Buying original equipment is a good policy - NOT!!

Darmain · Apr 26, 2010

About a year ago I had a knocking from the front suspension. Investigation showed play in one of the drop link joints. Assumption was made that as the forces transmitted through one drop link joint, is transmitted through all four joints, then all joints are potentially worn. As a result I changed both drop links. I sourced genuine LR parts from my LR independent and all was well.

Until today!!

Over the last week I had noticed a rapidly increasing hammering from the suspension when going over rough tarmac (let alone off road!). At lunchtime I got me mate to rock the car by the roof bars, while I got underneath and inspected.

The on-side, top joint on the drop link has about 2mm of play in it

New one on order from local motor factor....

Chaser · Apr 26, 2010

Surprising is that as the originals tend to last quite well. Since you had them from an independent are you 100% certain they were genuine?

chromiumuk · Apr 26, 2010

Maybe you've been very unlucky & got one which passed the quality control when it shouldn't have.

Darmain · Apr 26, 2010

Chaser said:
Surprising is that as the originals tend to last quite well. Since you had them from an independent are you 100% certain they were genuine?

That though went through my mind as well. When I get the link off I can have a closer look. I'll also give the independent a call and ask him about their origin.

chromiumuk said:
Maybe you've been very unlucky & got one which passed the quality control when it shouldn't have.

True. The joint has suddenly gained a lot of slack. Something is breaking down quickly and I'm begining to wonder if the material has yielded and is stretching. If so then its not far from a catastrophic failure. As a result the new one is going on tomorrow night. After that I can have a closer look at what has happened.

I wonder what its like driving a car with no roll control.....?

Northern Irelander · Apr 26, 2010

I had them replaced when FL was still under warranty, must have been around 18 months old, no problems since

Darmain · Apr 27, 2010

Drop link replaced tonight. Top joint totally shot, about 2mm of movement in it.

Was sure it wasn't that long ago that I changed both links and I discovered in my financial records that I bought them on the 14th September last year. So that makes them seven months old. I also discovered that I paid about 40 quid for the pair. New single new one had cost me 43 quid. :scratching_chin:

So is it that Motoquip is stupidly expensive or the independent sold me cheap ****part product last year?

Gonna phone independent up tomorrow. I doubt he'll be interested as I ain't got a recept, but worth a shot.

chromiumuk · Apr 28, 2010

I managed to get a set of Delphi replacements for mine which seem to be good.

Mantamad · Apr 28, 2010

I replaced mine with ones from ebay for around £7 each - seem fine so far

Darmain · Apr 28, 2010

Seven quid!!! I feel much better now.... :Cry:

pussyeater · Apr 29, 2010

Darmain said:
About a year ago I had a knocking from the front suspension. Investigation showed play in one of the drop link joints. Assumption was made that as the forces transmitted through one drop link joint, is transmitted through all four joints, then all joints are potentially worn. As a result I changed both drop links. I sourced genuine LR parts from my LR independent and all was well.

Until today!!

Over the last week I had noticed a rapidly increasing hammering from the suspension when going over rough tarmac (let alone off road!). At lunchtime I got me mate to rock the car by the roof bars, while I got underneath and inspected.

The on-side, top joint on the drop link has about 2mm of play in it

New one on order from local motor factor....

you get a 1-2 year warranty with genuine parts dont you?

why dont you get Land Rover to replace them free of charge?

freebiker · Apr 29, 2010

I remember doing my drop links. Got mine off ebay for around £18 for the pair i think. I think they were made by AllMakes or something like that.

Darmain · May 17, 2010

Thought this one had gone away, until tonight. In my tyre thread I mentioned changing the tyres over tonight and in the process I discovered the top gattor of this new link was split totally in two. That ain't going to last long now.

Receipt at the ready for the morning.

Could be interesting cus I can't take it off before driving there so they're going to have to get me a new one and I'll bring the old one back.

Darmain · May 19, 2010

Sorted!!

Put the old one back on last night (lucky I didn't bin it). Took the new but duff one back at lunch time. Ah, they agreed, the rubber has perished!! Here's a new one. This one is a different make and bears the name of Quinton Hazel. Now that worries me as the previous one could have be ****part.

Anyway, new, new one now fitted so lets see what happens this time.

Darmain · May 23, 2010

I don't Effin well believe this. Now I've got grinding noises as the front on-side suspension actions. Guess where this drop link is!!! Had a quick look this evening and its not the bottom ball joint. Going to have another look tomorrow evening....

Buying original equipment is a good policy - NOT!!

Darmain

Well-Known Member

Chaser

New Member

chromiumuk

Well-Known Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

Northern Irelander

Well-Known Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

chromiumuk

Well-Known Member

Mantamad

New Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

pussyeater

New Member

freebiker

Well-Known Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

Darmain

Well-Known Member

Similar threads