hi just had the bolt/bush snap off just wondering if its safe to drive while i await new one its a 2001 focus zetec 1.6 thanks Kieran

car1.jpg

hi just had the bolt/bush snap off just wondering if its safe to drive while i await new one its a 2001 focus zetec 1.6 thanks Kieran

Id take things really slow on corners and rounabouts,

Avoid anything that puts alot of downforce to either side of the car until replaced mate,

Ideally dont drive atall but aslong as you bear in mind not to throw it in to corners or drive up diaganal hills should be fine.

For those whom dont know,

The snapped bolt in the image above is a "drop link"

It links the "anti roll bar" (ARB) to the bottom leaf beam of the suspension spring.

On cornering the whole car shift weight from centre to left or right sway.

This shifts the cars centre of gravity drastically.

This is where the anti roll bar comes in to play,

When cornering the car leans to opposite side of corner direction,

This action pushes down on the spring and spring leaf arm;

The drop link bolt (snapped) connects the spring arm to the anti roll bar,

Thus pushing resistance back upwards off the spring and on to the spring on the opposite side of the car.

This action helps the car to retain a more centre of gravity preventing the vehicle from rolling over like a Reliant Robin :)

hi lenny thanks for that pretty much as i thought but just wanted to make sure.

hi lenny thanks for that pretty much as i thought but just wanted to make sure.

No problem mate,

Happy to help and welcome to the forum.

Plenty of these drop link kits available on eBay,

If replacing yourself i recommend soaking the existing nuts in copious amounts of WD-40 to ease removal,

Road salt and weather conditions both hot and cold hardens the rubber and kills the bolt,

Common wear and tare part this one.

just making sure these are correct aren't they.

just making sure these are correct aren't they.

Yep,

I was just about to add a link:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290847520284

thank you very much for your help.

thank you very much for your help.

No prob,

P.S. no pun intended in the above post with adding a link

lenny new ones came today just went and tried to get old snapped one off and its snapped the bolt head off so ive got nothing to grip onto can i just cut it off or do you know an easier or better way thanks Kieran.

lenny new ones came today just went and tried to get old snapped one off and its snapped the bolt head off so ive got nothing to grip onto can i just cut it off or do you know an easier or better way thanks Kieran.

Thats a nightmare mate,

Perhaps soak it in WD-40 and grip with a vice grips to remove the bolt,

If cutting take care as its so close to fuel tank non electrical hand tools only.

Also does your focus have drum brakes on rear?

If yes, you may be interested in some brake lines i purchased last week in error open to any offers atall,

Link: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/73402-for-sale-focus-mk1-goodridge-brake-lines/

If the old one has snapped the bolt head off you should be able to knock whats left of it out.

just done them both thanks for all your help Lenny and Stefan i'm sure i'll be back on here when something else goes wrong.