Febi front upper control arm bush failed after 18k miles ????!!

[Feneris]

2006 A6 C6 2.0Tdi 183k

Less than a year ago I replaced the front upper drivers side control arms. A month ago I replaced the front shocks and lower control arms and the car felt really good to drive again. But now it's all over the place, to the extent that even my Mrs commented on it! (She one raced off in car to get the kids, and only realised after parking two miles later, the trailer with over half a ton of sand in it hanging off the back!)

The front upper control arms are Febi and have done about 18k miles. If I put a pry bar on the rubber bushing, it is really really lose, easy to push it sideways all the way. I can hold the arm with my hand and rotate it a bit, quite easily.

I would have expected far more from Febi parts. Even considering the shocks were worn out for a long time, so the suspension probably moved far more than it should have, does the make sense?? I'll replace just the bushing rather than the whole arm (as I can't face trying to remove the pinch bolt again) and see how it goes. Is this normal???????

[Crasher]

Did you tighten the bolts with the suspension loaded or unloaded?

[Novica]

You should buy Lemforder. I have never had problems with them.

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[Feneris]

OK, In this instance, the top control arm bolts were tightened with the suspension fully extended. All my ones since then have been tightened (despite difficult access) with the suspension compressed.

Is that why they've failed.... my fault on installation??!!

[Crasher]

Yes. You can do that with Polyurethane bushes such as Powerflex but not with bonded sleeve bushes, it rips them apart.

[lynalldiscovery]

OK, In this instance, the top control arm bolts were tightened with the suspension fully extended. All my ones since then have been tightened (despite difficult access) with the suspension compressed.

Is that why they've failed.... my fault on installation??!!

We used to get the same with the trucks, all finger tight until all wheels on the floor then tighten everything up.