I have a re-occuring problem on the passenger side front suspension arm where the powerflex bush has poped out and had to be replaced 3 times! I know it has been a common problem with powerflex for quite some time but this occasion it lasted less then a week. When fitted by awseome GTI a couple of weeks back it didn't look right from the start - I think the front suspension arm is bent slightly which effects the bush alligning properly and placing it under excess strain, however they didn't mention anything.

The guy told me a popular upgrade on the Golfs is to fit the stronger Audi TT arms and powerflex these - has anyone heard of this being done before?

Anyway it's booked into Skoda next thursday but for now I have to drive with the front arm resting on the subframe again :eek:. They're going to check the suspected arm to see if it is actually disfigured and I'll probably get the standard bushes fitted again because I'm so P*SSED off with the whole thing.

I'll try and post some pics when I get home but any advice on the Audi TT arms and how they are different from the cheep crappy pressed steel octy ones would be much appreciated

RANT OVER!

The TT arms are a lighter weight and forged (maybe) rather than pressed steel.

However the lover ball joint is a different size so needs to be adapted with other parts iirc. The best way to do it is fit the TT bearing carrier unit and use the TT balljoint assembley. Not only is it all lighter but it alters the front geometry and means you can adjust camber/castor.

you could fit the solid tt bush in the standard arms

Take a look on uk mk4's as there is a really good thread on there which explains how to do it, what parts are needed etc and some good photos. You need to be aware that the TT arms drop the ride height at the front by 1" over stock Golf/Octavia parts. They also fitted an S3 steering rack at the same time so if you search for one or the other you should pull it up ok. I would do it for you but i'm at work and mk4's is blocked here unfortunately.

There was also a guide in Volkswagen Driver magazine, the chaps at APS carried out the work.

Any links to this?

Like I said, I can't access mk4's but if you go onto their forum and do a search you'll bring it up easily enough.

Here's the link:

TT QUICKRACK SUBFRAME INSTALL PIC HEAVY - uk-mkivs

Thanks for that.

So all I really need is the TT rack.

I'm in that thread ........lol

I still ain't changed my steering rack .....I keep meaning to get it done:O

Delcac, there were a couple of other threads as well which helped clarify things. It's a little while since I looked at it properly as I have decided to spend money on other non car related things at the moment but I have a list of what's required at home which I harvested from a load of the Mk4 threads. I won't be back until the weekend but if you PM me your email i'll send you the Word doc I have made as it may help clarify things for you.

From what I gather, the TT/S3/R32 rack works fine with your existing ends. If you are using the TT cast wishbones you then need to alter your hubs to FWD TT items and use different track rod ends. That is as far as I remember it but I would double check to make sure as it isn't something that I have actually done myself and it is a little while since I last looked into it.

The TT rack gives 2.5 turns lock to lock and the cast arms which are geometry corrected for being lower drop the car 15-20mm when I glanced at it last night. As they are slightly different to the stock arms, the ARB's are in a different slightly different location and this prevents fouling of the ARB on the drive shafts if you have the car lowered aggressively.

Hope that helps.