Ebay control arm kit any good?

[wackoo]

Hey everyone. Has anyone installed these with good results? My control arms are shot up.

[NastyNogaro]

I think one of mine is as well. What are the sure symptoms of bad control arms?

I am also in for ebay control arm kit results.

[Overboostin]

I'm going to get a kit this summer when I'm back from school

[eliTTe]

got a link? I know 034 sells a kit with all the front control arms for under $400. PureMS sels a aluminum setup for 600 something.

[sparkyvw]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9833QQtcZphoto

i got just the uppers from these people was very happy and ship fast to.

[NastyNogaro]

edit: nvm, read the ad more

[Overboostin]

edit: nvm, read the ad more

I did. What are you seeing?

[Jsmooth65]

I have them. They work fine. Rubber is rubber.

[NOVAS4]

I did. What are you seeing?

hes probably talking about how it doesnt say they are for an s4 only an a4 but i dont know if it matters or not with this part

[wackoo]

got a link? I know 034 sells a kit with all the front control arms for under $400. PureMS sels a aluminum setup for 600 something.

Really under 400 for 034? U got a link?

[wackoo]

I think one of mine is as well. What are the sure symptoms of bad control arms?

I am also in for ebay control arm kit results.

I just looked at my bushings. They are warped

[andream88]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9833QQtcZphoto

i got just the uppers from these people was very happy and ship fast to.

Aluminium or steel arms??

Thanks ;)

[Reich]

I just bought an upgrate kit with HD tie rods and all hardware from ecs tuning for 529$ I bought the febi one. http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/...ubcategory=OEM

[ny02s4]

fcp groton is a dealer on ebay. i ordered my upper arms from them and had them next day and are identical to stock. Weight and build quality. I think i paid $30 each or somewhere around there for them.

http://www.foreigncarpartsonline.com...ieID=0TB1ELIKW

[andream88]

Ok, but are we talking about steel or aluminium arms?

Thanks

[andream88]

10% discount now!!!!

What about the differences between these kits?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9833QQtcZphoto
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9846QQtcZphoto

Thanks

[J@RO]

one is with hardware (US $247.5) and no hardware ($279)

Really...i dont understand these auctions.

The cheaper says:
"Control arm bolt kit (complete set of mounting and installation hardware that includes cinch bolts and self locking shoulder nuts, and much more-manufactured by FEBI-Bilstein)"

The more expensive doesent say anything...

maybe these are chinese ripoffs; i wouldnt be much suprised...

[lrg8683]

the ones i got from ecs SUCK.

[RuS4ty]

care to elaborate? I need new one, and trying to figure out where to get them.

[AudiTechS4]

if its your inner bushings that are torn just buy the inner bushings and press them in. thats what we do at the dealer.My cost is $17 a bushing for the uppers and like $28 for the lower inners..im sure a shop could press them in for you

[lrg8683]

i know one of them "has" play.. and the other one sags completely.. and it's not that old.

[Mike@PureMS]

99% of the arms you're going to find on eBay are cheap knockoffs made in Asia.
The quality of the rubber components is inferior, and even more important, the quality of the ball joints is horrible. We've imported several different kits from Asia hoping we can find some lower priced quality kits. No luck. You get what you pay for. We're always searching for good parts are lower prices, but these knockoff arms really don't cut the mustard.

Poor quality control gives you totally different quality components. If you're not planning on keeping the car long term, it's probably a fine upgrade. But if you're looking for quality, I recommend against name brands like Lemfoerder, TRW, and Febi-Bilstein.

[RuS4ty]

99% of the arms you're going to find on eBay are cheap knockoffs made in Asia.
The quality of the rubber components is inferior, and even more important, the quality of the ball joints is horrible. We've imported several different kits from Asia hoping we can find some lower priced quality kits. No luck. You get what you pay for. We're always searching for good parts are lower prices, but these knockoff arms really don't cut the mustard.

Poor quality control gives you totally different quality components. If you're not planning on keeping the car long term, it's probably a fine upgrade. But if you're looking for quality, I recommend against name brands like Lemfoerder, TRW, and Febi-Bilstein.

Mike, you say you recomend AGAINST febi-bilstein, but isn't that what you all carry? and isn't TRW what audi/vw use as oem?

[Reich]

I bought febi from ECS. Do you think i'll be ok with them?

[andream88]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9846QQtcZphoto
Have a look at the feedback.......everyone claims an outstanding quality....!!!!!

I mean....thist kit costs half an original one!!!

[wackoo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...9846QQtcZphoto
Have a look at the feedback.......everyone claims an outstanding quality....!!!!!

I mean....thist kit costs half an original one!!!

I just ordered one. Hope its good. Im sure it should be though

[andream88]

I just ordered one. Hope its good. Im sure it should be though

^^^ X2

Nobody who has already bought it?

[Dr. Jekyll]

Mike, you say you recomend AGAINST febi-bilstein, but isn't that what you all carry? and isn't TRW what audi/vw use as oem?

Pretty sure he recommends AGAINST the cheap knockoffs and recommends the use of febi, Lemfoerder, or trw And I agree 100%. Changing the control arms is a pain in the ass and I'd rather not have them fail again in 10-20k miles.

