[edfitzie]

Ordered the following today ... 8 front control arms.. 2 rear... 2 front drop links.. 2 front tie rod end assemblies .. 2 sets of rear stabilisers....
should make the running a bit smoother... 132k miles up on her and never been done so i said i'd do the lot together as i'm at it... will do a report on the - before and after - once fitted

 

[dlouie]

How about images of the process?

Damon

 

[Prince Ludwig]

I hope the pinch bolts for the upper control arms aren't as much of a pain to remove as they are on the Passat...

Harry

 

[WillemBal]

This looks like an interesting project. I'm thinking about to do the same with my car. When driving over speed bumps, a grating sound is audible. After a few km, the sound is over.
Also, both upper rear control arms of the front suspension are damaged. I have no idea how that could happen.
The biggest challenge seems to be the removal of the struts. I would love to see some photo's of the process.

Willem

 

[Prince Ludwig]

From eyeballing it, I wouldn't imagine that the process will be too different to the one in these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYAAtlsjnY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-0cvMxherU

Harry

 

[EnglishPhaeton]

From eyeballing it, I wouldn't imagine that the process will be too different to the one in these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYAAtlsjnY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-0cvMxherU

Harry

Something to do on a Sunday morning then..............:laugh:

 

[invisiblewave]

This looks like an interesting project. I'm thinking about to do the same with my car. When driving over speed bumps, a grating sound is audible. After a few km, the sound is over.
Also, both upper rear control arms of the front suspension are damaged. I have no idea how that could happen.
The biggest challenge seems to be the removal of the struts. I would love to see some photo's of the process.

Willem

There's also visible damage on one of my upper control arms, it looks as if the rubber has fully compressed causing metal-on-metal impact.

 

[heisenberg2000]

I am getting ready to do that too. Got all 10 pieces ($ 502.--) 4 lower, 4 upper and the 2 sway-bar links.
I had actually ask my tire place to do the work since I work about 65 hrs a week. However right at the beginning of the work I got a call and they advised me that they run into the first (what they thought ) problem, and that is that on our cars ( as well the Audi's ) the lower front a arm mounting bolt can only be removed when you cut the head of and push it out the other way. ( Way to do it, is to buy a new bolt and nut (watch the grade) and put it in the other way. Besides that they were worried about the air suspension lines.
Therefore I will do it myself.

Gernot

 

[Jxander]

I am getting ready to do that too. Got all 10 pieces ($ 502.--) 4 lower, 4 upper and the 2 sway-bar links........

Gernot

Gernot & Edmund:

I have no experience with this task but i think you are doing it the best way by replacing virtually all frontend components. As these heavy cars age in years and mileage replacing the frontend parts one by one as they truly fail seems like the more expensive option for those planning to keep their cars. If you do piecemeal replacement of worn components, duplicate labor costs and alignment costs could adversely impact the pocketbook. For me, just "get er done" and enjoy.

Gernot, where did you purchase your frontend parts? $502 is a great deal as long as you are sure the parts are of good quality. i assume at that price you are not getting VW original equipment components. Your part count also suggests that you are getting complete arms and not just bushings to press into your old arms. Best of luck on your DIY install and please share some of your experience once the task is done.

Jim X

 

[WillemBal]

There's also visible damage on one of my upper control arms, it looks as if the rubber has fully compressed causing metal-on-metal impact.

The damage on my control arms is visible in the below photo:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BiAUf-dv5Hg/TyRi6K78-6I/AAAAAAAAAQA/kOiIC_7GM1c/s400/2011-12-23%2520UpperrearcontrolArm.jpg

The other side looks identical. I have no idea what may have caused it.

Willem

 

[conmoto]

I am HUGELY interested in this thread. I've got a case of the "creaks" in the front and plan on keeping my car until it's outlawed (a la Neil Peart/Red Barchetta).

I anxiously await updates on your progress and final result. Best of luck!

 

[Kenny G]

Looks like the suspension bottomed out at some point, possibly further than designed.

Also my car creaks when it's cold out but once it warms up the creaks seems to go away.

Ken

 

[WillemBal]

Looks like the suspension bottomed out at some point, possibly further than designed. Also my car creaks when it's cold out but once it warms up the creaks seems to go away.

That's what I thought too, originally. Might be caused by all those stupid speed bumps. Could it be that the rubber inside the control arm was displaced somehow?

When they wouldn't have been damaged, new rubbers would have been a much cheaper solution. The rubbers can be purchased as separate item and the procedure to replace them is in the Bentley repair manual. Is there anyone who has some experience with this replacement procedure? Can it be done without the specially designed tool?
Willem

 

[WillemBal]

.
I found below photo very useful for understanding of how all components are related to one another:

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae275/Paneuropean/FrontAxleIllustration.jpg

(Thanks to Michael, found in the Suspension squeak thread below)
Suspension squeak

Other useful threads:
Replacing front Antiroll (aka Sway) Bar Droplinks [TOC]
Strut Mount Noise On Slow Bumpy Road

Willem

 

[Prince Ludwig]

That damaged control arms looks like the wheel might have hit a big bump while turning a sharp right corner.

Harry

 

[WillemBal]

Thanks Harry, for your comment (and for rubbing it into my face). Must have happened during a hot pursuit in the narrow streets of Amsterdam!

 

[Prince Ludwig]

Hi Willem,

It was a purely objective observation

Seriously, though, it's surprising just how much the upper control arm bushings flex when you turn the wheel.

Harry

 

[EnglishPhaeton]

Ordered the following today ... 8 front control arms.. 2 rear... 2 front drop links.. 2 front tie rod end assemblies .. 2 sets of rear stabilisers....
should make the running a bit smoother... 132k miles up on her and never been done so i said i'd do the lot together as i'm at it... will do a report on the - before and after - once fitted

Ed,

you've sort of got me hooked on doing this Please post details of before and after plus cost if thats okay?

Thanks
Stu

 

[edfitzie]

stu,
have done this on many cars down through the years, both classic and modern.. makes a huge difference getting it all done at once... once you go over the 100k mark these components are tired..even if they look ok on inspection you re talking about rubber components under load for a long time.. the phaetons weight accentuates this wear....what you ll notice is a tighter more cosseting feel..
drive a 20k car and identical 120k car back to back ... obviously the 120k car will feel more "tired"...
doing all the bushes .. rod assembly and drop links in my experience really freshens the car.. engine mounts also make a difference but thats a story for another day... ..

 

[invisiblewave]

I am HUGELY interested in this thread. I've got a case of the "creaks" in the front and plan on keeping my car until it's outlawed (a la Neil Peart/Red Barchetta).

I anxiously await updates on your progress and final result. Best of luck!

Mine's been creaking ever since the front bumper was removed for the belt job. Current suspicion falls on the wheel well lining since I noticed that during the bumper replacement they managed to break on of the linings.