[s-cars] CONTROL ARM installation concerns

[Ray Tomlinson]

WRT control arm failure - a common installation oversight is that, since the
control arm uses bonded material, torquing down the control arm with the
suspension fully unsprung (e.g., on the lift), and then subsequently
dropping the lift will cause the bonded inner bushing to tear around the
inner sleeve.  The bonded bushing is designed to rotate only so far, and
torquing in the wrong location causes premature failure to the bonded
bushing.

Be sure to tell the tech to compress the strut by using a tranny lift, etc.,
under the brake rotor or steering knuckle to about 50% compression such that
the bonded sleeve is at its proper alignment BEFORE torquing the inner
control arm bushing bolt.

On an aside, check the swaybar nut where the swaybar mounts to the control
arm.  Mine managed to back its way off to all but 2 or 3 threads.  If that
nut comes loose, there is nothing to support the lower control arm, which is
BAD.  VERY BAD.

Ray Tomlinson
Boston

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Darin Nederhoff
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 8:32 PM
To: Angelo Alexopoulos
Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [s-cars] New Lower Control Arm Casualty of 2003 Winter!




Angelo Alexopoulos wrote:

>   I am bringing it in tomorrow and he is getting a new
> one and putting it in FOC but my question is had anyone else had this
> happen
> before? Or is it just the lousy streets we have here in good ole CT
> wreaking
> havoc on us?


Yup... mine actually collapsed in a Minnesota sink hole causing the
wheel to rub up against the fender liner.  Grrrrrr


Darin


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