Front Control Arm Replacement: What kit did you use?

[jakecro]

As the subject states I am interested in knowing what control arm kit you went with for your S4. Whether you replaced all 8 arms or any combination of upper and lowers, what "brand" kit did you get and how has it performed thus far?

Also please provide links for reference, if available.

Hopefully this will provide a go-to resource for others.

Thank you.

[Jsmooth65]

Ebay. FCP Groton upper control arm kit. Looks like OEM materials, and worked fine and still works fine 20k miles later.

[Runnit]

I just did mine this weekend and bought the parts individually from Napa. I did everything but the swaybar links, I also replaced the tie rod ends and just got my alinement this morning. So far so good!

[jakecro]

Ebay. FCP Groton upper control arm kit. Looks like OEM materials, and worked fine and still works fine 20k miles later.

Which one of their kits did you go with? They have one kit that specifically states it is for the S4 for ~$340 and another kit that is for A4 A6 Passat that comes with the updated upper arms for a S4 for ~$240. It seems that the kits are identical except for the price.

I was thinking of going with the cheaper of the two.

[andru1313]

I need to do this as well. I may just replace the upper bushings to save some money. I was looking at the Febi kit. It's 499 and that is the upgraded one with the tie rod ends. Pure MS is selling it. I would love a good DIY as well on this. The tie rod ends are cake to replace. the rest looks a bit complicated.
http://www.purems.com/products/product.php/II=1013

[Jsmooth65]

Which one of their kits did you go with? They have one kit that specifically states it is for the S4 for ~$340 and another kit that is for A4 A6 Passat that comes with the updated upper arms for a S4 for ~$240. It seems that the kits are identical except for the price.

I was thinking of going with the cheaper of the two.

The one I got looks like its not offered anymore. It was a 2 piece upper control arm kit for 00-02 S4 it said. I'm not sure about the differences in those 2 kits, but you could probably just email the guy.

[Sleeeper X]

Alot of my friends uses and recommend the eBay kit. I have a set of upper control arms waiting to be put in to my car.

[jakecro]

The one I got looks like its not offered anymore. It was a 2 piece upper control arm kit for 00-02 S4 it said. I'm not sure about the differences in those 2 kits, but you could probably just email the guy.

I called and spoke with someone who said that the kit for the S4 ($340) had the OEM parts, while the kit with the upgraded S4 arms ($240) was not OEM S4 arms. But he went on to say that the lower arms for both cars are the same and I confirmed this going through the archives over on AW. If you look at the descriptions they are almost identical and the only differences are where they make mention of the "upgraded" S4 upper arms.

I went with the $240 kit so I'll let everyone know how it is after I get it on this weekend. I'll be taking a trip to D.C. a week after the install so that should be a good opportunity to test.

Either way I figure it will be an improvement over my stock arms with 188k.

[andru1313]

Hmmm I have less than 60k on mine and they are shot. WTF

[Sleeeper X]

Hmmm I have less than 60k on mine and they are shot. WTF

lol I have 45K and mine are shot!

[andru1313]

I am running Stasis Street Coils on mine. Wonder if that has something to do with it.

[Kruat]

Cool, I'd like to find out if the EBAY kit is any good...I'm thinking of going that route myself. Does it come with tierod ends? (I can't check EBAY at work...lol)

[jakecro]

Cool, I'd like to find out if the EBAY kit is any good...I'm thinking of going that route myself. Does it come with tierod ends? (I can't check EBAY at work...lol)

yes it does

[Dopamine]

i just got off the phone with the ppl at Groton. they offer to full control arm kits for the 2000. one is the Meyle kit (500) and the other is by a company i never heard of (280). gonna have my boy (who knows way more than me) and get some more detailed info. ill post up my findings.

[smithm5]

im in need of upper control arms for my fronts (2000)

is there a DIY for this? i havent been able to find one.

also should i replace the lower ones at the same time? i have a CV boot leak also, and its makin noise, but i have already had liek 800$ in repairs this month, so trying to save some $

[jakecro]

im in need of upper control arms for my fronts (2000)

is there a DIY for this? i havent been able to find one.

also should i replace the lower ones at the same time? i have a CV boot leak also, and its makin noise, but i have already had liek 800$ in repairs this month, so trying to save some $

DIY:
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel43.shtml

You don't have replace the lowers at the same time but it would be recommended that you do. You can do it now or you can do it later so it's up to you. On a side note, to remove the uppers you do not need to remove any part of the lowers (just the shock bolt).

The CV boot would have been a cheap fix (~$15 for boot kit) but since it is making noise you will need to replace the entire joint/shaft. (check raxles.com or purems.com)

I can relate to the pain of repair bills but typically if it's broken you will need to fix it.

Off Topic: I had a friend just move out of Hillsboro to VA. He really liked it there and is thinking about moving back in the future. Only thing he likes about VA is the weather.

[Kruat]

im in need of upper control arms for my fronts (2000)

is there a DIY for this? i havent been able to find one.

also should i replace the lower ones at the same time? i have a CV boot leak also, and its makin noise, but i have already had liek 800$ in repairs this month, so trying to save some $

I need to do my uppers as well, but plan on just doing them all. If you want, maybe we can get togather and do it at the same time.

[Mike@PureMS]

Funny how people just put the letters OEM in front of their part to make it sound legitimate.

The only OEM suppliers on the control arms are TRW and Lemfoerder. If the arms are made by anyone else, they aren't the OEM part. I can guarantee you that FCP's arms are not made by either TRW or Lemfoerder.

Meyle, Febi-Bilstein, Moog, Ocap, Karlyn, etc, etc, etc, are NOT the OEM manufacturers for control arms for the A4 or S4.

The genuine OE products are made only by Lemfoerder and TRW.

Just thought I'd clarify things.

[Tokin]

So jakecro, did you get them installed? Any feedback if so?

[silky]

I

Either way I figure it will be an improvement over my stock arms with 188k.

gaddamn! 188k. wow. still with KO3's. your the luckiest man alive if your turbos haven't blown already.

[S4shpion]

I got my OEM replacement upper control arms from Jeremy@matrix. Great guy and price.

[smithm5]

after looking at that DIY...damn taht looks like alot of work.

Kruat, ide be down for some weekend to do this....

[jakecro]

gaddamn! 188k. wow. still with KO3's. your the luckiest man alive if your turbos haven't blown already.

actually just turned over 190k w/orig K03s and getting almost 25mpg daily

So jakecro, did you get them installed? Any feedback if so?

I installed them almost two weeks ago and everything is much tighter and also feels more solid when crossing RR tracks or rough patches in road. The original arms were pretty worn but the lower arms seemed to be in much better shape than the uppers which were almost completely torn.

[offroader1006]

gaddamn! 188k. wow. still with KO3's. your the luckiest man alive if your turbos haven't blown already.

maintenance and being stock as hell help.

[jakecro]

^^^^^troll