Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Scraped through the MOT today with some failing rear ARB drop links. Thing is I replaced them less than 2 months ago with some Lemforder items from ECP. Luckily I kept the 25 year old originals so have fitted them back on for the time being. Before I take them back to ECP I'm considering getting money back or credit note as I expect the replacement items could be just as shonky. Has anyone fitted this type of adjustable drop links? Price is pretty much the same as standard fit Lemforder items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaky Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 On what grounds did they fail, to much play? Could be just a bad batch of bushes/bearing, can't see what else could be wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 The rubber bush part has pulled out, must have only just happened as I noticed it clonk a couple of times the last few days prior to the MOT this morning and it wasn't doing before that. I have had it on axle stands last Thursday/Friday whilst I removed the rear wheels for new tyres. So maybe the extra stretch on the suspension pulled them out, but that shouldn't happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 Main offender Other side looks like it's going the same way. They're not handed and only fit in one direction so can't be installed incorrectly. They went in fine with just a little persuasion to line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWT Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 The design of the metal "eye" is not as original. The original design has a lip around the hole to stop the bonded-in rubber pulling out, even when worn. I dismantled a very worn original set to try DIY PU bushes and even though they were worn I had to drill out the rubber. I would be suspicious that they were cheap forgeries that have got into the supply chain. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 That's the problem Mark, if I exchange I could well be in the same position in a couple of months. I would be suspicious that they were cheap forgeries that have got into the supply chain. Mark Just been on the ECP website and this is their picture of the items. Quite different to what I have received and installed, as you mentioned Mark there is a lip that cups the outer face of the bush which would prevent it popping out in my picture. Unless the replacements are like the picture is refund only I think. They also list cheaper aftermarket items, I reckon they dispatched these instead of the Lemforder ones I ordered. I don't think I kept the packaging though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaky Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Just take them back to the nearest Europarts and show them the fault. You should also have the email receipt to show what you actually ordered vs. what you received - net net insist on the Lemforder ones as a replacement or get a refund and go elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 That's the plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Senior Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 My droplinks are Lemforder and they're as per the stock photo above. You must have received the cheapy crap. Lemforder stuff is normally excellent quality; probably OEM in many cases without the Porsche packaging to make it twice the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 That's my experience of Lemforder too I've checked my receipt and it lists them as Lemforder so they where either dispatched wrong, swapped or Lemforder has downspec'ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP72 Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 I got the rennline droplinks per your first post fitted. Unsure I've ever adjusted them but no probs since fitting them 20k miles ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Type911 Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Lemforder ones have looked like this for over a year; The are handed though!! Did you install them wrongly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) That's them, don't think I installed them wrong unless they were bagged wrong? Edited September 6, 2016 by Nige Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sopor Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 On pelican there's also a negative review on the Lemforder drop links. See http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/0821/POR_0821_SUSSHK_pg10.htm#item30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Nige - did you get a free chicken stir fry with those? Very odd for that to happen and as above they are definitely handed. I bought some OEM ones from ECP a while back and they have been fine. Either you fluffed the install (which I doubt) or they are a sh*te batch. I would take them back and get another pair and I'll bet they'll be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gander Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 They are handed Nige, just be careful when looking at the angle where it mates with the through-bolt (just in case the packaging is wrongly labelled)? Regards, David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C3s Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Could there be a misinterpretation of LH & RH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuarts Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 To add, I bought some new Lemforder ones last year and they failed the MOT this year, one had popped out. I'm rebuilding all the suspension this winter and will probably fit the Rennline ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 I emailed ECP and they have a 2 year warranty so I just need to drop them off at my local store for a refund. Will probably fit the Rennline ones too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWT Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 To add, I bought some new Lemforder ones last year and they failed the MOT this year, one had popped out. I'm rebuilding all the suspension this winter and will probably fit the Rennline ones. Looks like the Leforder accountants have pushed for a "value engineering" solution with no understanding of the need for the original, more expensive, design. Those drop links go through some large angle deflections, but the original design would last 25+ years and 100+K miles. The way of the world now, cheap sh*t quick fix with no consideration of longevity. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 weird maybe the aftermarket ones are better now, checked mine earlier and they still look fine and like the ones in Nige's ECP pic. Cant remember whether they were Lemforder or after market though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted September 8, 2016 Author Share Posted September 8, 2016 Had time for a better look this morning, and yes they are handed but in a way that's impossible to fit incorrectly so no mix up there. Just looks like cost cutting to me, the bush is just push fit and not bonded to the steel outer in anyway. Even the metal used for the bolts appears to be soft as the threads have rounded over. Basically cr*p and would now make me question buying Lemforder in the future. Old and new Other side on it's way as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP72 Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Wowsers I see what you mean now. Genuine Porsche items are £100/side, wonder who makes them and what they look like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Found the receipt for my ones - they are the aftermarket ones and look more like the originals with that extra lip to the metal casing to hold the bush in place. When you look at the design of the black ones its no wonder the bush just pulled out - nothing to hold it in accept a thin rubber lip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWT Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I repeat my rant Looks like the Leforder accountants have pushed for a "value engineering" solution with no understanding of the need for the original, more expensive, design. Those drop links go through some large angle deflections, but the original design would last 25+ years and 100+K miles. The way of the world now, cheap sh*t quick fix with no consideration of longevity. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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