Links - what are links or stabilizer struts in a car suspension
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What are links?
Linka (links) are a special system of stabilizer struts. It is thanks to these parts of the suspension that the stability of the car increases while driving, and body roll decreases when cornering.
Front stabilizer - this is a car suspension part, which is necessary for attaching the stabilizer directly to the lever, to the shock absorber (strut), as well as to the steering knuckle.
The stabilizer bar is a part made in the form of two elements that are structurally similar to a ball bearing. They are fastened together with a metal jumper or a metal rod.
The design of the hinge pins of the link is articular. It allows the stabilizer to move simultaneously in several planes during operation. When the plastic bushing of the pivot pin wears out, an impact-like load is generated, which leads to a characteristic noise, especially when driving on rough roads.
It is important to note that the wear of the hinge pin of the link does not have critical consequences for the motorist, unlike the analog in the ball joint, because even the breakage of the link pin does not lead to an emergency.
In everyday life, stabilizer links are often referred to as "links" or "eggs".
How do links work?
When cornering, the car body leans to the side. The angle of inclination of the body is called the roll angle. The angle of roll depends on the magnitude of the centrifugal force, and also on the design and rigidity of the suspension. If you distribute the load on the left and right suspension elements, then the roll angle will decrease. The part that transfers force from one strut or spring to another is the stabilizer. Their design, as a rule, consists of an elastic bracket and two rods. The rods themselves are also called "struts".
It’s not immediately clear what the front and rear stabilizer struts are for, and why you can’t just connect the bracket to the shock absorbers directly. The answer is simple: if you do this, the shock absorber rod will not be able to move in the longitudinal direction.
It is important to note that the shock absorber strut plays a very important role in the suspension design. The shock absorber not only dampens vibrations, but is also a guiding element. Simply put, the entire suspension of the car "walks" along the shock absorbers. If you remove the stabilizer rods, little will change. The main change will be an increase in bank angles in corners. There are situations in which the traction burst right on the go, and the driver did not notice the deterioration in handling.
The part reduces the tilt or body roll of the car when cornering. The links help the suspension to keep the rider safe when subjected to lateral forces. The car becomes more stable, and it does not skid on the road.
What do Links look like and why are they needed?
It is worth highlighting several design features of links for cars. This detail is distinguished by the presence of two elements that resemble ball bearings in design. These elements are connected by a metal rod or a hollow tube, depending on the brand of car and the specific model.
This part is designed to ensure that the stabilizer moves in several directions at the same time, and the car's suspension functions smoothly and correctly. If compared with a ball joint, then malfunctions in this suspension element cannot lead to a sudden separation of the wheel.
IMPORTANT! Sometimes, when accelerating from 80 km/h, a broken part can lead to an increase in braking distance up to 3 meters, which leads to additional risks when driving fast.
Types of stabilizer struts
By themselves, the racks (traction, links) can be completely symmetrical. In this case, we can “flip” them, as well as swap them from left to right. But in the design of most machines, asymmetrical racks are used, while they can also be rearranged from left to right.
The most “difficult” option is when the left and right racks are different (mirror). Obviously, the most vulnerable part of the stabilizer is its struts (thrust). In some cars, their resource is only 20 thousand km. Manufacturers recommend inspecting and checking these parts more often - every 10 thousand km. When replacing rods, threaded connections must be treated with engine oil. In turn, friction parts (bushings and axles) should be covered with a layer of CIATIM-201 or LITOL.
But be aware that this option is not suitable for rubber bushings. It uses a special lubricant, or it is absent altogether.
How to find Links in the car itself?
Look at the pillars of your car. The easiest way to find them is on the example of the Lifan crossover. Racks of both stabilizers, front and rear, are open here. Note that this option is not typical. Moving units are usually covered with anthers, corrugations, covers. At the same time, the symmetrical rods shown in the photo contain anthers directly in their design.
Links in Chinese cars
You need to remember a simple rule: the rear stabilizer legs (rear links) are never symmetrical, unlike the front ones. Here is how, for example, the rear thrust of the Lifan X60 looks like:
Such a node cannot be rearranged from the left side to the right. Moreover, you can not turn it over during installation. As for the front struts, this rule does not work for them. But they fail more often.
Damaged stabilizer struts
In order to identify malfunctions of chinks, you need to pay attention to the characteristic signs in the behavior of the car when driving. Based on these signs, you can assume that it is the stabilizer struts that are faulty:
- the car is unstable when driving, especially on sharp turns,
- the car shakes when turning the steering wheel,
- when passing uneven sections of the road, a knock is heard in the suspension,
- the car pulls to the side when you let go of the steering wheel.
In order for the link to serve for a long time, it must be periodically checked and the bushings of the front stabilizers replaced. When diagnosing malfunctions, you should pay attention to the fasteners of the stabilizers and the condition of their body.
If these parts are worn out, they must be replaced immediately. It is worth carrying out such a diagnosis once a month. To replace the link, you need both experience and certain tools, so it’s better to contact a car service.
The most “fragile” part of the stabilizer is the struts. Manufacturers do this on purpose to get the least damage in an accident. The main symptom of a breakdown of stabilizer struts or rods is a thud that occurs when driving through any bumps, pits, and even pebbles. Sometimes the car gets out of the roll worse, the conclusion is that one of the racks has already been torn off. But knocking will be observed in 90% of cases!
The stabilizer struts fail due to the poor condition of the roads, from colliding with an obstacle and from impacts.
How to check link status
If there is a suspicion that the stabilizer links (Links) are faulty, they are easy to check in three simple ways. In this case, we are talking about the front stabilizer struts.
- Unscrew the wheels in any direction until they stop. Gently pull the rack with your hand. If there is at least a minimum play - the part must be replaced - under a real load during movement, the play will be much more noticeable.
- On one side, disconnect the stabilizer link (suppose, from the steering knuckle), while you do not need to completely remove it. Turning the part from side to side, check it for play and free rotation. The greater the wear of the part, the easier it is to rotate. To check the second pillar, you can simply rock the car vertically. A damaged rack will make a knocking sound. For such an inspection, a viewing hole will be needed.
- In the third option, you can’t do without a hole either. Here you still need a partner - one at the wheel, the other in the pit. The one who is driving - moves on the car back and forth, partner, (who is below) - puts his hand on the stabilizer bar. At the moment of starting the car from a place, a blow will be felt in the hand.
Test participants should be careful to avoid injury.
What is also called Links?
The word Linky comes from the English link - “to connect” or “to connect”. Often this word means an ordinary link that contains the address of a website or a simple web page. A more correct definition for a link on the Internet is "Hyperlink".
One comment
Oleg
Wow, I didn't know that racks and links were the same thing...