Control Arms

[A4x]

How many hours should I expect to pay a shop to replace the front lower curved control arms only?



How many hours to install the full control arm and ball joint kit as seen here on ECS?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-meyle-hd...223-slash-hd~/

[the-quattro-man]

I would estimate a full day's work to do the complete kit. To do just the front lower arms maybe 2-3 hours.

[Theiceman]

I would estimate a full day's work to do the complete kit. To do just the front lower arms maybe 2-3 hours.

And dont forget the alignment

Sent from my SM-G973W using Audizine mobile app

[audrobotic]

Just got those lower control arms (driver and passenger side) replaced a german specialist. Labor was $270. (Hydraulic fluid leaking in one side). So I guess about 2 hours labor. And then alignment for about $120.

[Spawne32]

litterally took me a half an hour to replace both of those arms on my car, not counting the time it takes to jack the car up lol

[Traptalk]

Just bought this kit the other day lol. Aluminum end links should go nice with my ST sways!

[A4x]

I'm getting some clunking from the front passenger side. Not sure what it is, but these lower curved control arm bushings are shot and nothing else is obvious.

@90k miles, deciding if I should refresh all control arms for significant cost, or just tackle the trouble bushings.

[Spawne32]

I'm getting some clunking from the front passenger side. Not sure what it is, but these lower curved control arm bushings are shot and nothing else is obvious.

@90k miles, deciding if I should refresh all control arms for significant cost, or just tackle the trouble bushings.

start with the lower rearwards, go with the meyle HD arms, save yourself some money where you can. I spent HALF of what they charge for those kits.

[A4x]

Well if I end up having to replace more than just the lower rearward arms, then it might be more economical to go with the entire kit for $655. But I think I will start with just those for $270.

What kind of hardware is securing these arms? A bolt through the bushing and a nut at the ball joint?

From another thread, I found 2 nuts and 1 bolt: (https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...eplacement-diy)

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES468927/
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES472634/
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES1894558/

[Spawne32]

Well if I end up having to replace more than just the lower rearward arms, then it might be more economical to go with the entire kit for $655. But I think I will start with just those for $270.

What kind of hardware is securing these arms? A bolt through the bushing and a nut at the ball joint?

From another thread, I found 2 nuts and 1 bolt: (https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...eplacement-diy)

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES468927/
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES472634/
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES1894558/

the meyle hd parts come with all the hardware, thats why i bought them separately, but for the ones that didnt, i reused the existing hardware and use blue loctite on everything.

[Novarider]

Why replace the whole arm? The bushing is really cheap and a shop can press it in for like $20. What am I missing here?

I believe this is the correct bushing and it's $7
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/aud...der-8k0407183a

[Traptalk]

I'm getting some clunking from the front passenger side. Not sure what it is, but these lower curved control arm bushings are shot and nothing else is obvious.

@90k miles, deciding if I should refresh all control arms for significant cost, or just tackle the trouble bushings.

Yeah I’m getting all sorts of weird sounds right now. About to hit 120k and the car isn’t riding as smooth as it did at 108k.
I also suspect my struts and coil springs and strut mounts weren’t in the best of shape as well.

I was already planning on lowering it but the ride harshness is definitely making it a priority.

Was able to snag solowerks coil overs at waterfest for $400 flat, was able to get the heavy duty Meyle kit for $605 marked down from $655 and was also able to snag st sway bars for the front and rear almost 100$ off as well on sale. Also picked up new Meyle rear end links and I still want the coil over install kit(strut mounts front & rear) and rear control arm bushings and all should feel solid and tighter then before.

Decided to go Meyle with the lack of reviews on this platform because all the posts I found of guys with the 034/eurocode kits that have spherical bearings and not bushings are made to be serviced and NEED to be regularly or will experience weird noises as well.

Once mine come in and I have them installed I can post initial impressions if anyone is interested. As our cars start to age this makes a nice cost effective solution to keep them riding smooth.


EDIT: forgot to mention that I also picked up the heavy duty Meyle outer tie rods and new lemforder inners for the left and right. Maybe over kill but I’d rather do it once and do it right and have some peace of mind. This with the new end links and sways should end my steering wheel shake.

I can also go one step further and bless you guys with an awesome contact. Met a guy who has a business with his friend selling aftermarket and oem parts. They have an ecs wholesale account but 9/10 times they charge less then ecs and do not charge sales tax which is a big savings in itself. That’s who got me 50$ off the Meyle kit. I’ve used him several times always a good experience. If anyone wants to save a few bucks on ecs’s catalogue contact @s4_dad on Instagram and tell him wastegate_warriors sent you!

FYI: he can give the best deals on everything that does not have the VAG stamp on it

[Traptalk]

Why replace the whole arm? The bushing is really cheap and a shop can press it in for like $20. What am I missing here?

I believe this is the correct bushing and it's $7
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/aud...der-8k0407183a

Ball joints on the arms can’t be serviced....

[Novarider]

Ball joints on the arms can’t be serviced....

He said the bushing is bad not the ball joint.....

[A4x]

Shop told me not worth buying the bushings cause they are usually a disaster to press out and in.

I am considering just replacing the lower arms that are bad (it is actually the straight arm that is bad, not the curved arm as I had in the original post).

I can get all parts and hardware for the straight arm for $200.

If I wanted to replace both the straight arm and curved arm, $490 for parts. Labor would probably double.

[A4x]

Shop said 1.5 hours labor for each side lower straight control arms.

[misiak]

I replaced all the bushings in the front control arms, both sides. This took me about 8 hours to do along with coilover install.
The bushings are not a disaster to press in and out at all, maybe the shop you went to doesn't have a press.

[Novarider]

I replaced all the bushings in the front control arms, both sides. This took me about 8 hours to do along with coilover install.
The bushings are not a disaster to press in and out at all, maybe the shop you went to doesn't have a press.

$7 vs $200. Worth a shot.

Order both. If the bushing can't be pressed out/in just replace the arm. If the bushing works return the arm.

[A4x]

I replaced all the bushings in the front control arms, both sides. This took me about 8 hours to do along with coilover install.
The bushings are not a disaster to press in and out at all, maybe the shop you went to doesn't have a press.

Did you replace all the bolts that are torqued on pretty good?

For the upper arms, you cannot press out this part I circled right? Same for the lower curved arm.

[misiak]

I just replaced the bushings with meyle HD (not all are available in HD), all the ball joints were good. The only bolt I replaced was the pinch bolt for the upper control arms.

[rcprato]

A4x if the upper control arms pinch bolt is original on your 2011 be prepared for a battle getting that out, search my post relating to that and be prepared !

[Traptalk]

The ball joint you circled is not removable/replaceable/service able

The packaging on my Meyle kit and outer rods was superb.