[Biturbos4] Control arms

[Mark Rosenkrantz]

Good advise.  My experience with the B5 S4 is that all early 2000 models have cast aluminum (of some matrix) uprights/wheel bearing housings.  Then due to demand, the Tiptronic cars all got steel, where the manual 6 speeds mostly got the aluminum ones.  Fortunately, simple to identify.  Steel are the same as any other A4 and are black in color.  The lighter cast aluminum is light gray (metal color).

Mark Rosenkrantz

Typos sent from my BlackBerry.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Pramanik <dap128 at hotmail.com>
Sender: biturbos4-bounces at www.audifans.com
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:36:18 
To: <cmcnally5 at nycap.rr.com>; <biturbos4 at www.audifans.com>
Subject: Re: [Biturbos4] Control arms


If it is the typical control arm failure where the front end it clunking/rattling/groaning, then it is not an emergency at all.  The noises are very annoying but the safety of the car isn't compromised (I wouldn't necessarily do any track driving, but otherwise it's fine).
 
I would recommend doing all of the front control arms even if only the three you mentioned are presently faulty (the others won't be far behind).
 
There are no combined kits for the S4 control arms, but MANY S4 owners (myself included) just use the B5 A4 control arm kits as they are interchangeable (as long as you have the steel uprights, which all S4s except the early 2000s do).  The Febi-Bilstein control arm kit is a good option.  The one notable difference between the S4 and A4 parts are the tie-rod ends.  The A4 tie rod ends are rubber isolated (so softer), while the S4 tie rod ends are solid.  If you can either:
a) use the softer A4 tie rod ends
b) put the A4 tie rod ends from the kit on the shelf and buy S4 tie rod ends
c) leave your existing tie rod ends in place (if they aren't bad).
 
Hope that helps.
-Dave Pramanik
 
> From: cmcnally5 at nycap.rr.com
> To: biturbos4 at www.audifans.com
> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:15:40 -0400
> Subject: [Biturbos4] Control arms
> 
> I have a 2001 s4 I am told is in need of control arms (2 upper fronts 1 lower rear) so a couple questions
> Is this an Audi job or simple enough for the local wrench? 
> What should the cost be 
> Other than annoying how unsafe ?
> They obviously will get done but is it an emergency?
> Last, is there any recall on these that you've heard of?
> 
> Thanks for any input, CEM
> 
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