Which control arm brand to buy???!!

[caall99]

so my control arms are shitting the bed... alot of noises and constantly changing alignment. here is a small compilation of brands:

Meyle
Febi
Ocap
Lemforder
Hamburg-Technic

The cheapest set that i found is being sold by a reputable company, namely FCP Groton. The manufacture of the control arms is Lemforder (i called FCP) Here is the ebay link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...mZ220295860760

As you can see the price is very very competitive. i would much rather spend the $350 vs. $550 that i would have to spend on a Meyle, Febi or Ocap set. Anyone think buying this cheaper set will kick me in the ass later down the road? or is it all the same shit in the end?

[fourings06]

i would go with 034's complete kit for 390 shipped, check group buys.

[caall99]

i am guessing this is their product:

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

can u link the group buy?

[fourings06]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233171

[blmlozz]

034's kit is an oem parts supplier, which is fine and good, you can usually find more complete HD versions for the same amount or a little more, but they are the same arms used on their vr6 time attack car and if can withstand that abuse from multiple seasons then I'd say it's a good buy.

[caall99]

so there are heavy duty kits and non-heavy duty kits?

why do i need heavy duty? i don't track the car... (maybe 1/4 mile once in a while but thats straight line action)

does anyone actually recommend against going with the Lemforder brand from FCP Groton? In case you didn't know, Lemforder is actually a subsidary of ZF.

i am really trying to save some money here. $1000 every two weeks on this car is starting to kill me.

Heavy duty necessary? Lemforder ok?

[MacDaddy]

^^

If i was you i'd keep it cheap, finances are much more important than a car.

[fourings06]

I just ordered 034's control arm kit as well as their track density motor/trans mounts and a snub.

[Mike@PureMS]

Lemfoerder brand is the best in the business.
I would be HIGHLY suspicious of Lemf arms going for that cheap.
Lemf arms will all be CAST with their own logo in them. A triangle with a small owl in the center. They'll also all be CAST with the letters LMO, designating their brand name.

Without those distinguishing marks they are NOT Lemfoerders.

[Rated S]

I use the FCP Groton kit, which has standed all my canyoning, autoxing, and pothole madness. I use the entire kit, which I got for (iirc) $280, but I bought the Febi-Bilstein front lower control arms from Mike@PureMS because those ones always go bad for me while the others last longer.

[caall99]

Lemfoerder brand is the best in the business.
I would be HIGHLY suspicious of Lemf arms going for that cheap.
Lemf arms will all be CAST with their own logo in them. A triangle with a small owl in the center. They'll also all be CAST with the letters LMO, designating their brand name.

Without those distinguishing marks they are NOT Lemfoerders.

Nice info man... i'll double check into that!

[pit viper]

I bought the Febi complete kit and was completely happy with it. Every nut, bolt, arm, etc....needed as well, which is always nice.

[SLC_S4]

Nice info man... i'll double check into that!

Post what you find out, I'm possibly interested.

[dennisS4]

Nice info man... i'll double check into that!

how about these??

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...ategory_id/181

[wasup0818]

look like the 034 kit doesnt come with the Tie Rod End like the other 2 ...

[GetAwayFromMe]

I bought a kit from ebay for around $280ish for my A4, 11 months later all kinds of abuse, hard cornering, etc and they are still in good condition no sign of whear yet. The kit came with everything tie rod ends, end links and all the hardware. To me they looked like really good quality.

[caall99]

how about these??

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...ategory_id/181

nice find!

same as i posted originally just cheaper. i highly doubt they are actually lemiwinkenfoerders. i am gonna go ahead and order those tomorrow. i don't think you can really go wrong with this stuff...

[Greg9]

Has anybody just replaced the bushings with better poly bushings instead of replacing the whole arms? The poly bushings should perform better then the oe rubber ones right?

[SLC_S4]

Has anybody just replaced the bushings with better poly bushings instead of replacing the whole arms? The poly bushings should perform better then the oe rubber ones right?

Where do you find these poly bushings?

[audimeister]

Has anybody just replaced the bushings with better poly bushings instead of replacing the whole arms? The poly bushings should perform better then the oe rubber ones right?

The B5 and up suspensions don't work that way. The arms move in three dimensions, not just two like a normal bushing rotation. Because of this, the bushings have to be softer than normal poly bushings, as well as bonded into the actual suspension arms.

If you jack up the front end and turn the wheels from side to side, you will see what I mean.

[SLC_S4]

The B5 and up suspensions don't work that way. The arms move in three dimensions, not just two like a normal bushing rotation. Because of this, the bushings have to be softer than normal poly bushings, as well as bonded into the actual suspension arms.

If you jack up the front end and turn the wheels from side to side, you will see what I mean.

But you can replace just the bushings. JHM sells bushings, but not poly bushings

[Mike@PureMS]

The B5 and up suspensions don't work that way. The arms move in three dimensions, not just two like a normal bushing rotation. Because of this, the bushings have to be softer than normal poly bushings, as well as bonded into the actual suspension arms.

If you jack up the front end and turn the wheels from side to side, you will see what I mean.

Precisely why poly bushings don't do well in this environment.

They wear out faster and can lead to cracking.
OEM bushings do surprisingly well when installed properly.
Sphericals would be the next best option, provided you're ok with dealing with the resulting clunking.

[audiwop]

Has anybody just replaced the bushings with better poly bushings instead of replacing the whole arms? The poly bushings should perform better then the oe rubber ones right?

My upper fronts were shot to shit and all I did was replace the bushing for $40.00 IIRC. Just take the old arms out, have the bushing pressed out and press the new ones in. No need to buy a whole new control arm...