lower control arms

[Lucas_R]

MGV - it will almost certainly be the bushing that's inside the part labelled #4 on brads image above. These bushes are known to crack and rip as they get older.

You can buy replacements. See link:

This is a solid version of the stock bushes. The Audi TT use these solid bushes for a more sporty feel. I installed these on my GTI. The stock bushes have holes in them which causes them to rip easily once they start to degrade. The solid bushes are a mild upgrade and will make steering a bit sharper: Febi Bilstein Wishbone Bushes 33973

Also see here for some pics of the original bushes being replaced with these solid bushes: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...-tt-74323.html

These solid bushes are cheap (about $58 incl delivery for 2x) and will cost about $100 for a mechanic to remove old ones, use a press to install new bushes and re-install. I can recommend a place at Islington who did mine.

[MGV]

Thanks for the tip/link, Lucas!

If anyone would like a pair as a spare or 'mild upgrade' , let me know by later tonight & i'll order some more to reduce freight costs, even though it's only $24.50 from the UK...

[MGV]

Brad, Lucas, it was indeed item 4 in the above drawing that my mechanic was referring to.

Brad, the parts numbered would have a listing of the part names as well? (Nomenclature?) Do you have this available to post up? Maybe it's Deutsch?

Thanks again.

[brad]

try poking through here

PartsBase.org - Catalogue of Auto Parts

#4 is a lower control arm rear bush or console bush

#3 is a lower control arm front bush

[istudio]

Sorry for digging an old post. I went to my dealership today and they are asking for $750 for replacing front bushes on both LCAs. Is that a fair go or nah?

[brad]

Sorry for digging an old post. I went to my dealership today and they are asking for $750 for replacing front bushes on both LCAs. Is that a fair go or nah?

Did they provide an itemised quote? It sounds high. I would suggest you seek other quotes from either an independant VW Specialist (a few out your way) or a suspension specialist.

I'm surprised the front bushes have died & not the rears as well.

[istudio]

Did they provide an itemised quote? It sounds high. I would suggest you seek other quotes from either an independant VW Specialist (a few out your way) or a suspension specialist.

I'm surprised the front bushes have died & not the rears as well.

nope they didnt. just a comment on the invoice and some very brief verbal description by a lady at the receiption. thats why i thought its a bit fishy

[brad]

So do they mean the front bushes on the front lower control arm or do they mean the bushes (all of them) on the front lower control arm.

Either way, you can buy a pair of alloy arms with bushes for $590 and it takes about 2 hours (RH side is easy, LH side the DSG gets in the way).

If it's just the rear bush (that's what usually cracks), you can buy a pair of Febi bushes for $60 and labour will be about 2.5hrs or replacement steel arms for $150 each plus 2 hrs labour.

I'm pretty sure you'd get out of this for <$500

[pistoncranky]

So do they mean the front bushes on the front lower control arm or do they mean the bushes (all of them) on the front lower control arm.

Either way, you can buy a pair of alloy arms with bushes for $590 and it takes about 2 hours (RH side is easy, LH side the DSG gets in the way).

If it's just the rear bush (that's what usually cracks), you can buy a pair of Febi bushes for $60 and labour will be about 2.5hrs or replacement steel arms for $150 each plus 2 hrs labour.

I'm pretty sure you'd get out of this for <$500

My Tig is a 2012 and I replaced both front LCA bushes with Lemfoerder aftermarket units bought from Pelican Parts in the US. USD59 for the pair (that's including the alloy mount, not the type that has to be pressed in) - also bought two rear Bilstein shocks and two front sway bar link rods. All those parts cost me USD250 + shipping which was $80 but got here in four days. Saved a lot as the place I have been loyal to quoted A$550 to replace the rear shocks and $240 per side for the aft LCA bushes so the total for just that would have been $1030. I bought all new mounting bolts for the LCA bush mounts which was another AU$40 - its recommended as they are the single use type bolt.


The aft LCA bushes took me about an hour 15 min for the first and a bit over an hour the other side. I also bought a set of sub-frame alignment studs to relocate the alloy bush holder in its original place but got a wheel alignment done afterward anyway.


I would have liked to have done the forward bushes as well but they are pressed into the control arm itself so the option is replacing the whole suspension arm or buying bushes and removing the arms from the car and taking them to a workshop to press them out and new ones back in. It's a lot more work too because the front bush / arm mounting bolt can't clear the transmission without dropping the sub-frame - I didn't think that would be an easy thing with just hand tools and floor jack and car stands.


Rear shocks were a breeze - about an hour each.

[istudio]

So do they mean the front bushes on the front lower control arm or do they mean the bushes (all of them) on the front lower control arm.

Either way, you can buy a pair of alloy arms with bushes for $590 and it takes about 2 hours (RH side is easy, LH side the DSG gets in the way).

If it's just the rear bush (that's what usually cracks), you can buy a pair of Febi bushes for $60 and labour will be about 2.5hrs or replacement steel arms for $150 each plus 2 hrs labour.

I'm pretty sure you'd get out of this for <$500

Thanks brad, I will have a look underneath my tig. I would suspect the front bushes on the front LCA.

[istudio]

My Tig is a 2012 and I replaced both front LCA bushes with Lemfoerder aftermarket units bought from Pelican Parts in the US. USD59 for the pair (that's including the alloy mount, not the type that has to be pressed in) - also bought two rear Bilstein shocks and two front sway bar link rods. All those parts cost me USD250 + shipping which was $80 but got here in four days. Saved a lot as the place I have been loyal to quoted A$550 to replace the rear shocks and $240 per side for the aft LCA bushes so the total for just that would have been $1030. I bought all new mounting bolts for the LCA bush mounts which was another AU$40 - its recommended as they are the single use type bolt.


The aft LCA bushes took me about an hour 15 min for the first and a bit over an hour the other side. I also bought a set of sub-frame alignment studs to relocate the alloy bush holder in its original place but got a wheel alignment done afterward anyway.


I would have liked to have done the forward bushes as well but they are pressed into the control arm itself so the option is replacing the whole suspension arm or buying bushes and removing the arms from the car and taking them to a workshop to press them out and new ones back in. It's a lot more work too because the front bush / arm mounting bolt can't clear the transmission without dropping the sub-frame - I didn't think that would be an easy thing with just hand tools and floor jack and car stands.


Rear shocks were a breeze - about an hour each.

Very informative. Cheers mate. Let me have a look and see what gone wrong.