I have just bought an 02 Superb, the front upper controls are shot and need replaced.  Is there any specific brand to avoid as I can see some cheap ones on ebay £15 an arm.  Would these suffice?  I'm not wanting to throw a lot of money at the car as I only bought, although I don't want to throw money away either..

 

Thanks

I would avoid the very cheap ones. I did mine using cheaply euro car parts arms and they only lasted about 10k. Second time around I got Lemforder arms (which are genuine but with the logo ground off) using the briskoda discount from Euro Car Parts and they were still going strong 40k later when I sold the car.

Phil

go onto FEBI website, choose your car model in the catalogue, it will give you the part numbers (total 4 different top arms, all unique), then copy and paste those part numbers into Google shopping search and you will find they will be around £75 for the whole set, it's a good brand and have been good on my car for 20k miles and rolling on...

Make sure you follow the correct fitting procedure to avoid early failure, and start lubing up that pinch bolt now!

Cheers, yeah about to get some ordered this week, any guides to correct fitting?  I have been lubing the pinch bolt already, although My brother has a 900 lb/ft air gun and an air chisel, so that bound to get the bugger out..

Brute force will just shear the pinch bolt off.

 

After a week of soaking, the best way of getting these bolts out is to saw through the bolt using the slot in the knuckle nearer the bolt head. You won't be able to get right through, but the idea is to shear off the bolt head in-situ by turning the head. The bolt is rusty, unplated 8.8 material, so it breaks easily.

 

To shift the remainder, jam a washer or something similar in the other knuckle slot to stop it closing as you pull - but don't open up the slot. Now fit a long high-tensile nut and some washers to the threaded end of the bolt, heat the knuckle and carefully wind the shank out, adding washers as you go as it's not a set bolt. Go steadily and don't shear the bolt stub if you can avoid it. Last resort is a drill... (ugh). The VAG Klann tool for removal of rusted bolts is a joke.

 

Preventative maintenance will save all this trouble - the B5.5 has so many design sillies that you need to keep on top of these if it's not to become an absolute pain to own when it gets old. It's a pity, because well maintaied, these cars will go for miles (as a 1.9 PD 5 sp manual). The VAG maintenance schedule addresses none of these faults - I have my own schedule...

 

rotodiesel.

Edited 26 August, 201312 yr by rotodiesel

Cheers Rotodiesel, you should upload your maintenance schedule for others to follow.. 

+ 1

+1

Febi catalog here:

 

http://cars.febi-parts.com/?lang=D

 

In case your German is not that good, you need to search for keyword Queerlenker, and vorderachse oben (front axle upper).

Parts are 21904 21906 11137 11138, but pls check, it' getting late...

 

11137/8 are now £20, cheapest on Ebay.

21904/6 are £23, also on ebay.

So for around £90 all inc you could have all 4.  Gone up a bit, I paid £75 or so

 

When changing the upper arms you will need 4x new bolts/nuts, and 2x pinch bolts/nuts (40Nm) for the latter, the arms are TQ plus angle I think, check.  They need to be tightened in the same position as the old ones to avoid stressing the rubber.

Febi also list these parts on the catalog page. Other option is main dealer.

Edited 27 August, 201312 yr by oh_superb

Cheers, I bought the Febi ones from ebay, got them all from MisterAuto, here next day and cost £85, also bought a full bolt set too.. Going to give it a go at the weekend.  Does the whole strut assembly need removed for the car to change them?  WIll try them one at a time..

Yes, the strut assy will ned to come out, there is not enough access to remove and fit the upper arm bolts/nuts in situ.

Undo and remove pinch bolt.  With a club hammer remove the arms from the stub axle.  Three bolts (under body coloured plastic caps) in the engine bay x2 sides, 13mm from memory, undo them to be able to remove the strut after removing the 19mm bolt securing the shock to the lower arm - may need to use spring compressor on standard length springs - if you have Eibach or sports suspension compressing the spring may not be necessary.

Before you remove the upper arms, make a note of the angular orientation, do one a time.  Put new one in the same position as the one just removed, one by one, for all 4.  Torque the new bolts to the correct spec, 45Nm from memory, check.  Grease up the Pinch bolt, torque spec is 40Nm.

It's a really easy DIY job, if the pinch bolt comes out easily.  Enjoy a tight and rattle free top end!

Edited 5 September, 201312 yr by oh_superb

Bloody hell... All done, but what a pain.. pinch bolts were a nightmare, ending up having to drill them out, took approx 8 hours to do both sides, about 5 of those were the bloody pinch bolts..

...and is there a significant improvement in suspension and steering??

 

I have 112,000 miles on the original control arms and they feel very flexible over bumps and potholes, together with a little wear on both the edges of the front tyres, so was thinking of a whole new set, but my dilemma is which ones to buy; £90, £140 or £300+

 

TDi1.9

Febi will do just fine.

Hi Cown,

 

Thanks, and yes, I understand Febi and Lemforder are pretty much OEM, but Febi seem to be around £310 for the complete set including track rod ends.  If I'm going to pay that much, I wonder if it's worth paying the extra £30- £50 or so for Meyle, which I presume are a little bit tougher or more durable?

 

Or, of course, go cheap with ones at half, or even a third the price and take my chances that they will probably last at least half as long.

 

Decisions, decisions!!!

 

TDi1.9

Trust me, you will thank yourself for spending the extra $$. My Superb went over 285K miles and i had to change the cheaper arms every 3 months, where the Febi ones could run almost 150K miles. 

...and is there a significant improvement in suspension and steering??

 

I have 112,000 miles on the original control arms and they feel very flexible over bumps and potholes, together with a little wear on both the edges of the front tyres, so was thinking of a whole new set, but my dilemma is which ones to buy; £90, £140 or £300+

 

TDi1.9

 

A lot less knocking, although still a bit of noise from the front left, although the CV is split.. so will get the joint replaced and see.. I got mine from misterauto on ebay, next day free delivery

Cown and technics100;  thanks for your experience.   I guess I'll see what my MOT man says in a few weeks time and go from there.

 

Given that my original arms have lasted 8 years and 112,000 miles I guess a similar quality, either Febi or Meyle is not too bad an investment.

 

Tdi1.9

Yeah, I think mine was on original arms at 125k..

Over 100k it's time to overhaul the front suspension.  Save up and spend money wisely, not on some knock-off chinese proverbial but trusted brands or OEM, and that may be the last you will see of them... as most cars don't get to 200k.