- My model of MX-5 is: __MK3
- I’m based near: __North Essex
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Broken metal bar
Hi
I was out earlier and went round a mini roundabout the painted hump type, and the drivers side wheels went over the lower part of the hump and there was a metallic bang, I looked under the car both sides and noticed that on the drivers side on the front, there was a small metal rod which had broken away from its position and was to one side, it seems to be part of the steering / suspension, so I pushed it back on and took a photo, as it looks different to the passenger side ,the bit with the four holes in it is the bit that came away, see photos crud and all.
My questions are :
Is this a serious thing ?
Can it be fixed easily ?
Can I still drive the car?
Any Info, or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
P.S. Be gentle, its been a sh*te year all round and its nearly Christmas
Is it a guessing game?
Are you saying your stabilizer link came undone and popped out is the nut missing or where it joins is broken.If it’s the link its a £10 part.
Is this a serious thing ?
MOT Fail…so to that degree, yes.
Can it be fixed easily ?
Without being impertinent, you may have corrosion issues to clean up first.
Do NOT fit 1, do both.
Can I still drive the car?
Yes, but expect wayward bump-steer handling and random clunks.
It is part of the “pitch & yaw” stability system but not actually weight bearing.
Nasty…
Plus, cars involved in accidents can attract the wrong kind of Insurance issues if deemed unfit. Fact.
I’d also wholly recommend an aggressive rust & crud clear-up & anti rot applications…before other stuff fails it, and future MOTs judging by the appearance of the shocker.
Sorry to seem blunt, but I’d be doing you a dis-service otherwise…in my view.
I would make the argument that you can fit one of these as it has a simple function unlike brake pads,shocks etc where you would always do both sides of the axle. Although the other one may not be far behind. The remains of the old one will be a sod to undo and may as well be cut off.
Quite. “The other one”… 
One of my front drop links came apart, I didn’t know it had until I was inspecting the tyre tread one day.
I removed mine by smashing the rest off (the top off, the ball joint) the bottom had come apart. Sounds harsh by saying smashing or prying it off but it will come apart. A pair of stilsons on the remaining stub to hold it from spinning and undo the nuts. Or as mentioned it may need cutting off looking at the corrosion on other parts.
OK thanks for your replies, as that gives me some idea of what I’m dealing with.
Can you tell me what the part is actually called for when I phone my local garage, is it a drop link or suspension link or are they one and the same ? and I’ll get both sides done, and set about cleaning and treating the corroded areas.
Stabilizer,drop, anti roll bar link a good garage will know straight away what part you are after.
Just a thought and never changed one on a MX5 but how did you push it back in on previous cars when I’ve changed them it involved giving it some major leverage,I wouldn’t call it push back on or is it easier on a 5.
They refit very easily.
From what I think you’re saying/asking you really need to have both wheels on the ground or both off the ground when changing a drop link.
They are bolted, the rears are easy (that’s if the nuts aren’t corroded and to far gone to undo) and can be changed without even jacking up, if the car hasn’t been lowered too much. The fronts are a bit more involved, wheel removal required and maybe some brute force as I explained above.
Yeah I know taking off is a pain had to cut mine previously on another car but with the wheel off the gap was too small to put back on without leverage with the wheel on no room.Just by Bosley asking what the part is makes me think is mechanical knowledge on cars is not great so surprised you can push it back on without some force.Please dont take offence Bosley just curious.
As plip stated if only one side jacked up or car not level side to side there will be a preload on the bar twisting it. Therefore both front wheels fully off the ground easiest.
But it sounds like Bosley put is arm under the car and pushed it back on with no tension is that right just thought may be a bigger problem than just the link.
The upper drop link stud goes through the arb and held by a 14mm nut. The lower stud goes through the alloy mounting lug on the lower arm. If its detached then either the 14mm nut fell off or the stud sheared or the alloy lug broke off the lower wishbone ( hope not)
The bottom of the link felt like a cup ( the round bit with 4 holes ), and pushed back on to the fixed bit and stayed there, here is a cruddy photo of the bottom of the link on the passenger side if its any help.
So the socket of the drop link has failed. Thats option 4 on my list of three. Shouldn’t be too difficult to remove with care