control arm bushing

i have looked and i cant find a "how to" on removal and install of a lower control arm - is it easy as removing a couple of bolts and the ball joint mounting nut?

Well... yeah. It is just that removal of that ball joint top nut is a bear. You'll be better off if you do the 3 mounting bolts on the control arm after having marked them for proper positioning on reassembly.

The ball joint goes into a tapered hole in the bearing carrier that matches its own taper, so there's a lot of surface area. It gets settled in and the weight of the car wedges it in place, so removal of the ball joint can be ... um... 'interesting'.

And the two bolts on the wide end of the control arm are stretch bolts, IIRC, which means replacement with new.

Just remove the ball joint nut. Lube it first, turn the nut until it hits the CV joint and continue to turn. The ball joint will pop out. This way you do not have to change any bolts and alignment does not change. Hope this helps. Thanks Steve

stretch bolts again!!!!!!! there is always something that delays repair - I guess the only place to get these bolts is at the dealer right I think these cars was a big scam from volks with all these "special bolts"

Wow, $4 worth of bolts. Tough sell.

where at the dealer?

You gotta plan ahead on the repair and order these with the control arm busings:

Rear bolt & nut:
http://tdiparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36_62&products_id=701

Front bolt:
http://tdiparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36_62&products_id=977


Don't forget the sway bar attachemnt single use bolt:
http://tdiparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36_62&products_id=1139

You might as well replace the sway bar bushings at this time, since the sway bar is detached from the control arms:
http://tdiparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36_62&products_id=457

--Nate

SEABEECM1 said:

i have looked and i cant find a "how to" on removal and install of a lower control arm - is it easy as removing a couple of bolts and the ball joint mounting nut?

Click to expand...

Get this tool (free rent). Bushing go in like butter. You will thank me later. Harbor freight also sells it.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/accessories/accProductDetails.jsp?categoryDisplayName=Tools&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=557231_0_0_&productId=557231&sortType=&parentId=6-10&filterByKeyWord=ball+joint&categoryNValue=100006&navValue=101258&fromWhere=&itemId=1258-10&displayName=Ball+Joint+Press&store=2466&skuDisplayName=Ball+Joint/U+Joint+Press+Set&brandName=OEM