Control arms Audi B8 2009

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 01:29PM #1

Hi just wondering if anyone had problems with these front suspension control arms before? I have 2 bushens gone in mine. One left and one right. Dealer said will possibly be a big job, because of a possibility of a seized bolt on each side, then might need replace all 4, depending on how the job goes.

Regards

Alanstrainor · 24-09-2018 01:32PM

I wouldn't be bringing a 2009 to a dealer for that kind of servicing tbh... I don't see how a seized bolt would complicate things hugely. Any garage should have the tools to deal with that in no time. Cutting them off is usually what they do which would only take a few minutes.

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 01:39PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I wouldn't be bringing a 2009 to a dealer for that kind of servicing tbh... I don't see how a seized bolt would complicate things hugely. Any garage should have the tools to deal with that in no time. Cutting them off is usually what they do which would only take a few minutes.

Cheers yea main dealer charging a crazy price so going to buy the parts and take to local mechanic. Maybe best buying 4 new arms instead of just the 2 that are gone?

tossy · 24-09-2018 01:55PM

Do your research on spurious parts, the quality for Audi suspension arms varies greatly, you could be back buying again sooner than you'd like.

rex-x · 24-09-2018 01:58PM

These also suffer from balljoint issues and the arms are very expensive being aluminium one piece

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 03:03PM

Do the bushens fit at end of arms or do u have to buy whole new arm? Bushens are only a few bob

rex-x · 24-09-2018 03:29PM

You buy new arms complete, they also have streel retaining bolts and when the steel and aluminium corrode it can be a nightmare

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 03:38PM

rex-x wrote: »

You buy new arms complete, they also have streel retaining bolts and when the steel and aluminium corrode it can be a nightmare

Yea the bolts are seized so need 4 new arms and 2 new bolts. Better off buying 4 anyway cause the 2 good ones cant be far off now from acting up. How much are these arms in main dealer? Probly very expensive?

rex-x · 24-09-2018 03:45PM

buzzing147 wrote: »

Yea the bolts are seized so need 4 new arms and 2 new bolts. Better off buying 4 anyway cause the 2 good ones cant be far off now from acting up. How much are these arms in main dealer? Probly very expensive?

Even from the motorfactors you won't have change from about 500 for all 4, from Audi I'd say double it however the lower arms were subject to recall a few years ago because of the balljoints

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 04:02PM

rex-x wrote: »

Even from the motorfactors you won't have change from about 500 for all 4, from Audi I'd say double it however the lower arms were subject to recall a few years ago because of the balljoints

Firstline oem control arms are 45each in local autoshop, guy said they're good hasnt had any complaints. Wonder are they good though

firstlight · 24-09-2018 05:05PM

If it's the same style suspension as mine,the pinch bolts seize,lash wd40 into them for a week or so,use copper grease when putting in the new bolts,should make them easier to change next time,don't use a dealer

rex-x · 24-09-2018 06:15PM

Are we talking the same thing? this is your rear lower control arm on the front: https://www.micksgarage.com/d/wishbones/audi/audi-a4/a4-2007-to-2015/2-0-tdi-143-1968/products/291626-6418-23301/quinton-hazell-wishbone

There is another almost as expensive arm in front of that one and then 2 arms on the upper wishbone area which are cheaper. That QH one is cheap and not great quality and still over 140 each.

George Dalton · 24-09-2018 07:00PM

buzzing147 wrote: »

Firstline oem control arms are 45each in local autoshop, guy said they're good hasnt had any complaints. Wonder are they good though

Firstline are the worst possible brand you could buy. Absolute scrap.

kildarelad · 24-09-2018 08:22PM

Completely agree with George firstline Parts are terrible.I replaced the ball joint on my own B8 Audi recently wasn't the worst job in the world.I pressed out the old balljoint and pressed on the new one onto the arm.
I used lots of WD40 as i was expecting seized steel bolts in the aluminium housing

ION08 · 24-09-2018 08:53PM

OP, what’s the mileage on your A4 do you mind me asking?

I always hear of issues with Audi suspension parts but have had 3 relatively high mileage audis and never a squeek or rattle out of them ??

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:00PM

rex-x wrote: »

Are we talking the same thing? this is your rear lower control arm on the front: https://www.micksgarage.com/d/wishbones/audi/audi-a4/a4-2007-to-2015/2-0-tdi-143-1968/products/291626-6418-23301/quinton-hazell-wishbone

There is another almost as expensive arm in front of that one and then 2 arms on the upper wishbone area which are cheaper. That QH one is cheap and not great quality
and still over 140 each.

Dont think same part mine look straighter? Front axle left and right upper and lower, 4 altogether. Top arm rearmost wishbone bushings, and front ones too because bolts seized

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:09PM

kildarelad wrote: »

Completely agree with George firstline Parts are terrible.I replaced the ball joint on my own B8 Audi recently wasn't the worst job in the world.I pressed out the old balljoint and pressed on the new one onto the arm.
I used lots of WD40 as i was expecting seized steel bolts in the aluminium housing

So u can actually replace the bushens on the arms instead of buying full new arm?

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:13PM

George Dalton wrote: »

Firstline are the worst possible brand you could buy. Absolute scrap.

