[s-cars] Front Control Arm/Sway Bar

[Abe Berman]

Dave,

A couple things:

I am only replacing the RF control arm, the LF arm appears to be in
acceptable condition, it may have been replaced at some point.  The RF
appears to be original based on Audi stamp on the part.  I am installing a
TRW replacement control arm, which included the bushing that bolts to the
subframe, the bushings for the swaybar, and the balljoint.  Currently only
the LF of car is raised off the ground, other three wheels are on the car/on
the ground.  I have tried lightly jacking (with second jack, car still
supported on stand under the subframe) up the LF control arm and I am well
positioned to get the end of the sway bar through the hole in the control
arm, just trying to get it the 6 inches or so through the hole needed to get
washer, bushing, and nut on.
Working alone has thus far precluded the pry bar method, but I can get a
helper to assist me if that is what it takes.

Thanks for the BTDT,

a

On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 11:05 PM, <djdawson2 at aol.com> wrote:

>  What you want to do is place jack stands under the end of each control
> arm, then slowly lower the weight of the car onto the stands.  The closer
> the control arms get to parallel with the ground, the better... this makes
> the distance between the two eyes larger, and makes it easier to get the
> swaybar in them.  The remainder of the "convincing" can be done with a
> reasonably sized prybar.
>
> When the control arms are just hanging with the car jacked up, this is the
> worst case, as the eyes are as close together as they can be, and this makes
> fitting the swaybar into the eyes as difficult as it could possibly be.
>
> Make sure there are stands under other points on the car, just in case the
> control arms slip off their stands.
>
> This has always worked well for me, even when installing the larger S6+
> front bar.
>
> Hope you replaced the bushings that fit onto the inner mount bolts on the
> control arms...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Abe Berman <yellowcuda at gmail.com>
> To: s-car list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Mon, Apr 26, 2010 8:32 pm
> Subject: [s-cars] Front Control Arm/Sway Bar
>
>  Hi folks,
>
>
> Subject is a 95.5 Avant.  In the process of replacing RF Lower Control Arm.
>
> Inner end is now in place in subframe, ball joint is in place in bottom of
>
> strut assembly.
>
>
> Issue now is reconnecting swaybar (getting it through the hole in Control
>
> Arm).  I did this years ago on my S4 but am struggling to get it done
>
> today.  Remember using strap clamps and large pry bar with helper.
>
>
> Any advice or BTDT much appreciated.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Abe
>
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