[A4] More control arm stuff

[Brian White]

Without placing judgement on the whole premature argument...look under the 
front of your average Toyota, and look under the front of your Audi.

Notice that pre-A4 people don't talk about ball joint failures all the time.  
This is a result of the somewhat advanced front control arm assembly that 
Audi has used these last few years.  It's part of what makes them drive so 
well.  Unfortunately, yes the longevity of the large number of ball joints in 
the front suspension has been an issue.

BTW...I've heard that in 2002 or so, Audi substantially increased the 
longevity of the parts and that these new, updated parts are what Audi sells 
these days.  The ECS $500 combo kit should be all updated Audi parts and 
should last longer than anyone's first set.

BTW...I'm getting a mild clunk feeling (not sound yet, just feeling in the 
steering wheel) in my 2000 A4 1.8T Avant.  80k miles.  I consider that 
unfortunate, but surely not exactly premature considering how advanced the 
suspension design is and other people's experiences.

These aren't standard lower control arm/McPherson strut suspensions found on 
your old Volkswagen Scirocco.  They're a little more complex.



---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Joel Landsverk" <jlandsverk at jjkeller.com>
To: <a4 at audifans.com>, <brian at bjwhite.net>, <brogers at terrix.com>
Sent: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 12:15:38 -0500
Subject: Re: [A4] More control arm stuff

> I would say that mine have worn prematurely.   I have 99 A4 1.8tq Avant
> - first set of ball joints failed at approximately 35k miles ( maybe
> 2-2.5 years), and the second set has been clunking since about 80k
> miles, or 6 months ago.  Both I consider premature.  Less than 100k 
> on a ball joint is premature if you ask me.  I've had Toyotas with millions
> of miles that never needed ball joints.  
> 
> I think sometimes we grow accustomed to making repairs to these 
> fickle cars just because we love them.  I love the cars, period. 
>  But, as an example, I hate replacing door molding on an otherwise 
> great looking, and relatively new car.  This one in particular 
> pisses me off, because Audi knows all about this, so do owners of 
> any of their older cars.  It can't be that hard to get it right.  IF 
> I'm supposed to consider it a wear item, then they should price the 
> replacements like wear items; like tires and batteries.
> 
> I'm off my soapbox.  I'm just irritated that it's always something with
> these cars.
> 
> Joel
> 99 A4 1.8tq Avant
> 96 A6 2.8q Avant
> 
> >>> "Brian White" <brian at bjwhite.net> 6/29/2004 11:44:19 AM >>>
> Define prematurely?
> 
> If you have 80,000 miles but have a 1997 A4, then that's 7 years
> on...that's 
> not premature.
> 
> Some people tend to hang onto that mileage thing and not on the age
> thing.  
> Ball joints tend to be an age wear out item as much as a mileage wear
> out 
> item.
> 
> So it depends on what you mean by prematurely.
> 
> If you have a 2001 A4 with 40k on it, I'd say that's premature.
> If you have a 2001 A4 with 140k on it, I'd say that's not.
> 
> ---------- Original Message -----------
> From: "Brandon Rogers" <brogers at terrix.com>
> To: "A4 List" <a4 at audifans.com>
> Sent: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 10:41:33 -0600
> Subject: [A4] More control arm stuff
> 
> > Hey guys-
> > Curious-
> > does anybody know if, in general, all the control arms on these cars
> 
> > are wearing out prematurely, or is it just one specific piece that 
> > always wears out?  I'm contemplating just going ahead and getting 
> > that whole ECS Tuning kit and being done with it, but that sounds 
> > excessive _if_ just one arm is wearing out and all others last a 
> > long time.....
> > 
> > Also, along these lines, any suggestions for isolating the worn 
> > part?  I was thinking of putting the front on ramps and turning the 
> > wheels slightly while somebody is under here to look/feel/listen for
> 
> > the worn component.
> > 
> > Has anybody on the list installed the whole control arm kit-any 
> > advice? pitfalls?
> > 
> > much appreciated-
> > 
> > Thanks-
> > 
> > Brandon 
> > _______________________________________________
> > A4 mailing list
> > A4 at audifans.com 
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/a4 
> ------- End of Original Message -------
> 
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