Now, I'm really new to this so bear with. What you're saying I have control arms in the front and rear (Like I said, I don't know and I'm learning.) that would be easier to replace than mash new bushings in. I'm cool with that.
So I need 4 new control arms VR6 front strut bearings Cup Kit and I'm done? Did I miss something? Just got some extra cash and it's burning a hole. Steve www.quickvws.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Williams, Chris (RSCH)" <[email protected]> To: "'Oleg M. Smirnov'" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; "'Steve Ingels'" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 7:18 AM Subject: RE: New suspension time. What to get? > Steve: > > I would definitely replace the control arm bushings or have someone do it for you. The rear bushings in my car went in three years. They flexed so much that they caused vibrations in my steering wheel under acceleration and changes in toe and caster under acceleration and braking. You can also buy new control arms with the bushings already installed if you have doubts about your ability to pull the old ones/press-in the new. About six weeks ago, I pulled/pressed-in the bushings with little more than a big vise, a dremel with a cutting wheel, and some "special tools" (a hole saw (to help pull the front bushing) and an OE VR6 upper spring cap (to help press-in the rear bushing). > > If you do one control arm at a time you should have no problems with the subframe shifting. About three years ago, when I first contemplated replacing my control arm bushings, I emailed Todd at AWE to ask him if it could be done safely. He gave me a qualified "yes". Since then, I've done the control arm bushings twice. One should always have concerns about stripping the longer subframe bolts at the rear, but the subframe has three other bolts to hold it so it should remain secure. > > The only way that I could imagine you'd have a problem dropping/misaligning the subframe is if the bolts were loose to begin with. If you have any doubts, why not torque them to spec before you begin the job? > > HTH, > > Chris > -----Original Message----- > From: Oleg M. Smirnov [SMTP:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 3:14 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: New suspension time. What to get? > > > Don't do the control arm bushings along with the suspension...do them when > > you have the motor out. This job is technically quite simple (remove some > > bolts, have bushings pressed in, replace control arms) but when *I* did > > this (out in the street in october), I was unable to get the rear subframe > > bolts back in. While I had things apart, something shifted, and those > > f-ing bolts would NOT go in. I kept having nightmares about screwing up > > the threads on the nut embedded in the sheetmetal above the subframe. I > > tried jacking up the engine/subframe and all sorts of other things, and the > > thing just wouldn't go back in. I literally spent an entire day trying to > > get the bolts back in. Eventually, I had it flat-bedded to a mechanic, and > > he finally got it back in by lifting the engine and tranny completely off > > the mounts and fiddling with the subframe. It wasn't a real fun > > experience. YMMV. > > Ouch, Patrick, I wish this topic had come up a day earlier. I've just spent > most of yesterday screwing around with that damn rear subframe bolt... It was > the exact same experience: blood, sweat, tears, and nightmares about stripped > threads. What finally worked for me was dropping the car back onto its > wheels, and bouncing on the front suspension for a bit. Then when I jacked it > back up, things had shifted into their assigned places, and the bolt went > right in... Maybe I was just lucky. Guess I'll know for sure today, since > I'm going back to do the other side -- wish me luck. > > Funnily enough, on an older A2, I was once replacing the complete subframe, > along with one control arm (as a result of jumping over a concrete block that > someone had forgotten in the middle of the road...), and I don't recollect > ANY trouble at all with those bolts. Maybe because I'd had the engine lifted > then. > > Cheers, > Oleg > > > > _____________ > List Sponsor: http://www.netsville.com > To remove yourself from this list, send mail to [email protected] with 'unsubscribe a2_16v' in the body of your message > See us on the web at http://www.a2-16v.com > Visit the 16V Homepage at http://www.gti16v.org > > _____________ List Sponsor: http://www.netsville.com To remove yourself from this list, send mail to [email protected] with 'unsubscribe a2_16v' in the body of your message See us on the web at http://www.a2-16v.com Visit the 16V Homepage at http://www.gti16v.org
