Thread: Lower control arms

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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?

Originally Posted by 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.

Not helped by the Poms salting the roads in winter...