Drop link removal - replace

[Tinbasher]

Hi guys,
T6 drop link remove & replace Palava. Anti roll bar.

Just wanted to pass on my struggle & too late findings, that may help you guys having to eventually do this job.

My mechanic fell ill & I decided to fit new aftermarket Myle HD drop links - 4 nuts M12 to undo on 2017 T6 - both wheels off all the gear, easy peasy for experienced spanner man !! - “Not so” & hence this post.

Pre inspection wire brushed & penetrating lube proceedings, I loosened off main M18 x 12mm stud nut, which immediately spun the rusty stud itself. Turns out the end of the stud has a T40 indent about 6 ish mm deep. Snapped off/shattered 2 bits of high quality bits & thought - poonhamy, this is going to be a sob.

I mention this now: as a mechanical designer, what an oversight vw: little purchase spigot in end of stud, & overwhelming M12 nut torque - no contest &

Finished up a marathon, I hope you’ll avoid !!

Could not get a nut splitter on as flanged nut - tried heating nut to black heat ( also expands stud - then could only carefull & laboriously “dremel cut” (tight space) the nuts; which was a right pain for a fabrication experienced guy.

Had a brain wave on the last stud “ non compliant barsteward” - wonder if I rip off the rubber boot protecting the ball joint, if that might help: bingo !!!

Enough room to get a 6” mole grip to that side of the stud, yeh hey, mana from heaven !!

Another 5mins heating & coaxing & the nut came off - & I’m passing this on guys that will reduce all that malarkey down to a 2 hour job instead of 4/5 hr cutting & grinding rusty studs. PS the new drop links have Horizontal planes for a 14mm open end spanner on the back flange: obviously a much better addition. Hope this helps Guys

 

[Dundee_Kev]

Vice grips and heat is the way forward, however, doing one side at a time can sometime help too. Only jack one side up and that puts strain on the roll bar and in turn strains the link to aid nut removal.

 

[Bigsidavies]

@Tinbasher that's pretty much how my attempt went the other week, except when it got to the point that it needed heat/cutting I decided to give up, plus I'd broken my only 2 socket bits on that little insert too.
Took it to Steve at CRS and got my supplied droplinks fitted and some nice new poly ARB bushes all while I drank coffee. An altogether much more pleasurable experience.

 

[Tinbasher]

Did try jacking one side up Dundeekev. To load the stud but still solid. I only did it myself Bigsidavies as couldn’t put up with hollow knocking, & waiting for my unreliable mechanic to get well. All good fun

 

[Stompweaver]

I had exactly the same experience as @Bigsidavies . Stripped the torx out the end of the drop link. F’this and rang @CRS Performance the day before Christmas Eve. Short drive over (I only live 20 minutes away) and new drop links, poly bushed ARB’s and T32 rear ARB fitted while brews were drank and nonsense talked. I could have chopped the offending drop link off but the alternative was far less stressful and far more enjoyable!