Lower Front Control Arm Bushes Audi TT

[bazzle]

The bushes that come on all Golf MKv's are pretty soft. This means the steering angles can change with accel, braking, etc. Bump steer can result as well as a loss of caster over time as the rear hex mounting rod distorts the bush up (and in or out).
This happens due to the holes in the bushes.
All replacement bushes come complete with the ally housing, Audi or VW.
Audi A3 bushes only have the holes on the top and bottom and are a straight bolt swap in.
Late model AUdi TT bushes are a solid type that also fit but the ally housing need to have the inner hole moved in 6mm.(slotted)
If you use the TT housing you 'may' get more caster as well.

The bushes themselves can be easily pressed out in a vice etc and swapped into the MkV housing.
Whole job today on ramps took me 2 hours.

Initial impersssions on a drive around the block and down the freeway:
Instantly noticed more feel to the tyres thru the steering wheel.
Turn in on corners a lot sweeter.

Pix:
New bushes to be swapped into to my MkV R32 housings.




Remove outside bolt 1st. Jam a block of wood between sway bar and arm to hold arm down.
Arm can be pulled easily by hand to align etc.





Press out bushes and swap over, ensure you have 'hex' in same plane ie. // to ground.





Refit to car, insert 2 inner bolts 1st. Use rubber grease or Krytox on Hex to aid pushing back on.
Arm now nice and central in bush







Thanks to BostonAudi etc at http://www.golfmk5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140113

[lankfert]

Good work! I love the make-shift Bushing Press.

[benough]

Why didn't you just get an ALK?

[bazzle]

Because I like rubber bushes.

[benough]

As opposed to Neoprene?

The extra caster is nice with the ALK IMHO

[kaanage]

Did you mean polyureathane? (Neoprene would be supremely comfortable but imprecise)

I can understand not wanting to go with polyureathane - I find solid rubber too harsh vs voided

[thezoneR32]

Question: Do the superpro lower control arms come with bushings?

[bazzle]

Question: Do the superpro lower control arms come with bushings?

Yes, but do you really want the whole arm? You can just buy there rear bushing in the housing and bolt on.

http://www.superpro.com.au/find-superpro-parts-for-my-vehicle/part/ALOY3273-80K

The TT one left in its housing above will achieve practically the same but is rubber.

Bazzle

[3C4M Guy]

Picking up on this old thread and reading some other posts, it would appear that for those who feel the standard rubber bushes are too soft yet don't want to go to urethane, the choices are:

1. Buy Audi TT lower control arm rear bushes in the housing, part 8J0 199 231, then press the bushes out and press them into the Golf housings, or
2. Order from overseas either the Audi bushes on their own, part 8J0 407 183, or the Febi brand bushes part 33973 and press them into the Golf housings, or
3. Possibly use Audi A3/S3 bushes as an intermediate choice with less voiding.

Have I got that right?

The reason for utilising the OEM Golf housings is they are different to the Audi TT ones. However I have a B6 Passat and the photo of the TT housings looks identical to mine. Does anyone know if that is the case?

Also, has anyone attempted to press new LCA front bushes 1K0 407 182 into alloy control arms? I read somewhere these are bonded into the LCA but have found this is not the case and new bushes are available from VW as a separate spare part.

Thanks.

[brad]

Picking up on this old thread and reading some other posts, it would appear that for those who feel the standard rubber bushes are too soft yet don't want to go to urethane, the choices are:

1. Buy Audi TT lower control arm rear bushes in the housing, part 8J0 199 231, then press the bushes out and press them into the Golf housings, or
2. Order from overseas either the Audi bushes on their own, part 8J0 407 183, or the Febi brand bushes part 33973 and press them into the Golf housings, or
3. Possibly use Audi A3/S3 bushes as an intermediate choice with less voiding.

Have I got that right?

The reason for utilising the OEM Golf housings is they are different to the Audi TT ones. However I have a B6 Passat and the photo of the TT housings looks identical to mine. Does anyone know if that is the case?

Also, has anyone attempted to press new LCA front bushes 1K0 407 182 into alloy control arms? I read somewhere these are bonded into the LCA but have found this is not the case and new bushes are available from VW as a separate spare part.

Thanks.

I think you'll find the Passat console housing = the TT.

The best bang4buck is the Febi bushes - they are around $27 each ex-UK. Try Tooley Imports or Imparts if you prefer to shop locally.

The front bush isn't bonded but there's no reason to change them if they aren't worn. They do flare out a bit a bit trying to get them in. Try putting a hose clamp around the fat bit & pre-squashing it before offering it to the hole. Lube will be required.

[Splashalot]

.....Try putting a hose clamp around the fat bit & pre-squashing it before offering it to the hole. Lube will be required.

Yes, that has been my experience too.

[Lucas_R]

Picking up on this old thread and reading some other posts, it would appear that for those who feel the standard rubber bushes are too soft yet don't want to go to urethane, the choices are:

1. Buy Audi TT lower control arm rear bushes in the housing, part 8J0 199 231, then press the bushes out and press them into the Golf housings, or
2. Order from overseas either the Audi bushes on their own, part 8J0 407 183, or the Febi brand bushes part 33973 and press them into the Golf housings, or
3. Possibly use Audi A3/S3 bushes as an intermediate choice with less voiding.

Have I got that right?

The reason for utilising the OEM Golf housings is they are different to the Audi TT ones. However I have a B6 Passat and the photo of the TT housings looks identical to mine. Does anyone know if that is the case?

Also, has anyone attempted to press new LCA front bushes 1K0 407 182 into alloy control arms? I read somewhere these are bonded into the LCA but have found this is not the case and new bushes are available from VW as a separate spare part.

Thanks.

I run the Febi branded solid bushes in my Mk6 Golf. They were around $50 direct from the UK. See link: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ml#post1033681

Quite a lot of the Passat suspension is interchangeable with the Golf/Audi TT. In fact, one upgrade that some people with Golf's do is use the Passat alloy front spindles to replace the cast steel ones for reduction in un-sprung weight - they are exactly the same shape/size etc but lighter because they are made of aluminium.

[3C4M Guy]

I think you'll find the Passat console housing = the TT.

The best bang4buck is the Febi bushes - they are around $27 each ex-UK. Try Tooley Imports or Imparts if you prefer to shop locally.

The front bush isn't bonded but there's no reason to change them if they aren't worn. They do flare out a bit a bit trying to get them in. Try putting a hose clamp around the fat bit & pre-squashing it before offering it to the hole. Lube will be required.

Yes I'm told the front bush tends not to wear out. I replaced the front bush with a Whiteline urethane one at the same time I fitted a Whiteline anti-lift kit to the rear. After a week of driving, I've decided these are not to my taste and I'd like to go back to rubber. That's why I was asking about the difficulty in changing the front bushes.

It might be easier just to change the rears to Audi TT / Febi and assess what that does before I plan to do the fronts.

[Lorenz]

I'm looking at fitting a pair of TT bushes as well. Found them for a good price on eBay from Germany. Febi Bilstein Lagerung Lenker Vorderachse Beidseitig Hinten | eBay
Can split shipping if anyone wants to get a set at the same time

[brad]

I'm looking at fitting a pair of TT bushes as well. Found them for a good price on eBay from Germany. Febi Bilstein Lagerung Lenker Vorderachse Beidseitig Hinten | eBay
Can split shipping if anyone wants to get a set at the same time

Postage is a bit rich.

$50 a pair inc postage

This one is $67 a pair inc postage


I'd still check the local sellers as they sometimes have good prices