Subframe, Swaybar and Control Arm Replacement Nuts and Bolts

[Marc Swanson]

<more snippage>
> Control arm and ball joint fasteners are not an area I would recommend
> economizing on.  Just getting the right size fastener is not enough.  The
> material properties play a big factor.

Right on.  Be VERY careful about using different bolts for your control
arms.

> Just ask the owner of a certain red 4ktq from the New England area how much
> he "saved" by using non-oem bolts on his front suspension when his ball
> joint popped out while traveling down the highway.  He got real, real lucky
> in my opinion.

Live and learn.  For those that don't know, it was me:

http://www.theswansonfamily.us/modules/gallery/cursed_road_trip_7_19_03

I used a stainless bolt because that's what I had.  Stainless is WAY too
soft for this application, BTDT unfortunately.

And yeah, I got lucky.  When the ball joint let go I was doing about 80
on 95 south headed to Waterfest.  The car instantly jumped two lanes to
the right with smoke pouring from the right front.  It was everything I
could do just to keep the car pointed in a (relatively) straight line. 
I missed kissing the concrete divider by a few inches, and certainly
needed a change of underwear when I got home.

use OEM control arm bolts (or be DAMN sure you are substituting an
adequate part)

-- 
-Marc Swanson-
95.5 //S6 Avant
87 4ktq
www.mswanson.com/audi