NC rear Droplink removal

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: __.NC 2006 2.0L
  2. I’m based near: __Borders
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Rear droplink removal

Hi All

I’m in the process of swapping my old Bilsteins out for MeisterR ‘s. Changing out the fronts went relatively easy considering slight corrosion. Nothing that some WD40 couldn’t sort out. On the rear I had some trouble. All the bolts and nuts came loose easily except for the bottom drop link nuts that seem to be corroded onto the bolt and all is turning together. Now, there seem to be an Allen/Hex key slot in the end of the bolt to obviously stop rotation but mine are quite rusted and I can’t be sure if that is intact a key slot. I tried cleaning it out as much as possible and tried to fit a M5 hex key in there but would not go in. 4.5 is loose ish on the one side and need some hammer persuasion on the other side. Am I on the right track? Any help would be greatly appreciated. 2006 NC. Thanks

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2006 car , if they’ve not been replaced before I guarantee it’s a grinder job to cut them off…..as mine were on my 2006

2 Likes
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Yep, they’ll need cutting off.

I had to do the same with one front drop link too.

I managed mine with a metal saw blade in small hacksaw type frame. Now I possess an angle grinder and a Dremel type tool with cutting attachments

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Great, thank you for your help. I kind of thought that but had to be sure. I suppose the replacement nuts and bolts are off the shelf items?

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Please be careful with the cutting disc on the grinder. I took a small chunk out of the ARB as it was tight for room and I wasn’t paying attention to how hard I was pushing.

Was much more careful and took my time for the rest, as I replaced all front and rear drop links.

Dremmel with the cutting disc was a much more precise operation.

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Yes of course, the bolt is part of the drop link and I will have to replace the droplinks. Is that correct?

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If you’ve not already purchased the drop links, they come complete with nuts ready to fit :+1:

Aftermarket drop links are decent replacements such as mx5parts or Autolink sell.:+1:

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Thanks Mick. I’ve just ordered some from AutoDoc, 8 squids a piece. I hope they will be okay.

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You just need to use mole grips clamped on to the inside of the roll bar link between the bar and the ball joint. That will hold the ball tight enough to be able to undo the nut.

As in photo but use mole grips instead of a spanner.

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image723×407 68.6 KB

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Don’t waste time trying to remove the nut from the thread. Centre punch a face on the nut and drill it off.

If you do use a cutting disc be careful you don’t damage the bracket on the lower arm.

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On the fronts on my NC I literally hit the bottom cup joint on the link and it came away. You are left with a ball shape protrusion that the joint swivels on. I had a set of stilsons which I clamped on that part which stopped it spinning whilst I undid the nut.

On a previous NC one of the drop links joints had parted company with the fixing on the ARB. They were plastic cup joints, so easily knocked off.

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