Ready to change my upper control arms
#21
AudiWorld Super User
Recall the vendor ( a sponsor here) claimed their parts were OEM quality. They also rented the tools when you bought their parts. I figured for $590.00 it was a great deal. Boy, did I learn a lesson. So, next go around was OEM from a dealer. Everything has a VW-Audi logo. More like $800.00 this time for the parts. Then I had to buy the special tools for another $400.00 but again, well worth it.
Still cheaper than paying a dealer to do the job. Alas, it depends on how much I value my time at. Especially my free time.
Still cheaper than paying a dealer to do the job. Alas, it depends on how much I value my time at. Especially my free time.
#22
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
I think you got a bad one out of thousands...
Sometimes manufacturers or sellers rate their parts OEM, but the term may be defined very loosely. Truly, I trust American auto parts makers, they're good. These foreign names may not be as well made or quality controlled tightly. parts per millions... you got one of the bad one, the one that were made when they had too much WINE.
Cheers,
Louis
Cheers,
Louis
#24
AudiWorld Super User
Congratulations on doing it. You mentioned in video maybe the old ones were okay. In my experience, the bushings weren't. You could see the arms move very easily at the bushing connection before you removed them--more than they should. Later you commented the new ones were much stiffer once you had them in and the bolt tight; the difference in feel is the bushing wear and tear.
If you still have the old ones, stick a big Phillips screwdriver into the bushing center hole and use it to flex the bushing relative to the control arm. I expect you will see a bunch of pretty deep cracking that is a lot more evident when you have it out of the car. See my pictures at replies 19-22 of this thread: https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-.../#post24620404 The ones pulled in those pictures I posted already had the bushings replaced once before by the dealer while still under warranty.
You are getting it aligned, correct?
If you still have the old ones, stick a big Phillips screwdriver into the bushing center hole and use it to flex the bushing relative to the control arm. I expect you will see a bunch of pretty deep cracking that is a lot more evident when you have it out of the car. See my pictures at replies 19-22 of this thread: https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-.../#post24620404 The ones pulled in those pictures I posted already had the bushings replaced once before by the dealer while still under warranty.
You are getting it aligned, correct?
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 05-04-2016 at 06:23 PM.
#25
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Haven't had time to get an alignment yet... Haven't driven much
Does the A8 need a special alignment center? Can I just go to any tire store to get one on the weekend?
Yes, the bushings are weak on both sides, deep cracks, not completely torn but I think vibrations do come from these.
Cheers,
Louis
Yes, the bushings are weak on both sides, deep cracks, not completely torn but I think vibrations do come from these.
Cheers,
Louis
#26
AudiWorld Super User
Give your sway bar and especially end links a good look too. They don't affect alignment, but if you have any remaining perceived issues or noises, those are what I would look at next.
#27
AudiWorld Wiseguy
Had my front upper control arm bushings and roll bar links done a couple weeks back by my Indy. He used Lemforder parts (aka ZF) so no quality concerns. So far so good, and a reasonable price too.
Alignment wise the only regular adjustment up front is toe angle. Anything else has to be done by moving the subframe which is unlikely to be out unless it was removed at some point or has taken a big hit. Rear has a couple more regular adjustments though. Toe, camber etc.
Alignment wise the only regular adjustment up front is toe angle. Anything else has to be done by moving the subframe which is unlikely to be out unless it was removed at some point or has taken a big hit. Rear has a couple more regular adjustments though. Toe, camber etc.
#28
AudiWorld Super User
#29
AudiWorld Wiseguy
I expect another 40k miles out of them. And on Chicago roads that's good going. That's what the set I just replaced managed according to its service records, and they were only just starting to go.
I know we moan about them and why can't Audi fix them, blah blah blah. But they're not particularly difficult or expensive to fix. I'd rather these get sacrificed to wear out sooner rather than some other more expensive components which is what would happen if the upper bushings were more durable. This is because the other suspension components would then be subjected to greater loads.
I don't for a second think that Audi can't figure out a more durable design. I think it's intentional and it's no coincidence that it still affects the D4 and other newer Audi models with the same general suspension design. Sure they could put tougher more durable bushings in that last 100k miles, but then we'd all be up in arms about cracked suspension pickup points ala BMW M3, or some other much more serious to fix issue.
I know we moan about them and why can't Audi fix them, blah blah blah. But they're not particularly difficult or expensive to fix. I'd rather these get sacrificed to wear out sooner rather than some other more expensive components which is what would happen if the upper bushings were more durable. This is because the other suspension components would then be subjected to greater loads.
I don't for a second think that Audi can't figure out a more durable design. I think it's intentional and it's no coincidence that it still affects the D4 and other newer Audi models with the same general suspension design. Sure they could put tougher more durable bushings in that last 100k miles, but then we'd all be up in arms about cracked suspension pickup points ala BMW M3, or some other much more serious to fix issue.
#30
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Now it would take me less than 1 hour to replace all Control Arms
it's been a year, and everything on my CA are still intact.
Cheers,
Louis
Cheers,
Louis