TT_Nuge

Usually the one thing they can get right is when you have a Check Engine light because they have a code to read. It's usually when they have to diagnose a problem that they fall short.

joe@vwvortex

i'm not worried about mine.

chitownTT

<center><img src="http://www.nebulaphoto.com/Control_Arm_1A.jpg"></center><p>I appreciate the questions, and enjoy good discussion. The balloon sound started occurring at about 46k, but only sporadically. As it approached 50k and began happening even as my car rolled over a curb or speedbump, I called the dealership and asked them about this sound. They said the bushings dry out and need to be replaced or re-lubed (which isn't that effective, he said). So, I put that on my list of things to get taken care of. Unfortunately, I didn't do it fast enough.

I can understand if the ride of the car is affected by this problem if it's not taken care of immediately, but to have a MAJOR structural component of the vehicle completely snap, endangering anyone driving that vehicle, that's ridiculous. It's equivalent to not getting an oil change after 6,000 miles and having your engine explode. Shouldn't happen at 50k. If my car had 100k on it, yeah, I might be able to understand, might, but not at 50k. No way.

I looked at the link m800a TT posted on wak-TT.com and that is EXACTLY what happened to my vehicle. Why is it not happening more? I don't know. Driving conditions obviously play a role in everyone's car reliability experience, and the streets of Chicago are not perfect by any means. But just knowing that this COULD happen, at 50k nonetheless, means everyone should be aware.

Why Japanese, you ask? Because my whole life just about everyone I know who owns a Honda or Toyota deals with "normal" maintenance issues. Obviously generalizations are too simplistic an approach, but one would be hard pressed to argue reliability when Audi finishes 43rd (I think the list had 50 or 60 automakers on it) on consumer reports list of reliable auto makers. Who was #1? Lexus. Tough to find a Lexus that has needed control arm replacement at 50k.

DuTTCH

There was a problem the lubricant used on some of the 2000 models (mine was one of them). Audi replace both control arms on both sides (4 arms total) with new arms and use new uprated lubricant.

All this is part of the LL recall

DuTTCH

- New FRONT control arms, front struts and front swaybar
- The infamous rear spoiler by name and nature
- The rear control arm recall

I'd check you have all of these completed, my guess is the dealership may have done the first two (front suspension+spoiler) but not the last one.

chitownTT

Thanks for the heads up - I just talked to the dealership that did my recall and the guy said all three were done on my vehicle in 2002. I asked him specifically about each recall name and he said, "Yep, those were all done."

Baffled.

joe@vwvortex

other suspension related recalls. Your dealer could have also installed the wrong control arms as well as there were two different types of recall kits - one with equal arms and one with unequal length arms. I'd make them PROVE that it was done.

TwisTTer

why do folks want the control arms so badly if that's is the end result? Snap off and break?? geez!

maaliish

I know you're pissed at Audi and I've felt that way many times also. The key is finding a good Audi Dealer. I finally did and I couldn't be any happier. If these guys didn't open shop, I'd be probably switching to another brand.

Audiboy

control arm is mounted on isn't frozen. Otherwise, it's probably a faulty part or incorrect installment that caused it to break again.

But if you want the strongest fingers on the rear control arms, --&gt; CPP.