oafcowl

The drop links were from a local motor factors, The ones I have just put on my car are a ford part, and youre right hey do look more substantial. Answer to the earlier post, I did move the droplink from side to side and up and down but couldnt feel any play, plus you would think they would last longer than 2-3 months!

Hi to all. I have just borrowed a trolley jack from a pal of mine, jacked up the car and replaced both drop link bars. The drivers side is absoulutley shot, sloppy with a lot of play in it. These have only been on for a couple of months, what crap parts. Took the car out for a run and is as quiet as a deisel can be with NO CLUNKING. I now feel safe and confident to drive down to Devon (7 hrs) with wife and 4 screaming girls!!. I would like to thank everyone for helping/contributing in the resolvment of my problem, Cheers guys, see you all next saturday when we get back!

I've had my galaxy for 5 years and mine has never come on either!

Now I'm worried!! I think I will replace the drop links to eliminate these, and hopefully it might sort it!. Just waiting for my mate to drop off a jack for me as mine broke while doing the track rod ends, and I will let you know how I get on. Cheers everyone.

Right, I have just replaced the track rod ends on both sides of the car to be on the safe side,took the car out for a run and the car is still clunking. I have bought a new pair of drop link bars, do you think I should replace these as the others have only been on for 4 months or so? Help!! I'm ripping my bloomin hair out!!

Cheers I will do that, I replaced the ones that were on the car with some I bought from a local motor factors, the ones that were on the car only lasted about 4 months and yes I bought those off ebay!!

Very well explained!!! I think I will replace both just to eliminate in case replacing these doesn't cure the problem but I'm sure it will. I have seen a pair on e bay for

You wouldn't beleive how much noise this small amount play can generate (IF it is the track rod end that is clunking). Also I have noticed some play in the drive shafts at both sides, you can move the drive shafts from side to side (from the wheel to the centre of the car) about 1-2mm is this normal?

You can feel movement around the rubber so I presume it needs replacing? It also clunks when you move the wheel from side to side with a little play so can anyone inform me if they think it needs replacing and do you think I should do both? Thanks

Here we go! Jacked the car up drivers side first and rocked the wheel from side to side, there was a very slight "clunking noise but no play, did the same on the passenger side there was a little more play and a louder clunking sound. I also checked the track rod end rubber which is part of the ball joint and it is split. Could this be the cause of the clunking (the play and noise), also the split rubber is this a sign of the balljoint being knackered and would you change both T R E ?

How will I know if the track rod end is worn, how could I check?

Just been under the car, the engine roll restricor bolt hasn,t sheared and there is only a little play in this, tried to move all the other bushes,joints and all seem ok. The only thing that looks amiss is something to do with the wheel bearing. I looked in the haynes manual and it looks like the speed sensor is loose and just moves about over the wheel bearing, is this normal or would this cause the clunking. Everything else seems fine, anyone any ideas?

No I didn' replace the rubber bushes on the suspension arm, are these easy to replace? I am going to take a look under the car this afternoon so I will post to let you know what I find.

I replaced the drop link bars about two months ago and all was well until recently. When Im driving along, now and then there is a clunking/banging from the front somewhere, It doesnt sound like the drop link bars, it seems more like the centre front. Any ideas. I would like to get this sorted as I have a seven hour drive to devon next weekend and I dont want the car to break down with wife and 4 kids!!! Cheers

I know that this is a old thread. I have the same problem, the ball and socket popped out, when I was driving on the outside lane of the motorway in the pouring rain. Been driving about with laggy bands ever since. Thought about oafcowl's idea about drilling straight through the ball and putting a 5mm bolt in it. Took everything off to have a good look. Great idea but is 5mm not too much, you would have to drill very accurately for this. Would this not weaken the ball. Or is the laggy bands the best idea ? You would have to be pretty accurate, I drilled just where the original stud was and if memory serves me right I think the stud was just off centre, 5mm was great and left sufficent material on the ball end, if you wanted there is no reason why you couldnt use a smaller size of nut and bolt, I only used this size as I had them handy.

Bloomin scorching, hot and humid with blue skies, shame im in work and not sat in a beer garden with a cold one!!

My old Gal went in for MOT yesterday and passed!!. Just 2 advisory notes, !. NSR & OSR Brake pipes slightly coroded 2. Front pads a liitle thin. I did my own oil change and replaced the oil, air & fuel filter before she went in and also added some diesel additive as I have been told by a local garage that this helps the emissions!. Anyway another year of happy motoring!

Brilliant instructions, did it this morning at 7.30am back in the house putting the kettle on at 7.45am. Cheers, much apreciated.

Please can anyone tell me how to change my power steering belt on a 1.9TDI gal 1998, and how hard/easy is it. Thanks guys.

I got mine off ebay

Hi, My power steering belt is slipping (I think). When I turn the whell full lock left or right there is a terrible screeching sound, also when the car is stationary it does the same and the steering wheel goes stiff. How easy is it to replace the power steering belt, and do you think this is the problem. Cheers guys.

I wound the pistons back in when I changed the pads with a pair of grips and a G clamp, (turning both at the same time was a bit tricky!). I just hope they bed in OK and brake pedal will feel a bit better, or what it was like before.

Ive just looked on their website but the galaxy is not listed! (nor is the sharan or alhambra!). Oh well never mind.

Mine are the same, My handbrake seized and was only working on one side. The cable had frayed and jammed. After freeing it off the caliper witha hammer and some WD40 I fitted a new cable and replaced the rear pads as they looked about 65% worn. I bled the brakes until they were "rock hard". I started the engine and pumped the pedal a few times until hard again. I kept my foot on the pedal and I could feel the pedal creeping to the floor. I decided to bleed them again and the same happened. I took the car out for a drive and tested the brakes, the car stopped but with a bit more pedal travel then what i am used to. Hopefully they will get a bit better when the brakes bed in!!.