Bushing replacement for front control arm rear position [DIY]

[MetalMan]

Hey all, just figured I'd share how I managed to replace the rear position bushing in the front control arms. Went with the BFI "RS3 style solid" bushings, for which I found BMP Tuning had the best pricing when you include tax & shipping.

I have a Harbor Freight hydraulic press and a basic round press plate kit, but for pressing bushings like these in/out you would usually need specialized or custom tools. The free/custom route was my choice.

I didn't take any pictures of the press process (was in a hurry to get the arms installed) but here's a quick breakdown:

1. Have both front control arms removed from the car
2. Cut out most of the rubber center from both bushings
3. Press out the bushings from the arms (it's mostly just the metal outer ring at this point)
4. From one of the old bushings, remove as much rubber as you can. Then make a single cut through it, and using pliers reform it into a larger circle shape as shown in the pictures.
5. The other bushing can be used as-is, no need to remove extra rubber.
6. Place the cut/enlarged old bushing under the control arm (as seen).
7. Grease up a new bushing and put it in place, and get it started by hand. Place the other old bushing on top of the new bushing.
8. Press the new bushing into the arm. Stop when it's been pressed deep enough. The new bushing height should match the old one before it was removed.

This is how it looked after pressing:
20220101_222812_(1).jpg

New bushing installed along with the 2 "tools" made from the old bushings:
20220102_132108_(1).jpg

Full-round old bushing placed on top of the new bushing, this is where the press's ram pushes down (in conjunction with a press plate):
20220102_132015_(1).jpg

Other cut/enlarged old bushing placed under the control arm. This will rest on the bottom of the press (bolster plate):
20220102_131807_(1).jpg

Close-up of the enlarged old bushing, so you can see where on the arm it hits:
20220102_131825_(1).jpg

[15S3]

Thanks for the write-up. I've been poking around to see if there's a way to "press" new bushings in without a press. I guess that answer is still probably no but at least this is a diy option with relatively inexpensive HF tools. How much of a difference in handling did these make over stock? Any noticeable increase in NVH?

[Chaoscreature]

15S3,

If you have a sufficiently stout bench vise, you can get the bushings in with that.

The benchtop 6-ton press from HF will be sufficient for that job, and most other automotive press jobs.
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-...ress-1666.html

I have done a few sets of these. Oddly enough the bushings (and I think the controls arms?) are identical to the MKVI Jettas, which I owned prior to the A3. I made some spherical bearings for the Jetta and fortunately made a couple sets, one of which now lives in the A3.


NVH increase is almost nonexistent even with spherical bearings, but steering feel is much improved and the car is much more confident in corners since the toe doesn't just wander around any more. The RS3(ish) mounts will be a big step up if you value a more visceral driving experience

[MetalMan]

Thanks for the write-up. I've been poking around to see if there's a way to "press" new bushings in without a press. I guess that answer is still probably no but at least this is a diy option with relatively inexpensive HF tools.

In addition to what Chaoscreature said, I think it may be feasible to press in new bushings without a press: using a threaded rod with nuts/washers and the press plates I linked to previously. The threaded rod diameter would fit in the new bushing hole (M12).

You might be able to remove the old bushings like this and without a press, but I can't be sure. Might be worth a shot, though:

• for the 1st bushing, trim out the rubber and cut a slit in the outer ring (try not to cut into the arm). The outer ring should come out with minimal effort this way.
• take this cut ring and form it into a bigger diameter circle just like I posted previously
• place the ring under the 2nd arm/bushing just like I showed, and use the press plates to push out the 2nd bushing.

Does that make sense?

How much of a difference in handling did these make over stock? Any noticeable increase in NVH?

Still TBD for me, since the car hasn't gotten on back on the ground yet.
EDIT: So it's not a totally fair comparison because I also installed a Spulen dogbone mount insert at the same time. But from a quick drive around the neighborhood, I mostly only noticed the insert, and maybe just a hair more road noise from the solid "RS3 style" bushings. I immediately noticed tighter/crisper turning presumably from the bushings. Granted I also added Bilstein B8 shocks/struts and new strut/shock mounts front/rear.