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nichollsa4
02-03-2007, 07:49 PM
New to the site so hello to all!

I've just taken my '99 A4 1.8 for an inspection following the dreaded front end knocking. It appears all the front end suspension link arms are worn i.e. upper front and rear, lower front and rear, o/s and n/s. They want to charge me a small fortune so taking the job on myself.

Will I need any special tools? Am I in to deep taking this on? I'm fairly handy but no qualified mechanic.

Also the rear axle bushes are worn. Again how easy are these to replace?

Thanks for the help!

Lex Luthor
02-03-2007, 11:29 PM
Are you sure they are all duff ?
It just takes one to make loads of noise.

This is for a Passat but it is the same :
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104287
It covers part of the job. To do the lower arms you will need a large ball-joint splitter.

nichollsa4
03-03-2007, 07:06 AM
Thanks for the reply.

I took it a reputable garage and they claim that I need:

osf lower rear suspension linkarm
nsf lower rear suspension linkarm

osf lower front suspension lnkarm
nsf lower front suspension lnkarm

osf suspension connecting link
nsf suspension connecting link

rear axle bushes

They want £750 to do the lot.

I reckon I can save myself £500 but was woundering if I would end up back at the garage with my tail between my legs???

Lex Luthor
03-03-2007, 10:51 AM
Well if you do not have to do the upper links it's a lot easier, the top pinch bolt can be a b***h.
Getting a big enough splitter might be difficult. I had to grind mine wider.
The inboard nuts and bolts are one-time use parts according to the manual..

lennymfo
08-03-2007, 10:24 PM
I have an 2.5tdi A4 99 and the garage Ive taken it to is doing both front end arms and bushes - all of them, they come in kits apparently, the 2 cv joints with rubber bushes and the tracking for £650. (he gets genuine audi parts). He's an audi specialist. Has your quote come from a dealer?

nichollsa4
08-03-2007, 10:51 PM
My quote is not an audi dealer just a VW Audi specialist. What part of the country are you?

skymaster
09-03-2007, 12:04 AM
I could be way out of date here but have you called your local Audi dealers to see if the bearing arm recall has been carried out? In 2004 ish they issued a huge recall for all Passats and some A4s ( I think) on the B5 platform.

With the lower arms VAG had to recall them because the joints were such a problem. When I worked for the VW dealer back in 2004/5 we saw 1000s of passats for the check, the ones that had severely worn lower arms had them replaced F.O.C even on the older cars.

I stand corrected if the recall is now over. Anyone????

SoulTaxi
09-03-2007, 01:14 AM
I could be way out of date here but have you called your local Audi dealers to see if the bearing arm recall has been carried out? In 2004 ish they issued a huge recall for all Passats and some A4s ( I think) on the B5 platform.

With the lower arms VAG had to recall them because the joints were such a problem. When I worked for the VW dealer back in 2004/5 we saw 1000s of passats for the check, the ones that had severely worn lower arms had them replaced F.O.C even on the older cars.

I stand corrected if the recall is now over. Anyone????

My 96 A4 was one of the recalls! But found my local Audi ******* most unhelpful.. My n/s bottom ball joint actually went while they were still messing me around.. If you can get hold of the parts yourself, (I'm no expert but genuine VAG parts would probably be better??) Then find a decent garage that won't charge you a fortune in labour that might save a few quid if the job's a bit of a cow to do..

marty72
09-03-2007, 11:55 AM
lennymfo must be from the Glasgow area as he uses same Audi specalist as me M

Sam
09-03-2007, 12:21 PM
Audiworld has a lot of useful information on the above processes

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel.html

Voila

lennymfo
09-03-2007, 02:26 PM
My quote is not an audi dealer just a VW Audi specialist. What part of the country are you?
Glasgow, A for Audi. Came highly recommended and he seems like a good lad. HE also did the drop links as well.

lennymfo
09-03-2007, 02:27 PM
Thanks for the reply.

I took it a reputable garage and they claim that I need:

osf lower rear suspension linkarm
nsf lower rear suspension linkarm

osf lower front suspension lnkarm
nsf lower front suspension lnkarm

osf suspension connecting link
nsf suspension connecting link

rear axle bushes

They want £750 to do the lot.

I reckon I can save myself £500 but was woundering if I would end up back at the garage with my tail between my legs???
Picked the car up today and he said it was an absolute nightmare to do as one of them had seized on. If he;s finding it diffucault I cant imagine how hard it must be.

lennymfo
09-03-2007, 02:28 PM
My quote is not an audi dealer just a VW Audi specialist. What part of the country are you?
What dont you give this A for Audi a ring he may have some good nationwide contacts?

OnTheJazz
10-03-2007, 01:09 AM
Has anyone done this themselves?

ive got top arms on both sides of my B5 A4 to do soon, should be fun!

marty72
10-03-2007, 02:49 AM
I've done the arms on these as long as the pinch bolt isn't seized it easy job,you need to undo the 3 top shocker mount bolts and drop it down to remove the front upper arm bolt other than that no prob's.M

fla
13-01-2011, 10:30 PM
a slight aside here - my car tends to 'wander' as though the axle bushes have gone. That said the front tyres have worn on the sides due teh previous owner not maintaining the correct tyre pressure so perhaps this is the issue? If not, how would i diagnose the wandering? The effect is very similar to when you drive in the channels caused by trucks in the motorway slow lane.