Lower control arms

[Crimdog]

Hey all,

So apparently my lower control arm bushes are shot on my 2010 d4 and need replacing. By looking on here and talking to couple of LR mechanics it looks like that means replacing the whole lower control arm. Thought I would throw it out there....
What's the cheapest way I can get through this?
Is it really better to replace the whole arm rather than just the bushes?
Should I try and import the parts? What's the part number?

Any other advice?

Thanks
CD

[bbyer]

I do not really know much about the 4, but for the 3, I believe one is better off to replace the whole lower A arm assembly than just to replace the lower ball joints.

For the 3, it really made sense on the early year vehicles, (2005 to 07), as one was also getting the redesigned ball joint arrangement as well as new rubber bushings.

[Marmoset]

I did the whole thing on my 3 as the labour charges for installing the bushes offsets the savings made by just buying the bushes alone, when they were off it was also found that there was some ball joint wear so its probably cheaper in the long run to change the whole arm. I got mine in from Duckworths in the UK, about $700 all in with delivery.

A wheel alignment afterwards is a must do.

[Rich84]

I did the whole thing on my 3 as the labour charges for installing the bushes offsets the savings made by just buying the bushes alone, when they were off it was also found that there was some ball joint wear so its probably cheaper in the long run to change the whole arm. I got mine in from Duckworths in the UK, about $700 all in with delivery.

A wheel alignment afterwards is a must do.

Need to do this myself - it seems very common in the UK that the bolts need to be cut off due to corrosion and then replaced - did this happen to you too??


Cheers

[Marmoset]

No, the bolts were fine to be re-used, although my car hadn't been near the beach etc. The issue occurs when the bolts get rusted to the sleeve inside the bushes.

[Crimdog]

Looks like I'm up for a little over 1k for the job, does that sound right? Anyone been able to get it done cheaper?

[theresanothersteve]

No, the bolts were fine to be re-used, although my car hadn't been near the beach etc. The issue occurs when the bolts get rusted to the sleeve inside the bushes.
Not helped by the Poms salting the roads in winter...

[ctgiles84]

I replaced whole lower arm and replaced bushes in top. Had a mate with a press so did everything bar that myself. My suggestion is check back bushes before you wheel alignment as I now have to replace back ones and I think this put the wheel alignment out a little. But may be wrong. Rather easy to do. I replaced all bolts as mine were rubbed out of shape. But my D3 has done around 260000k's.