japforgerman

Hello,
I was just told my lower control arm bushings are cracking. I've decided to change all... ordered parts from FCP Euro and wanted to know if anyone knows where I can find a bushing press for AUDI? I will be doing the install along with my Uncle.

Thanks.

MurrayA4

japforgerman What you're going to want is a hydraulic press.If you don't have one, any half decent garage will and should do the press out and press in for a small fee.

MP4.2+6.0

For the DIY'ers on these back into D3 A8 and others, the typical modest cost go-to tool was a hydraulic press from Harbor Freight. Haven't ever gotten one, but $100 range as I recall. Machine shops around me in SF Bay Area have gone extinct, so choices here are pretty much new arms or buy a press. Shops here will typically only do them if they source parts (machine shop oriented) or do install (repair places).

japforgerman

thanks for your help. It's such a big difference in cost vs the whole kit. I paid $146 for all the bushings from FTP Euro...VS the kit for $695
Does the ball joint normally go on these things around the same time?

japforgerman

thanks.

MP4.2+6.0

Ball joints rarely fail, so cost effective is to do bushings only, unless you find a torn ball joint grease seal or obvious wear.

Be sure not to cheap out on bushings. There is cheap price, and there is cheap junk. Often correlated. Brands like Meyle and Karlyn are typically junk as examples; some also try to imply they are Euro parts via logos and such when they are more likely repackaged Chinese copy stuff. OES typical suppliers are Lemforder (most common for uppers), TRW, maybe Delphi. Given general Q5 wear trends, if you are doing this kind of work, look at the front roll bar links too; high wear part on this suspension design, easy to do and not very expensive. While OE isn't super long lived, the cheap junk can go south in as little as a year/20K miles. The bushing is the usual first fail point.

FCP and rmeuropean are among first places I check for price and which brands they have.

japforgerman

man you have been so helpful. I don't know how to thank you enough for your valid information. It really means allot boss. I went with the "Lemforder " from FCP EURO

japforgerman

The issue I have now is finding someone to press the bushings....any ideas?

japforgerman

I might not be able to get these pressed. If I decide to do the whole arms, can I use a mixture of TRW for the Front Upper and Lemforder parts for the lower? They don't have all parts in same brand.

apoelistas

Pressed 4 front new bushings successfully (2 left 2 right), after removing existing. Mechanic had a new bushing press so took advantage of that. Did it when I changed the front rotors. Labour charge was only 20 euros because I also did front rotors and pads. Bought bushings from ebay (it was not meyle, but febi). However mechanic recommended that next time I should buy the complete set.