Front Suspension Arms

[projects14a]

Hi folks,

Ive done a fair bit of searching, so know the brands generally recommended i.e. febi/bilstein/lemforder/meyle, just wondering if anyone knows a good source for a complete front end kit and also which brand is the best?
I do alot of driving 40-50k a year so need them to last, because by the sounds of things, I do not want to have to do them again! :D

Edit: These are the kits Ive found on ebay:
Febi (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350134036950&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
Optimal (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170532080700&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
BESA (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220687235109&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
Unknown Brand (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390209914977&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
Unknown 2 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130391201314&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)

Many thanks!
Kyle

[towcestervag]

febi or lemforder
gsf do lemforder

[projects14a]

Thanks, will give my local branch a ring :)

[muddy]

Just started looking for some front arms (see New MOT bay thread .....)

and interested to see the comment on the Febi sellers site about

'Hans Pries supplied items being "Chinese quality" '

Having just looked at some arms that are described as :-

"MANUFACTURED BY HANS PRIES IN GERMANY TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD INCLUDING A 12 MONTH WARRANTY."

There is huge difference between 'supplied' and 'manufactured' so who is correct ?

[projects14a]

Think it is quite important, usually because the quality of the materials used can be very different.

FWIW I got the full febi kit from ebay and it looks very good quality. I was going to fit it all tomorrow at work, but unfortunately I wont be able to until next weekend. Will report back with my experiences :)

[muddy]

I have asked several eBay suppliers questions about origins.
Here are the first couple of replies:-

From lesbray http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220687235109&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

Reply :- "Made in Turkey."
-------------------------------

From stephenj65 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180503954663&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123


Reply :- "Hi,

Hans Pries arms are very good quality and carry the same warranty as Febi Bilstien, Meyle and Lemforder.

They are manufactured to Hans Pries quality standards and OE standards.

They have parts manufactured all over the world as do all other manufacturers.

So they may be manufactured in Asia, Europe or other parts of the world but this is the same for all manufacturers including Meyle and Febi Bilstein.

If you contact Febi Bilstein or Meyle and ask them to confirm in writing that their parts are not made in Asia, I think you may be waiting for a long time.

But all of these companies are German and they all run their companies very well and keep their standards very high so I would use any of these companies components personally but the choice is yours.

Made in China (as is the Ipod) is different than made by a Chinese Company with Chinese standards of quality.

Steve"

[caldirun]

I have asked several eBay suppliers questions about origins.
Here are the first couple of replies:-

From lesbray http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220687235109&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

Reply :- "Made in Turkey."
-------------------------------

From stephenj65 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180503954663&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123




They are manufactured to Hans Pries quality standards and OE standards.

They have parts manufactured all over the world as do all other manufacturers.



Made in China (as is the Ipod) is different than made by a Chinese Company with Chinese standards of quality.

Steve"
Recently fitted Hans Pries rear disks and pads, after a few thousand miles they are perfect, I was worried when I saw they were made in China but they are much better than the car shakers I had which were made in Germany (or maybe boxed in Germany)

[Toonmania]

well he is right about the chinese parts, there are 2 qualitys 1 is absolute rubbish and the other is generally ok for "Normal Use" but you couldn't say the same for all of Asia, Tailand makes cr*p full stop, Japan makes some very high quality goods.

chinese are generally good for their rice and noodle dishes although i've come across some poor ones of those :D

[projects14a]

Well, fitted the Febi arms from ebay on saturday and the quality seemed top notch. All fit perfectly with no issues and it was all pretty much identical to the standard arms I removed (if anything, it looked abit more substantial).
Car feels so much nicer to drive, doesnt dive when braking and generally feels much more responsive now all the slack has been removed from the front end bushes.

I aligned it at work and think I need to do it again as it seems alittle wandering at speed. I didnt adjust the toe out on turns, it seems to be no where near the recommended value, so hopefully that will fix it, otherwise its our dodgy alignment ramp!

[wulliedey]

hi i have a 52 plate 130 tdi saloon .is that suspension arms the same as mine youv fitted as my upper n/s have gone cheers.

[snapdragon]

I didnt adjust the toe out on turns

I saw this on Elsawin, how do you do this? I don't recall my 4 wheel alignment shop doing this.

[wulliedey]

:1zhelp:
hi i have a 52 plate 130 tdi saloon .is that suspension arms the same as mine youv fitted as my upper n/s have gone cheers.