[GyzmoS4]

Pretty sure he recommends AGAINST the cheap knockoffs and recommends the use of febi, Lemfoerder, or trw And I agree 100%. Changing the control arms is a pain in the ass and I'd rather not have them fail again in 10-20k miles.

I sure hope that's what he meant, lol. I just received the febi-bilstein kit from purems. Will be throwing them on next week.

[Dowskeet]

99% of the arms you're going to find on eBay are cheap knockoffs made in Asia.
The quality of the rubber components is inferior, and even more important, the quality of the ball joints is horrible. We've imported several different kits from Asia hoping we can find some lower priced quality kits. No luck. You get what you pay for. We're always searching for good parts are lower prices, but these knockoff arms really don't cut the mustard.

Poor quality control gives you totally different quality components. If you're not planning on keeping the car long term, it's probably a fine upgrade. But if you're looking for quality, I recommend against name brands like Lemfoerder, TRW, and Febi-Bilstein.

So is there any advantages going with the aluminum uprights over the steel ones that you guys offer? (as far as reliability of the part?) Other than the price difference.

Control Arm Kit (for steel uprights) $589.98
Control Arm Kit (for Aluminum uprights) $659.95

034 for those that were asking are just new factory replacements as they list on their website. ($375) But this kit does not include uprights like the PureMS kit does.

http://www.034motorsport.com/product...ducts_id=13856


I am also a little new to diagnosing if the control arms are going.. but I would assume that if the steering isnt as crip or tight as it was when it was new then things are starting to go. Also if going over bumps, or in and out of driveways causes "clunk" sounds then things might need to be changed. If there are other ways to knowing when these little buggers are going please someone chime in and respond. I think mine are starting to go.. It clunks all the time when I go over bumps or little speed bumps going into school.

I would defiantly agree with DrJekyll that if your going to replace them you dont want to sacrifice quality just to save a few hundred. There are places to cut corners to save a little money but this just isnt one of those areas.


Cheers

[Overboostin]

I, personally, would trust the stuff from the place in Groton. I've bought things from them before and they're awesome quality. I know you're trying to help, Mike, but honestly, I don't know how impartial you can be. I mean, if these kits are alright and people start buying them, it will hurt your business and you wouldn't want that.

[Dr. Jekyll]

So is there any advantages going with the aluminum uprights over the steel ones that you guys offer? (as far as reliability of the part?) Other than the price difference.

Control Arm Kit (for steel uprights) $589.98
Control Arm Kit (for Aluminum uprights) $659.95

Early MY 2000 S4's came with aluminum uprights. The control arms are different for the aluminum uprights (as are the wheel bearings). So if you have an S4 that has aluminum uprights you have to order the control arm kit that is designed for the aluminum uprights.

There isn't an "upgrade" between the two kits. They are just made for different uprights. Since there are less aluminum upright cars out there, that kit is going to be more expensive.

[Dr. Jekyll]

I, personally, would trust the stuff from the place in Groton. I've bought things from them before and they're awesome quality. I know you're trying to help, Mike, but honestly, I don't know how impartial you can be. I mean, if these kits are alright and people start buying them, it will hurt your business and you wouldn't want that.

Mike's a good guy and definitely isn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. Like he said, if those cheaper kits were any good, he'd be selling them (and probably making more of a profit). But since they suck, he wont sell them. Go ahead and try them. I'm sure they'll work fine in the short term. But don't expect them to last nearly as long as the OEM stuff.

[Rated S]

But don't expect them to last nearly as long as the OEM stuff.

OEM control arms last?

[Dr. Jekyll]

Yea.. unfortunately OEM's don't seem to last that long as well. I guess we can thank our AWD system for over-complicating the suspention and adding a ton of weight to the front end.

But if our OEM stuff only lasts for 60-100k, imagine how long cheaply made setup will last :-/

[Rated S]

Yea.. unfortunately OEM's don't seem to last that long as well. I guess we can thank our AWD system for over-complicating the suspention and adding a ton of weight to the front end.

But if our OEM stuff only lasts for 60-100k, imagine how long cheaply made setup will last :-/

Well with my drop and camber setup, my oem suspension parts are lucky if they go past 30k.

[Jsmooth65]

I've had Groton control arms for 20k miles so far. I don't notice any wear yet. Rubber is rubber.

[stevoo]

I have them. They work fine. Rubber is rubber.

Do you have aluminium uprights? Just want to make sure they fit before I buy. Some say they don't have the same lower control arms for steel uprights. Is that
true?

[JayyyyyC]

I'm sorry for bringing this back up, but I'm about to purchase control arms. If OEM ones are going to wear out anyway, these won't be a bad idea. I have a tech working on my car right now and he will do an add-on service for $100 for the control arms. He's already fixing my clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder.

[Mike@PureMS]

Keep in mind that OEM arms have been updated by the factory since 2000-02. Audi HAS made running changes, and companies like Lemfoerder and TRW (OEM's) have incorporated those running changes into their products as well. So arms you get now WILL be better than the original arms because they have new design changes.

What you risk from going with companies like those on eBay is that they don't incorporate these running changes. Lemfoerder and TRW which are the OEM companies work closely with Audi to make sure they're offering the BEST possible product, and regularly update their products. These cheap knockoff companies don't do anything like that. So with them, you're likely receiving an older version of the product that they copied back in 2000.