lithium15

How hard is it do change the control arms and the tie rod ends in the front on both sides? is there instructions anywhere?

MelloYelloS4:Indkted

I don't have the link... but my tie rod ends were extremely easy.

Mark P

the bolt through the control arm did not want to budge. It took a while of whacking it with the 5lb sledge before it came loose. Then, I had a hell of a time getting the nut loose on the threaded tie rod where it tightens to the tie rod itself. There was no good surface to really rest one open end on while using both arms to push/pull on the other. In the end, it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't *extremely easy* either. I'll have pics of oem vs heavy duty in the morning

veryfastS4

I needed the help of another person for this.
All in all, it is a pretty moderate job.
It does require lots of muscles to get the old tie rods out. I was fortunate to work from a lift so I didn't have to struggle on my back.

It should take about 2 hours if this is your first time. If you don't have the tools go to a mechanic and pay two hours of labor for this.

Andy_FL

<img src="http://images4.fotki.com/v51/photos/4/48510/549834/PA310024-vi.jpg">

Yours may look like this (or worse), depending on what conditions your vehicle sees. After an hour or so soaking in PB blaster they came loose. And as Mark described, it's not easy to get leverage in there. Good luck

Andy

Chazzz

Which ends did you put in new?

Mark P

I replaced the end on the driver's side where it meets the control arm

Mark P

<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/s4/tierodends/dsc01037.jpg">
<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/s4/tierodends/dsc01038.jpg">

FixedWing

Better? Or just different??

davenew

Tighten the bushing bolts while the arms are at or near normal ride height.