Hi George, are Frontline the same company as mapco? Think arms are actually mapco. Are they bad too?

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:24PM

ION08 wrote: »

OP, what’s the mileage on your A4 do you mind me asking?

I always hear of issues with Audi suspension parts but have had 3 relatively high mileage audis and never a squeek or rattle out of them ??

95,000, I did go over a crazy pothole one night few months ago don't think that helped:)

George Dalton · 24-09-2018 10:28PM

Never heard of mapco. But any of those non OE supplier brands are all just as bad as each other in my experience.

Do you even know which arms are supposedly worn in your car? There are 4 arms on each side. 2 upper and 2 lower. None of them are especially troublesome on the B8 so maybe you should get a second opinion before you go removing a perfectly good part and replacing it with poor quality rubbish.

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:33PM

George Dalton wrote: »

Never heard of mapco. But any of those non OE supplier brands are all just as bad as each other in my experience.

Do you even know which arms are supposedly worn in your car? There are 4 arms on each side. 2 upper and 2 lower. None of them are especially troublesome on the B8 so maybe you should get a second opinion before you go removing a perfectly good part and replacing it with poor quality rubbish.

Front of car, LH and RH top arm rearmost wishbone bushings. Got my mechanic check it out yea they're gone. Bolt at the hub where arms meet is seized also.

George Dalton · 24-09-2018 10:40PM

Ok. You are best off getting all 4 arms in that case because the other 2 will likely get damaged while removing the seized bolts. Make sure your mechanic knows what he is at because those hub carriers are easy to crack when attempting to remove the seized pinch bolts.

Lemforder and TRW are the OE suppliers for those arms. No other aftermarket brand will be as good as those two no matter what people tell you. Some of the other brands aren’t too bad, eg Febi/Swag or Meyle. But the majority of them are so bad as to be a complete waste of time.

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 10:53PM

George Dalton wrote: »

Ok. You are best off getting all 4 arms in that case because the other 2 will likely get damaged while removing the seized bolts. Make sure your mechanic knows what he is at because those hub carriers are easy to crack when attempting to remove the seized pinch bolts.

Lemforder and TRW are the OE suppliers for those arms. No other aftermarket brand will be as good as those two no matter what people tell you. Some of the other brands aren’t too bad, eg Febi/Swag or Meyle. But the majority of them are so bad as to be a complete waste of time.

Cheers George, yea mechanic said because of seized bolt I will need 4 new arms as the 2 good ones will get damaged removing bolts.

Looked up the mapco ones online they're an OE supplier good reviews, German brand, the carshop said they're good quality.

(Just hopeing he's right)

Don't wanna get main dealer do this job, already got full service and timing belt done in main dealer few months ago so that was enough to spend!

George Dalton · 24-09-2018 11:23PM

Who are Mapco an OE supplier for? Not Audi anyway.

buzzing147 · 24-09-2018 11:38PM

George Dalton wrote: »

Who are Mapco an OE supplier for? Not Audi anyway.

Unsure tbh, but reviews are good and they're based in Germany so might be ok. Will the car need realligned after this work? I guess so. Slight steering wobble when travelling over 60ish has started happening since bushens went

The Bishop Basher · 24-09-2018 11:48PM

buzzing147 wrote: »

Don't wanna get main dealer do this job, already got full service and timing belt done in main dealer few months ago so that was enough to spend!

Agree with George on buying spurious parts. The price is always tempting but you get what you pay for. Just spend the extra, buy the original parts and you can have confidence that they’ll last.

And honestly why are you going to dealers.. you could be doing a basic service yourself or for timing belt etc take it to an Indy. Mad paying dealer prices on an 09.

Good luck getting this sorted.

mickdw · 25-09-2018 01:43AM

George Dalton wrote: »

Ok. You are best off getting all 4 arms in that case because the other 2 will likely get damaged while removing the seized bolts. Make sure your mechanic knows what he is at because those hub carriers are easy to crack when attempting to remove the seized pinch bolts.

Lemforder and TRW are the OE suppliers for those arms. No other aftermarket brand will be as good as those two no matter what people tell you. Some of the other brands aren’t too bad, eg Febi/Swag or Meyle. But the majority of them are so bad as to be a complete waste of time.

My mechanic wrecked the hub carrier on my A5 when swapping ball joints. He is generally excellent but wasn't so familiar with them I guess.
Bit of a pain to find used too due to demand from others in same situation.

buzzing147 · 25-09-2018 12:08PM

Had them done this morning, no rattle now, hopefully stays that wayðŸ€«

buzzing147 · 25-09-2018 04:59PM

Thought the rattle was away but just noticed theres still a slight rattle when going at very low speed on uneven roads, especially going down a hill. No noise at all at speed. Seems under drivers side.

rex-x · 25-09-2018 05:02PM

Balljoint on big arm I posted causes a noise (hence the recall) not sure would I call it a rattle though?

buzzing147 · 25-09-2018 05:08PM

rex-x wrote: »

Balljoint on big arm I posted causes a noise (hence the recall) not sure would I call it a rattle though?

The sound is similar to an anti roll bar rattle I had in a previous car

Control arms Audi B8 2009

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