Finished up my axles and control arms last night. Eliminated 80% of the looseness in the drivetrain that's been plaguing me for over a year.

I'm not sure what the ultimate fix was... axles, control arms or undertorqued subframe bolts from the first time I did the arms. I got the axles from raxles ($175 ea, no core but you send back the old ones), and the Meyle kit from Blau for $589 + shipping. All arms, tie rods and sway bar links and hardware. The nuts that they send for the lower arms (on the balljoint end) are not big enough in diameter. If you use them, you'll be torquing down on the metal bushing/insert in the wheel hub. Anyone else notice that too ?

One of the tiring things about this job is running back and forth to get the torque specs (x2) so here's a quick ref for you guys. These should be all the critical specs, I might have forgotten a couple:

Axle nut - 140lbs + 1/2 turn

Axle to flange - 52lbs for M10 (mine) or 30lbs if M8.

Upper subframe nuts - 74 lbs (same for vertical brace if you have it). Bently says you can eliminate it if so. I put mine back on.

Tie rod - top bolt (7nm or x inch pounds = not
tight at all)
- horizontal pinch bolt 37lbs

Upper short/curved arm nut - 37 lbs + 1/4 turn

Lower straight and curved arms (balljoint end) - 92lbs (tight !). It makes the distinction between the steel (didn't know it was an option) and aluminum wheel hubs. If steel use 72lbs.

Curved arm (bolt you cut) - 66lbs

Shock bolt - 66lbs

Lower straight arm - 66lbs

Upper arm pinch bolt - 30 or 37 (can't read my notes !)

Sway bar links:

- link to arm 52lbs
- link to swaybar 66lbs

Strut nuts - 15lbs

Wheel - 89lbs


Remember to:

* reinstall the two bushings (taper down) on
the upper subframe
* use anti-seize, especially on the upper
arm pinch bolt
* The circlips on the upper arms are not
required but hold the arm in place until
it's bolted back together
* Torque as much as you can on the ground. A
torque wrench will not fit where the two
lower/balljoint end nuts are with the wheel
on. I made them snug with the wheel on, jacked
up, took off the wheel and torqued to 92lbs.


If I think of anything else, I'll add to this list.

Bob