rmr25

I'm stuck trying to remove the inner bushing end of the rt. front lower control arm. (The one held in by about a 6" long 17mm bolt.) I've got the sway bar free of the arm outer end. The pinch bolt holding the ball joint to the hub also is out. But I can't pull, push, pry or wiggle the inner end of the arm free of its recess in the bracket on the submount. The bushing steel sleeve seems free, but the arm won't slide out. Anybody solved this problem? TIA.

Bob

4Driver4

Are you talking about the steel "bushing" that is fused to the rubber mount, or the bushing inside of that?
If you haven't removed it already, there is a steel bushing that must be pulled out the bottom before the arm will come off. I used a coat hanger with a very tight hook to pull it out through the same hole that the bolt goes in. Generally this bushing can be re-used, but if you've really been yanking on the control arm you might need to replace it.

rmr25

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm talking about the steel sleeve/bushing at the center of the rubber bushing. Its center is the size of the bolt. But it didn't seem to me there was a hole on the bottom of the bracket large enough for that sleeve/bushing to slide through. IOW, it looks to me that the inner diameter of the steel sleeve is about the outer diameter of the bolt. The outer diameter of the sleeve seems to be larger than the bottom bolt hole in the bracket. Have I got that wrong? Bob

Bill the Cat

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/60384/ctrl_arm.jpg"></center><p>I have not done the job - and cannot help any more - but now all of you can speak by #

rmr25

Bill:
Thanks for the ETKA. Where I'm stumped is with the steel sleeve (#10) that goes inside the rubber bushing(#3). I can't see how to draw the sleeve out through the bolt hole; its diameter is just too big. It looks like the end of the am should just slide out of the bracket opening. But I can't budge it. Bob

GT500R

bolt hole. The sleeve is actually a little longer than the control arm bushing so it gets caught on the top and bottom bolt hole openings when you try to pull the control arm out. I used a screwdriver and stuck it between the top of the bushing and the subframe, then pryed down a bit. This will push the sleeve down enough so you can grab it with needle nose pliers and pull it out the bottom.

4Driver4

It is basically a piece of sheet metal rolled into a tube. Do not confuse it with the heavy steel busing that is fused to the rubber bushing.

Go buy #10 from the audi dealer. At this point, it's probably damaged anyway. Once you have this thing in your hand, all will become clear to you.

rmr25

Guys:
Thanks loads for your splendid help. Now, however, I've got a new hangup. GT500R: You've done a couple of these. Do you have a suggestion for a ball joint that's stuck? I can get mine down about 1/4", but pulling, pushing, pounding, heat, etc, etc, won't let me get it free of the pinch bolt hole. Any suggestions for this stumper?