NSF upper arm (front)

[JustinM3]

Found my knocking on the NSF, is the upper arm (front of car of the 2).
Anyone know which of these I need?
Very similar part numbers, is difference the bolts (not sure I need these)?
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Passat_1.9_2002/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/suspension-arm-and-suspension-joints/?616440468&1&ecef05f0dab7299943b3efa85a06c00880038a58&000320
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Passat_1.9_2002/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/suspension-arm-and-suspension-joints/?616440458&1&3598e24682b774908364be01699d4321ca34251b&000320

[passat 130 tdi]

Have a look at yours and make a note of the bend , one arm is fairly straight , the other has a bend in it , the bolts are both the same. You wanna try and remove the long pinch bolt before you even order any arms . Lots of wd40 on now will help .

[JustinM3]

Thanks for that. Was forgetting about that pinch bolt, tried getting that off on the last Passat...

[scotty33]

Some say, if it is seized, that a fix is to cut off the bolthead and tighten the nut to 'draw' the shank through, at least to get it moving?

[JustinM3]

Turned out that bolt was the easiest part of the job! Think it's been off recently for a cv boot. Don't know the 'proper way' but I removed the 3 nuts from top of shocker, and bottom bolt, and it moved enough to get the bolt out of the arm I was changing. Worst part was getting that bottom shocker bolt back in. Not a job I'd like to do again - am off to buy a mk3 cavalier!

[passat 130 tdi]

I use a jack under the brake disc to lift the leg until the holes line up . not worth doing just 1 arm tbh , while its stripped out you could of done both , I buy a full set off eBay every 2 years for about £100 and replace the lot , its got to be the stupidest suspension known to mankind to be honest , its on par with Toyotas super strut set up on the gt4 . if I hit a pot hole or go over bumps whilst turning the car jumps and knocks underneath , bad in the wet on roundabouts and corners . good car in the dry though .

[zollaf]

thats some statement there, worst suspension known to man.
maybe if you spent more money on a proper set of arms, like a set from febi, and changed the dampers, and got the tracking set properly, you would find it a better set up. your car has some issues if it handles like you say and i think they sound a bit dangerous.

[JustinM3]

The issue was lining the holes up and getting a straight hit on the bolt, bottom arm was in the way - so tempted to put bolt in opposite way round; but persevered!
Yes would have done both if I had known it was so time consuming. Think hitting kerb reversing into drive has knackered it.

[Doctle Odd]

If one arm is gone the others are chasing after it. Replace the lot with Febi and get it tracked. The pinch bolt is easy to fit as is the shock bolt. You need to set the upper arms at the correct angle relative to the mount I forget what it is but it's important. Always put the well greased pinch bolt in so as you can beat it with a lump hammer to get it out again. Also torque everything some people tighten everything way too tight

[JustinM3]

Tightened the arm up with car sat on ground on it's own weight, sure I read that somewhere on here?

[zollaf]

iirc you cannot tighten the arm when its on the car, but you are correct. any bush like that , the ones that twist as the car goes up and down, must be tightened in the normal running position. tighten them with the car in the air and as soon as you lower it down you stress them and they will fail early. you know the ones, the home mechanic who replaces bushes and they fail within months, yet it is the fault of the bush.
anyway, the top arms, you remove the plate they bolt to, replace them in the right position, i.e. do one at a time and put them back at the same angle (presuming they were right to start with). then re fit the plate.
the bottom arms you can get to the bolt to tighten them with the weight on the car.

[passat 130 tdi]

thats some statement there, worst suspension known to man.
maybe if you spent more money on a proper set of arms, like a set from febi, and changed the dampers, and got the tracking set properly, you would find it a better set up. your car has some issues if it handles like you say and i think they sound a bit dangerous.

yes you are right , I know I should replace the shocks for sure , febi set £ 400 !! cars done 130 k and all things will be tired now . cars served me well since 2007 no complaints , guess im just a tight git

[Doctle Odd]

yes you are right , I know I should replace the shocks for sure , febi set £ 400 !! cars done 130 k and all things will be tired now . cars served me well since 2007 no complaints , guess im just a tight gitI didn't like to mention that! :)

[JustinM3]

I tightened it with wheel on and on the ground - was fiddly but figured safest way to get it aligned correctly. As soon as you undo the old one, the way it drops would suggest it needs to be tightened in correct position - but have read even pro's fail to do so, which is a worry...
I used to do preventative maintenance etc but a big mortgage has put a stop to that, still I should have done both arms I know!

[passat 130 tdi]

I tightened it with wheel on and on the ground - was fiddly but figured safest way to get it aligned correctly. As soon as you undo the old one, the way it drops would suggest it needs to be tightened in correct position - but have read even pro's fail to do so, which is a worry...
I used to do preventative maintenance etc but a big mortgage has put a stop to that, still I should have done both arms I know!

another quick way which allows you to tighten the bolt, is to align the new track rod end opposite the other old arm . easy peasy .

[JustinM3]

Man, finishing this job with something easy just wouldn't be right! :p