Upper vs Lower Control Arm Replacement

[Bens]

Hey folks! I am needing to replace my lower control arms (front and rear) in my 2006 D3. I plan on ordering them from the UK. Can anyone advise if I should also do the upper control arms? Mine currently appear to be fine in terms of movement/condition. Any help would be much appreciated.

Have a good one. Ben

[Redback]

I recently did mine, both upper and lower, mine has 130,000ks on it, although mine has all the gear on it, front and rear bars rack, awnings, long range tank and so on, my top arms were shagged, my lower arms weren't that bad, as I had done them about 40,000ks earlier, and I probably could have left them for another 40,000ks, but I decided to do both.

How many Ks have you on the car and has the lower arms been done before??

Baz.

[Bens]

thanks for your note Baz.

my D3 has 215k kms and the lower and upper arms dont look like they have been replaced in the last 4 years (for which i have receipts).

i was trying to avoid the $ outlay but given the frequency of your replacement of the comtrol arms it seems to me i should do the upper too, would you agree?

[Disco-tastic]

Check out this thread regarding the lower bushes from the armoured d3. They should last a little longer, though they are a little stiffer than standard. It doesnt answer the upper arms question but might save you changing them frequently.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=225301

Cheers

Dan

[DiscoDB]

If doing yourself, planning to keep the D3 for some time, and you believe they have never been done before, then yes probably a good idea to do at the same time. I have read others have done the uppers on the second round of doing the lowers. My front lowers lasted 100K so my intent will be to do both uppers and lowers the next time the lowers come due again. May be a different story with the rears though, as these do not seem to fail as often.

[Redback]

thanks for your note Baz.

my D3 has 215k kms and the lower and upper arms dont look like they have been replaced in the last 4 years (for which i have receipts).

i was trying to avoid the $ outlay but given the frequency of your replacement of the comtrol arms it seems to me i should do the upper too, would you agree?

If you're getting a clunk in the front, chances are it's your lower arms, and with 215,000ks on it, sounds like it has done mostly highway miles, given my D4 seems to be 2 lower arms to one set of upper arms, you could be OK with just doing your lower arms.

I do a lot of offroad Ks, as well a tow offroad, the car is also used for semi serious offroad as well and with all the accessories, which means it weighs a lot more, mine go early.

Baz.

[Bens]

thanks fellas. i am going to do the upper fronts too and leave the upper rear this time round. a local mechanic said the upper rear shouldn't need doing until about 300k kms.

really appreciate the advice. have a good one.

[Redback]

thanks fellas. i am going to do the upper fronts too and leave the upper rear this time round. a local mechanic said the upper rear shouldn't need doing until about 300k kms.

really appreciate the advice. have a good one.

I haven't touched my rear arms, lower or upper, only the front.

[Bens]

the ride in the back has become really hard Baz, as well as the front. the odd knock too, at 215k kms it probably makes sense i should do this too.

[Redback]

the ride in the back has become really hard Baz, as well as the front. the odd knock too, at 215k kms it probably makes sense i should do this too.

Get all the arms to save money in the long term for the arms, but only do the front and see how it goes, then do the back if you think it needs it, will work out the same in labour cost anyway, just a thought.

Also keep your old arms.

Baz.