Replacement Front Top arms

[RobTA6]

Its been recommended that I replace all of the Front top arms for my A6
Audi Service centre quoting €1200 inc vat for the work

Anyone got experience of this cost from UK / NI Audio dealerships ?

[MarkTM]

That's just 4 arms right?

It's funny about Audi's that the front bushes seem to have been made of chocolate.

I know many will say 'it's a heavy barge' but in comparison my profile pic car is 110kg lighter but crucially 11yrs older. I've all the receipts for it and until I bought it in 2005 it had never had an arm changed. Then in 2009 I had all bushes replaced with polyurethane, 8yrs on and no problems.

My A6 has had a total of 5 arms in my ownership of less than 5yrs so have to say am not impressed.

That said €1200/£1030 seems a little steep considering you could buy the original lemforder(?) arms for no more than £100/€120 each so that quite a lot on labour...although they can be a pig to change.

If they are changing the TRE's and doing the 4 wheel alignment after then it's a pretty good deal

PS: It may help if you include your model/engine/transmission and year in your post or signature strip
PPS: Lots on this subject if you use the search function

[Scott K]

I changed all mine on my C5. It took a whole weekend but that was due to seized bolts and not having all the tools to free them. Was OK once I got an angle grinder!! The cost for the whole set of heavyweight was about £300 - no doubt it will be more now. The car then went another 50k with no issues after this work (I changed the arms at about 120k). If you are handy with mechanical work, it's not a big job just very awkward. Probably easy if you had a friend who was a mechanic!
Are you getting clunking and banging when you go over bumps - I am just curious as to why they are recommending it. The website below is american but handy for control arms and transmission advice. Would also give you a price comparison on parts.
Audi Control Arm - Audi Control Arms - Control Arm Low Price Leader

[dan2485]

If the pinch bolts cannot be removed from the uprights then they cost over £400 a side.

There is a special tool to remove the bolts but this expensive, this may factored into the cost for the use of the tool.

[Twoflags]

I've been quoted £400 a side for OEM spec by an indy. Keep in mind it will also need a full 4 wheel alignment

[mjpuds]

any idea what the tool is called..apart from The tool of gods..

[dan2485]

VW/Audi control arm pinch bolt removal with special tool Edge Motors - YouTube

[Crasher]

The worst part is as mentioned, getting the top bolt out as you cannot use direct heat because the aluminium doesn’t like it and the tool is silly money. We use an induction heater to slowly ease the bolt free. On the later models there isn’t even a tool and the problem is getting worse.

[dan2485]

I have done this job 4 times now (split bushes on one of the arms) and on the first 2 I had to replace the spindle uprights as I drill out the bolt and this took age to do and I could not drill the bolts out on center.

After doing the job I coated the bolts in anti galvanizing paint to be able to removed the bolts easily, on the 3rd and 4th time the bolts came out but they were a little tight.

I would recommend if you are going to do this job on your car and wanted to keep the car for a long time then pint the bolts and look to replaced them every 2 years to prevent the seizing occurring, the bolts are cheap enough.

I have thought about using my press with packing pieces inserted into the slots, this requires the removal of the strut, and the drive shaft to get the spindle out. A lot of work and no guarantee that the bolt will come out.

[mjpuds]

Yup I've just removed the hub carrier and sent it off to hopefully press the bolt out, fingers cross .. then I need to buy new bolts... I guess audi is the best place to buy this.