Upper Control Arm
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Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
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Upper Control Arm
Does anyone know where to obtain a upper control arm for a 99 A6 2.8 Quattro? I need one for my front right side, since its loose. Also anyone have any instructions on installing or levels of difficulty
Tech Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,430
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Well,
I'd change both uppers while you're there.
And change the pinch bolt too.
I live in New England and I have yet to get one of those bolts out without destoying it. On both my 1999's I have needed to drill out the passenger side. Fun!
When I asked at Audi how the guys in the shop get it out, the parts guy said, "You want the Audi offical way, or the way they really do it?"
Me: "The way they actually do it."
Him: "Big fvcking air hammer."
Me: "And the Audi offical method?"
Him: "The same."
Enjoy.
And change the pinch bolt too.
I live in New England and I have yet to get one of those bolts out without destoying it. On both my 1999's I have needed to drill out the passenger side. Fun!
When I asked at Audi how the guys in the shop get it out, the parts guy said, "You want the Audi offical way, or the way they really do it?"
Me: "The way they actually do it."
Him: "Big fvcking air hammer."
Me: "And the Audi offical method?"
Him: "The same."
Enjoy.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2004
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Yes, not the kind of operation you want the customer watching you do.
It gets pretty ugly and the customer quickly developes visions of the old AMMCO transmission TV ads where the little monkey is beating the transmission with a baseball bat.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
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Air hammer, eh? Don't have that. Finally found drilling to be best. Also use copper anti-sieze with
new bolt. No wonder when I go to the parts dept, they know exactly what I want without looking it up - everybody seems to bust them up.
Head Cat Herder
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 66,550,462
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You do know that you don't need to beat them like that, right??
You can easily jiggle them loose with an impact gun, with minimal effort. Check how I do it on my webpage..
I have big issues with hammering hard on anything connected to the steering rack. I know it should be able to take it, but why put undue strain on it?
I have big issues with hammering hard on anything connected to the steering rack. I know it should be able to take it, but why put undue strain on it?
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2004
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Yes Kris, its not my first day on the job. We use a modified OTC
balljoint tool to press them out. No beating or air hammer to mushroom the end. They just slide out like a six pack of White Castles on a Sunday morning.
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Tech Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
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I tried a variety of methods too.
Rust is rust, and after heat, impact gun, press and air hammer I eventually drilled out the passenger side.
On the driver's side, I was able to use a combo of air hammer and impact to work the bolt back and forth until I was able to free it.
It's the joy of living in CT. I just did tie rod ends on the sedan the other night; I read the tech procedure here that rates the job a "2" on the difficultly scale. Ha! Took me 2 hours to break the old tie rods free. <sigh>
On the driver's side, I was able to use a combo of air hammer and impact to work the bolt back and forth until I was able to free it.
It's the joy of living in CT. I just did tie rod ends on the sedan the other night; I read the tech procedure here that rates the job a "2" on the difficultly scale. Ha! Took me 2 hours to break the old tie rods free. <sigh>
AudiWorld Uber User
Joined: Mar 2000
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I'm glad I live in the South.
Did the A6 tie rod ends earlier this year, and the pinch bolts came out just fine, 2 minutes. Loosen, smack lightly a couple times with a drift.
Tie rod ends just took a little time to marinate in penetrating oil, and they came off just fine, too.
Tie rod ends just took a little time to marinate in penetrating oil, and they came off just fine, too.