Common Symptoms of Bad Control Arms?
#1
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Common Symptoms of Bad Control Arms?
I know that the control arms are a common issue. I have a 2008 A8 L that rides like trash. I can feel everything in the road. The steering isn't great. The compressor was replaced last year and the left front control arms were replaced in July of this year. The air struts are good, no faults or leaks. I don't see any issues with the bushings for the upper control arms on the front.
The more i drive it, the more it seems like the sway bar bushings may be bad? It's just rough. It doesn't clunk or shake. It doesn't bottom out. It just rides rough. It feel loose.
Anyway. I'm just looking for what the common symptoms of various bushings going out would be.
The more i drive it, the more it seems like the sway bar bushings may be bad? It's just rough. It doesn't clunk or shake. It doesn't bottom out. It just rides rough. It feel loose.
Anyway. I'm just looking for what the common symptoms of various bushings going out would be.
#2
AudiWorld Super User
1. Have you visually inspected the upper control arms, including removing pinch bolt to move them around more on the bushing side?
2. How many miles on car?
3. Why only one upper control arm replaced apparently, among the four to be clear? (Hint: #2 is likely to inform this one). Not sure I understand your post correctly, but is it also saying both the upper and the lower arms were replaced in front on the driver's side?
4. Was car aligned after control arm replacement? Is it showing wear on inner edges of front tires, either pre alignment and control arm replace, or now? If so, one side, or both?
5. Have you visually inspected the sway bar links? Not the bushings that bolt the bar to the subframe, but rather the U shaped links at both ends. Yes, bushings can fail, but so far it has been generally the early ones and accompanied by noise. Diagnostic there is either silicone sprayed in and/or pulling the saddle clamps and visually inspecting. Link failure far exceeds bushing failure judging from a dozen years of threads here.
6. Have you checked tire air pressure? And, with a 2008 (as opposed to 2006 or earlier), you realize the dumbed down sticker on the door jamb only refers to the max load pressure? As in, stiffer ride result. See the owners manual for the pressure choices, including partial vs. full load.
2. How many miles on car?
3. Why only one upper control arm replaced apparently, among the four to be clear? (Hint: #2 is likely to inform this one). Not sure I understand your post correctly, but is it also saying both the upper and the lower arms were replaced in front on the driver's side?
4. Was car aligned after control arm replacement? Is it showing wear on inner edges of front tires, either pre alignment and control arm replace, or now? If so, one side, or both?
5. Have you visually inspected the sway bar links? Not the bushings that bolt the bar to the subframe, but rather the U shaped links at both ends. Yes, bushings can fail, but so far it has been generally the early ones and accompanied by noise. Diagnostic there is either silicone sprayed in and/or pulling the saddle clamps and visually inspecting. Link failure far exceeds bushing failure judging from a dozen years of threads here.
6. Have you checked tire air pressure? And, with a 2008 (as opposed to 2006 or earlier), you realize the dumbed down sticker on the door jamb only refers to the max load pressure? As in, stiffer ride result. See the owners manual for the pressure choices, including partial vs. full load.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 11-09-2018 at 08:58 AM.
#3
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
1. I have not removed the pinch bolt to move them around. I'll give it a shot.
2. 130k
3. One left forward control arm and two left rear (upper and lower) control arms is what was on the receipt from the shop.
4. It was aligned. There is no uneven wear. The front tires have no visual extra wear on the inside of the tire (BUT the front left inner fender cover is worn from the inside edge of the tire touching it. It looks like the control arm that was replaced stopped this as the tire no longer touches that area).
5 No i need to remove all 4 wheels and check all the sway bar links. I know the U shaped links you are talking about.
6. Tire pressure is good. I've tried a few different pressures and had no improvement.
Thanks for your ideas. I'll take a closer look at the sway bar links and bushings this weekend.
2. 130k
3. One left forward control arm and two left rear (upper and lower) control arms is what was on the receipt from the shop.
4. It was aligned. There is no uneven wear. The front tires have no visual extra wear on the inside of the tire (BUT the front left inner fender cover is worn from the inside edge of the tire touching it. It looks like the control arm that was replaced stopped this as the tire no longer touches that area).
5 No i need to remove all 4 wheels and check all the sway bar links. I know the U shaped links you are talking about.
6. Tire pressure is good. I've tried a few different pressures and had no improvement.
Thanks for your ideas. I'll take a closer look at the sway bar links and bushings this weekend.
#4
AudiWorld Super User
1. I have not removed the pinch bolt to move them around. I'll give it a shot.
2. 130k
3. One left forward control arm and two left rear (upper and lower) control arms is what was on the receipt from the shop.
4. It was aligned. There is no uneven wear. The front tires have no visual extra wear on the inside of the tire (BUT the front left inner fender cover is worn from the inside edge of the tire touching it. It looks like the control arm that was replaced stopped this as the tire no longer touches that area).
5 No i need to remove all 4 wheels and check all the sway bar links. I know the U shaped links you are talking about.
6. Tire pressure is good. I've tried a few different pressures and had no improvement.
Thanks for your ideas. I'll take a closer look at the sway bar links and bushings this weekend.
2. 130k
3. One left forward control arm and two left rear (upper and lower) control arms is what was on the receipt from the shop.
4. It was aligned. There is no uneven wear. The front tires have no visual extra wear on the inside of the tire (BUT the front left inner fender cover is worn from the inside edge of the tire touching it. It looks like the control arm that was replaced stopped this as the tire no longer touches that area).
5 No i need to remove all 4 wheels and check all the sway bar links. I know the U shaped links you are talking about.
6. Tire pressure is good. I've tried a few different pressures and had no improvement.
Thanks for your ideas. I'll take a closer look at the sway bar links and bushings this weekend.
Likewise by 130K I would assume your front sway bar links are also done. The Lemforeder OES is now so cheap it isn't even worth guessing. $18 each, here: https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...G69-V1394.aspx So cheap you now have to buy two sets to get their free shipping deal. Their prices are also good for OES (again Lemfoerder) for upper control arms. Links are now absurdly like 10x that at dealer, and control arms probably twice at dealer list. Can also go the bushing route if your shop/you are equipped for that.
Also consider tires. More than a few over the years had tires with good apparent tread life left, but that weren't up to snuff and affecting basic ride. Noise sometimes forced a change, but other times folks only realized it fully when they got new ones.
Inspect all, but at least at price of front sway bar links now and your general description, that would be on my no brainer short term list. Very easy to change too.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 11-09-2018 at 11:27 AM.
#5
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
I have an appointment with Audi tomorrow for the catalytic converter recall. Which i'm not super excited about. However, i'll have them quote the suspension work that needs to be done. Then i'll just order what they quote and swap it out and take it back to them for an alignment.
#6
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Also, the tires are the Pirelli Cinturato P7s. I just realized these are run flats. I imagine this could contribute to a rougher ride.
#7
AudiWorld Super User
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#8
AudiWorld Member
Are the front sway bar links under any kind of tension, like if i have one side of the car jacked up and the wheel off, is there some kind of torque on the sway bar that will cause it to twist as soon as i take the link off? Do i need to have right and left sides off the ground....
just trying to not impale myself.
just trying to not impale myself.
Last edited by Sci-fi_Wasabi; 11-11-2018 at 08:58 PM.
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Are the front sway bar links under any kind of tension, like if i have one side of the car jacked up and the wheel off, is there some kind of torque on the sway bar that will cause it to twist as soon as i take the link off? Do i need to have right and left sides off the ground....
just trying to to impale myself.
just trying to to impale myself.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 11-12-2018 at 08:29 AM.