good prices, items were really in stock and had quick delivery.

NIck
As a matter of interest, did you get the steel ones or the alloy? The steel ones look a bit cheap and cheerful and are they as rigid as the forged items? I would be tempted to combine these with poly bushes for the body mounting.
I can't make my mind up what to go for!
JohnD
Old 27 September 2005, 04:06 AM
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superstring
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Originally Posted by JohnD
As a matter of interest, did you get the steel ones or the alloy? The steel ones look a bit cheap and cheerful and are they as rigid as the forged items? I would be tempted to combine these with poly bushes for the body mounting.
I can't make my mind up what to go for!
JohnD
Hi John

The steel Whiteline ones are all you need, unless you're using an effective ARB rate greater than 22mm, or unless you like getting under your car and looking at those nice alloy bits As I understand it, Whiteline created the alloy links because they had numerous failures with the steel ones with 24mm ARBs.

The body mount poly bushes are definitely the way to go, as well, IMHO. (Mine are by Powerflex).

Last edited by superstring; 27 September 2005 at 04:09 AM.
Old 27 September 2005, 08:48 AM
  #13  
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I had Whiteline Alloy (not big price difference and as someone suggested better if you upgrade other suspension bits in the future) droplinks fitted all round on an 05 WRX about a month ago, and I also had the prodrive geometery done at the same time. The car was almost transformed in the handling department. It's almost scary how much of a difference those two very cheap mods made. £130 supplied and fitted for the droplinks and £40 for the geometery.

I had it on the track on Sunday and they really came into their own there.

If I was recommending any mods to the car for someone just starting out then they would quite easily be the first on my list.
Old 27 September 2005, 12:02 PM
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John,
I put on the steel ones as I was fitting an STi bar to a wagon.
As the STi bar is wider than the wagon, I had to use the steel ones so they don't rub on the bar.
They'll rust and have more flex in the bush than the alloy ones, but are certainly more rigid than the std ones I took off.

Nick
Old 27 September 2005, 10:29 PM
  #15  
JohnD
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Reckon I might go for the Whiteline steel rear links and ARB/body poly bushes (Superflex seem a bit cheaper than Powerflex!)
As mentioned by DaveW the front links on the STi are steel but I would like to change the front ARB/body bushes anyway. Who has done this, as it looks a little more awkward than the rears?
JohnD
Old 27 September 2005, 11:04 PM
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superstring
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Originally Posted by JohnD
...... but I would like to change the front ARB/body bushes anyway. Who has done this, as it looks a little more awkward than the rears?
JohnD
The fronts are not a problem, John, maybe even a bit easier (accessible) than the rears.
Old 28 September 2005, 08:52 AM
  #17  
DaveW
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Changing the front ARB/body bushes is easy. Don't jack up the car, just lie on the floor with a 12mm(iirc) socket/spanner and undo the bolt holding the ARB bracket to the body, push the bracket down and back sliding it over the bush and unclipping it from the body. Remove the old bush, put lots of grease on the new bush and slide it onto the ARB in the same place as the old bush. Now clip the bracket back into the slot in the body and pull it forward over the bush, re-fit the bolt and tighten. Now do the other side. Took me about 10 minutes for both sides and I'm not that technically minded.

Dave.
Old 28 September 2005, 12:16 PM
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JohnD
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I assume you removed the undertray? (if fitted) It was only this that stopped me from having a good view of the mounts.
JohnD
Old 28 September 2005, 04:05 PM
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DaveW
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Oh I removed that ages ago Dirty but cooler engine
Old 05 October 2005, 11:42 AM
  #20  
Mo
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Noltec ARB links

are available here in the UK, I have them fitted to my wagon. I can email pics if anyone needs to see them on the car.
Old 05 October 2005, 12:22 PM
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JohnD
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Originally Posted by Mo
Noltec ARB links

are available here in the UK, I have them fitted to my wagon. I can email pics if anyone needs to see them on the car.
Where from? I did a search on these a couple of weeks ago. I found their website but could not find a UK supplier.
JohnD
Old 05 October 2005, 01:14 PM
  #22  
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We have the whiteline ones in stock, steel or alloy, front or rear.
can fit them for you too if your not keen on getting grubby.

P.s it's 14mm to get the old ones off.

Andy

01684 296675
Old 06 October 2005, 11:52 AM
  #23  
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Mocom Racing are Noltecs European distributer.
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