front drop link rattle

[melvin]

I have a rattle at front of car, seems to be both sides.
Rattle or knocking driving on rough surface.
is there a way to check the drop links?
The rubber boot covers seem ok

[Drogen24]

If you can wiggle the ball joint side to side without any really effort, then they'll need replacing.

[melvin]

If you can wiggle the ball joint side to side without any really effort, then they'll need replacing.

Yeah, i did try that earlier and seemed pretty solid. The car was jacked up though, so probably would have been tension on the joints.
Have replaced these drop links a few times over the years, just cheap ones and they normally don't last very long.
But the rubbers were usually split.

[Drogen24]

In that case, they sound OK.
If its rattling over rough surfaces, try touching the brakes to make sure it's not the pads or any other part of them

[justin32]

with the car on the floor, reach over the tyre and put your hand on top of the drop link and then yank the top of the wheel. If its loose you will be able to feel it knocking. Ive done this loads and always works

[bibu16v]

Very clear method(not the simplest though) to identify problems with drop links and stabilizer bar bushes:
-remove both drop links, this way you'll figure out if their ball joints are Ok;
-make a short trip, ideally on a rough surface with adequate speed, and listen for noises: 1) if no noises, something's wrong with your (stabilizer bar) bushes(if your drop links are Ok); 2) if still noises, you should check steering tie rods(both joints), arms bushes & ball joints and supports of shock absorbers.
Considering you have noises on both sides I'd rather suspect supports of shock absorbers especially if they are on more than 80-90k miles and/or rough roads.

[melvin]

Considering you have noises on both sides I'd rather suspect supports of shock absorbers especially if they are on more than 80-90k miles and/or rough roads.

Thanks, what are supports of shock absorbers? Is that the top strut mounting?
I know one of the strut top bearings is knackered as its twanging when turning.

[northpole]

Wait you know one of them is knackered already and you haven't replaced both sides? And now the other side is starting to act up and you think it is something else? mate replace the top mounts and the bearings and take it from there... if you still have the noise after that you've probably got worn drop-links (those things that connect to the shock absorber and the ARB) I noticed that they don't last long on the cars if you have quite a lot of speedbumps on your daily route... I now avoid them as much as possible and have seen the same set without a problem now for 2 years(same brand lasted less than a year with me taking that short cut with the speed bumps every day, luckily for me i kept the receipt so took them off and brought them back and got new ones for free)

[bibu16v]

Thanks, what are supports of shock absorbers? Is that the top strut mounting?
I know one of the strut top bearings is knackered as its twanging when turning.

Yes, they are, you got it right. You should change them...