Last Modified 17 June 2006
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During the cars 98k mile service the front left droplink was found to be wanting. It had movement in it which spelt the end of it's run in life. Now the Toyota droplinks are butt clenchingly expensive at 90GBPounds each! That doesn't include VAT L However a check around revealed that worse case scenario I would pay just 40GBPounds each which was better but there is an alternative.
You can use Ford Mondeo 2000 year model (non estate) rear droplinks that are the same size as the front mr2 units. FDL 6605 is the part number for most motor factor's. You can also use the BMW Mini Cooper droplinks part number 33 551 507 999. For more information on alternative droplinks both front and rear visit the IMOC website which has 2 articles on this topic. Both these alternatives retail for around 12GBPounds each which is a huge saving over the factory units. Even the BMW Mini Cooper S units bought direct from BMW are 11GBPounds each. Just don't mention its for a Toyota
Ok so we know the alternatives are cheaper but are there any problems with using either of them? Well just a couple of minor items as it turns out
I opted for the Mondeo units as they are more substantial than the BMW units are for the same price whats the diff really? All of these units must be noted for a complete design disaster that awaits the poor sod changing them. The bolts from the droplinks have no flats on the base of them only an Allen Keyway in the top where the nut threads over. Yup, this Allen key just rounds off when you try to remove the droplinks. Normally you'll get one of the nuts off ok and one will stick. If this is the case, just cut the bolt and the links will come off ok.
As you can see from the pic above the Toyota links in black have a substantial middle section in comparison to the Mondeo unit underneath but it really does not make that much of a difference. Well not for my driving anyway.
As stated earlier the Mondeo units need to have the bolt that fits into the suspension leg reduced by about 10mm. In practice this worked out at the first 3 thread on the bolt which coincidently matched the depth of the Allen Keyway. Yup molegrip time again. Now in theory this means the droplinks cannot be removed easily from the suspension leg again but in practice how many times do you change the suspension anyway? It can always be undone from the ARB side and worse case scenario you buy another pair for 31GBPounds. Not really a biggy.
Big thanks go to Calum again for doing this for me on the same day he fitted the new wheel studs, see Evo 6 Wheel story. The standard of Calums' work is high because he genuinely likes working on cars. What more can I say except big thanks dude.