Front Upper Control Arm

[Pstahl]

My dealer just quoted 1447 to replace a front upper control arm (due to torn bushing) on my 2017 S6.

Seems ridiculous to me. Does anyone think this is a fair price?




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[A665]

Dealer pricing for parts & labor are notoriously high. This is well established.
Find & purchase the OEM or aftermarket part online, then identify a good independent shop to install. I bet you'll save at least 30% versus dealer price, if not more.

[MattyMarkey]

The OEM part alone is ~$400... 3-4hrs book labor... Shop charge(s)... Adds up quick at a dealer.

If one is failing, they all will likely fairly soon. Can get an entire kit for $800-$1100. Another ~$800-$1200 in labor at an independent shop

[benlaud87]

You can buy an entire upper and lower control arm kit from 034 motorsports. The uppers are pretty easy to put on.

[jrubio96]

You can get an entire front control arm kit, including end links, for $580 from urotuning. I just had mine installed. Book out should be 8 hours if you do the whole thing.

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[cuerna]

I bought all front ones from rockauto (Delphi).
$450. Did it myself but it took some time, I don't drive this car much so I did it slowly and on my spare time, upper ones they are easy, lower are kind of a pain to do..

[WideSuppie]

Read my post.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post14897636

Basically 1715 for parts from 034 uppers, lowers, ball joints and installed including 034 Trio inserts and swaybar.

[Pstahl]

Read my post.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post14897636

Basically 1715 for parts from 034 uppers, lowers, ball joints and installed including 034 Trio inserts and swaybar.

Nice info. Thank you all. Seems like my time is worth the same as it costs to get done. Back to the shop it goes


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[WideSuppie]

Wait, you going back to the dealer? I got the whole front control arms and ball joint then have it installed with additional stuff for 300 bucks more. It's best to get it all done rather than 1 by 1.

[VinnysS4]

To be honest, it would be foolish to just change one upper control arm bushing. Or even just one side of the car. The rubber lasts about the same amount of time between the control arms so it would be in your best interest to have the entire front control arm setup refreshed. You WILL save more money in the long run if you get it all done at the same time when its taken apart VS. having the same job done twice, once per each side.

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[MattyMarkey]

There are definitely echo's in this room... we are all saying the same thing; can get less expensive, replace them all, and don't go to the dealer to get it done.

Up to the OP at this point to make the decision based on his budget

[benlaud87]

Nice info. Thank you all. Seems like my time is worth the same as it costs to get done. Back to the shop it goes


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Im right there with you on that. 5 years ago, I would have wanted to do everything myself, but now i'd rather leave the car with a shop and pick it up when its fixed.

[Alabama]

Dealer pricing for parts & labor are notoriously high. This is well established.
Find & purchase the OEM or aftermarket part online, then identify a good independent shop to install. I bet you'll save at least 30% versus dealer price, if not more.

OP apparently considers convenience worth the price. I like your suggestion in general but not so much to save money but rather to be able to source parts superior in quality to OEM if possible. Posters have mentioned several sources. Do you know if any are significantly superior to the others/OEM?

[Valpo A7]

OP apparently considers convenience worth the price. I like your suggestion in general but not so much to save money but rather to be able to source parts superior in quality to OEM if possible. Posters have mentioned several sources. Do you know if any are significantly superior to the others/OEM?

ECS and FCP more than likely carry the parts that are from the OEM supplier. Same parts, better price. No 4 ring surcharge

[A665]

OP apparently considers convenience worth the price. I like your suggestion in general but not so much to save money but rather to be able to source parts superior in quality to OEM if possible. Posters have mentioned several sources. Do you know if any are significantly superior to the others/OEM?

I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that convenience is often worth the cost for many services & repairs, especially for those who lack the equipment and/or confidence to do it themselves. What I find interesting is that many people seem to believe the Dealer is the only resource for paid service & repair.

As for best sources for parts, I used to order religiously from RockAuto, and still do for incidental items. That said, I don't know enough about the value differences in Audi parts to offer an opinion on best sources for critical components. My best guess is that FCP Euro is a great resource.

[jay f.]

ECS and FCP more than likely carry the parts that are from the OEM supplier. Same parts, better price. No 4 ring surcharge

I vote FCP with their lifetime warranty. As we all painfully know, these cars eat through control arms at a pretty high rate, that lifetime warranty has already paid for itself with my car

[Valpo A7]

They MAY eat control arms. Mine are original at 228,000 miles. Last inspected around 200,000 miles and was told by an Audi tech that ALL of my suspension was in good shape.

[jay f.]

They MAY eat control arms. Mine are original at 228,000 miles. Last inspected around 200,000 miles and was told by an Audi tech that ALL of my suspension was in good shape.

That's pretty cool, but obviously not the case in this situation, hence the OP's question

[Pstahl]

Wait, you going back to the dealer? I got the whole front control arms and ball joint then have it installed with additional stuff for 300 bucks more. It's best to get it all done rather than 1 by 1.

I am surprised at the many responses from all. To clarify. It is not worth my time to do it myself. For better or worse I went back to the dealer I trust and got both sides done.




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[WideSuppie]

I didn't do it myself. I just ordered the parts and brought to a local Indy that works on Audi.