lower front suspension control arms length

[smphillips]

Hi all,

Hoping someone with a little more Audi experience could answer a question about Front suspension lower control arms.

There is two lower control arms on my B6 avant 2003 1.9TDI 101hp model Audi, my question is are the curved control arms supposed to be the same length from side to side?

I will tell you for why, I was driving to work on a wet cold morning and going around a corner the car slid on either black ice or oil and took a hit to the front left wheel on a curb. The front left wheel now does not sit centrally in the wheel well and to my eye looks to have more positive camber than the other side. I have looked under the car when i took in for tracking and cannot visably see anything bent, but the car pulls to the left. I have this evening measured the curved control arms and the left hand one appears to be about 1.5 inches approx shorter than the right hand one.

Hoping the image attached helps clarify which arm i mean.

Regards and thanks in advance Simon

 

[QuattroCalum]

It would be hard to tell if it's bent unless you removed them for comparison. Have you checked the inner bush, that may have took the brunt of the impact. Would be wise to just replace it anyway I think.


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[vr6gordy]

Remember to put one on the other side as well as your ment to fit these as pairs

 

[smphillips]

It would be hard to tell if it's bent unless you removed them for comparison. Have you checked the inner bush, that may have took the brunt of the impact. Would be wise to just replace it anyway I think.


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Thanks for your response, i have been Googling and found a measurement of 17.5 inches, having measured mine it is only 17 inches long centre to centre. Now just about to order a kit but my registration number comes up with both sizes of ball joint listed against it.

 

[smphillips]

Remember to put one on the other side as well as your ment to fit these as pairs

I will order a kit for both sides but having checked with the parts company my registration has both ball joint sizes listed against it. so back to reasearching

 

[QuattroCalum]

I will order a kit for both sides but having checked with the parts company my registration has both ball joint sizes listed against it. so back to reasearching

Generally if it has alloy uprights it's the 16mm balljoint but I stand to be corrected.

 

[smphillips]

I have been out and measured the thickest part of the ball joint at 21 and a bit millimetres, can anyone confirm these to be 20mm joints?

 

[smphillips]

Generally if it has alloy uprights it's the 16mm balljoint but I stand to be corrected.

Thanks I have seen some more quotes that alloy uprights have 16mm, If im correct in saying that the upright is the part with the spring on it? mine appears to be steel, painted black slightly peeling and with a few brown patches.

 

[QuattroCalum]

Where the top arms and bottom arms bolt onto.


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[smphillips]

In that case where the top arms bolt onto is definatley alloy, scrape the mud off and its shiny aluminium under there. Now i have to find out why i have a 21mm thick end of the ball joint on the straightest lower arm? Many thanks for your help this far these cars are a mine field for getting spares

 

[QuattroCalum]

In that case where the top arms bolt onto is definatley alloy, scrape the mud off and its shiny aluminium under there. Now i have to find out why i have a 21mm thick end of the ball joint on the straightest lower arm? Many thanks for your help this far these cars are a mine field for getting spares

There is an insert into the alloy upright, sometimes the insert can come out with the balljoint.


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