So, when do control arm usually go bye bye ??

[littlewhite]

I think i'm getting close to that mileage lol ! Just want to have some heads up in advance. how come our control arms are so bad and not well built ?

[DDQ]

Control arms usually go right when you're about to spend your money on other mods. There's no telling when. Plan on about every 30k.

[chldygks]

hmm...well i just replaced all my control arms and mine went off around 100,000km... i ordered all my parts from ecs turning 'cuz the dealership was asking for twice the price than ecs!!

[littlewhite]

Originally posted by DDQ
Control arms usually go right when you're about to spend your money on other mods. There's no telling when. Plan on about every 30k.

Yea, i hear ya.

I noticed after i put COs on, the rear squeks when i go slow over uneven surface. Tech said is from the perch and or springs in teh COs. I checked the control arm and they are ok.

[SEXICÄN]

mine went out now at 55k. I first noticed that when i would slow down, i would hear a rattling noise. I wanted a while and it would happen all the time. i too off the control arms and sure enough the ball joints on the upper crapped out.

[littlewhite]

Originally posted by Audi_A4_Quattro
mine went out now at 55k. I first noticed that when i would slow down, i would hear a rattling noise. I wanted a while and it would happen all the time. i too off the control arms and sure enough the ball joints on the upper crapped out.

I see, no rattling noise... yet. Thank god, just squeaking sound from COs and swaybar bushings. lol

[SEXICÄN]

there was also like a rubbing noise from the bushings

[alen]

so, what do you mean by control arms saying bye? are you talking about the rubber bushings?

[SEXICÄN]

Control arms going bye bye mean needing to be replaced. Control arms consist of rubber bushings and ball joints

[littlewhite]

The grinding sound/noise is pretty obvious right ?

[alen]

yeah, i had the rubber bushings on my old 90S replaced a while ago. they were previously very torn out and it made such a huge difference when we put in new ones.

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by blackknight
The grinding sound/noise is pretty obvious right ?

I would say balljoint. Have you checked your control arms?

[Daft]

On my 1998, the lowers started squeaking around 70K miles (right after I did my timing belt). They began to clunk at slow speeds after another 5-10K and then they were absolutely obnoxious after that point. Finally swapped them out around 80K.

The bushings (which squeak) didn't look bad when the control arms were removed but, they had shrunk just enough to allow play and began rubbing against the subframe bracket and the bolts that held them on.

All 8 control arms were completely shot in the balljoint end of each arm. No wonder the car clunked around all the time, there was no support or resistance. Kind of like when you're lifting weights on a machine with a cable system and the pin pops out releasing the weights.

[TheDude]

Is there anything you can do to increase the life of the ball joints?

[aborchew]

I think mine are going soon as well (75K) but how much should i expect to pay for the parts and how much for the labor?

[littlewhite]

Originally posted by Audi_A4_Quattro
I would say balljoint. Have you checked your control arms?

Nono , i was just wondering if it is obvious, the noise.
I dont have any of the grinding noise, just sqeaking sound when i go on uneven surface on the street at very low speed. Probably the bushings and the COs perches

[ed@mtl]

Within the 15 months I had to change the front upper control arms twice. This is bullish...I'm getting pissed off with Audi.

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by TheDude
Is there anything you can do to increase the life of the ball joints?

Not sure, you can try and find a company that sells aftermarket stronger balljoints. Kind of like what i'm doing. I bought some CPP upper control arms with rebuildable balljoints. And then i'm going to get my lowers down by Achtuning.

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by ed j - 888
Within the 15 months I had to change the front upper control arms twice. This is bullish...I'm getting pissed off with Audi.

The amount you payed to change the front uppers you could have bought the CPP uppers and just had them rebuild for a lot less than buying new uppers.

[oddjob]

what does a torn ball joint look like or bad bushling??? Maybe I was just being stupid but when i was looking at mine nothing seemed really out of place on mine(It was bad according to everyone), but then again i know nothing about cars.

[ed@mtl]

Originally posted by Audi_A4_Quattro
The amount you payed to change the front uppers you could have bought the CPP uppers and just had them rebuild for a lot less than buying new uppers.

That's for sure. My next control arms will be from CPP.

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by oddjob
what does a torn ball joint look like or bad bushling??? Maybe I was just being stupid but when i was looking at mine nothing seemed really out of place on mine(It was bad according to everyone), but then again i know nothing about cars.

Here is what the repair manual says about the control arms:

"Inspect the control arm balljoints for looseness anytime either of them in separated from the steering knuckle. See if you can turn the ballstud in its socket with your fingers. If the balljoint is loose, or if the ballstud can be turned, replace the balljoint. Also, check the balljoint boot for cracks and tears. If any are present, replace the upper control arms."