PSA for those doing lower control arms

**B. Rock** · 10-10-2022 07:52 AM

Did mine over the weekend, not a bad job, but there is a detail I didn't see in any of the write ups or youtube videos: Audi apparently uses a sleeve insert for the spindle, that may or may not come out with the ball joint. A tie rod puller works perfectly to pull these back off of the old control arms without damaging them. Used a C-clamp and the old nut from the ball joint to press it back into place.

If the sleeve comes off and you forget to put it back on, the taper on the ball joint will have nothing to fit into and it won't go together again. At least not properly.

Just wanted to make a quick post for those that might run into the same issue. Happened on both rear lower arms I took off. The front lower arms didn't have the issue for whatever reason.

Also, FWIW, I did not need a ball joint separator. A few whacks with the big hammer and they came right apart.

Good luck.

**arjun90** · 10-10-2022 07:03 PM

I've had this happen to me on my 2004 Audi A6 Avant. I had to use a jaw puller to get sleeve off the control arm. A few whacks on the sleeve got back into place within the spindle.
Fortunately, it was relatively smooth for me on the 2010 A6. No need for a ball joint separator, it will mar the edge of the sleeve if you use the ball joint separator.

Originally Posted by B. Rock

Did mine over the weekend, not a bad job, but there is a detail I didn't see in any of the write ups or youtube videos: Audi apparently uses a sleeve insert for the spindle, that may or may not come out with the ball joint. A tie rod puller works perfectly to pull these back off of the old control arms without damaging them. Used a C-clamp and the old nut from the ball joint to press it back into place.

If the sleeve comes off and you forget to put it back on, the taper on the ball joint will have nothing to fit into and it won't go together again. At least not properly.

Just wanted to make a quick post for those that might run into the same issue. Happened on both rear lower arms I took off. The front lower arms didn't have the issue for whatever reason.

Also, FWIW, I did not need a ball joint separator. A few whacks with the big hammer and they came right apart.

Good luck.

**sswari** · 10-18-2022 10:32 AM

So, while we are on the subject of lower control arms, I have seen a lot of people just doing the lowers, and then maybe the uppers later on.

It kind of seems like it would make more sense to do them all while you are there, but I also understand the if it's not broken no need to fix it concept very well.

My question is, can/should you do all the lowers at the same time, or does it matter? My alignment guys are saying I really only need to do the left front lower, and all the others are in really good shape.

Next question, if I only do the one arm, does it need to be the same brand as the others? Guessing it would be best to keep them matched.

Thanks for your thoughts.

**B. Rock** · 10-18-2022 10:45 AM

I was in a spot where only one really needed to be replaced, but I just did all 4 while I was in there since they had 175k miles on them. Turns out it eliminated almost every single thump and clunk in the front end, despite rubber and ball joints on the rest not looking too bad.

I had done the uppers ~45k miles previously. They're very isolated from each other. You don't need to do anything with the uppers whatsoever to change the lowers, and vice versa.

**sswari** · 10-18-2022 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by B. Rock

I was in a spot where only one really needed to be replaced, but I just did all 4 while I was in there since they had 175k miles on them. Turns out it eliminated almost every single thump and clunk in the front end, despite rubber and ball joints on the rest not looking too bad.

I had done the uppers ~45k miles previously. They're very isolated from each other. You don't need to do anything with the uppers whatsoever to change the lowers, and vice versa.

Good to know, thanks. My S6 only has 89K miles on it, but it is an 07, so years VS miles. I will take a really good hard look at them all and then decied. Did you just go with OEM, or one of the aftermarket OE brands?