Why do the Control Arms, Water Pump, Timing Belt go bad so soon?
05-06-2004, 09:53 PM
#21
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That makes more sense!
I am glad to hear it is an actual replaceable
bushing as that means a fix is an easy one..
As for one bushing not being available it would
be pretty easy for me to design the blueprints to
machine a Polyurethane or even a Delrin or Graphite
bushing for the one that you can't get via aftermarket.
bushing as that means a fix is an easy one..
As for one bushing not being available it would
be pretty easy for me to design the blueprints to
machine a Polyurethane or even a Delrin or Graphite
bushing for the one that you can't get via aftermarket.
05-06-2004, 09:55 PM
#22
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I've only seem one arm go bad, in the sense that it actually failed completely and broke in two.
I no metalurgist, but I would say that aluminum is a fairly good material for the stresses in that area.
05-06-2004, 09:57 PM
#23
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Doesn't it make it bad enough that the controls arms...
not just the bushings have to be replaced? I know they don't easily break in half. I never had a control arm issue, so honestly, I never paid that close attention to the problem.
05-06-2004, 09:59 PM
#24
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well that would be great. I have had little luck getting ahold of the company who does make them for
our cars as they are in Europe. I contacted thier US distributer, but have yet to recieve a reply back.
Some people on the board have done bushing replacement, but they say it is quite tedious.
If your inclined I'd be more than happy to test out a design of yours. I think it would be better than dropping $500-600 plus on a set of heavy duty arms.
Some people on the board have done bushing replacement, but they say it is quite tedious.
If your inclined I'd be more than happy to test out a design of yours. I think it would be better than dropping $500-600 plus on a set of heavy duty arms.
05-06-2004, 10:02 PM
#25
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well consider it's purpose and design
Really all it is, is simply a peice of aluminum with a bushing in it. If the bushing fails the ride looses compliance. The only real reason an arm would need to be replaced would be due to failure, or warping / bending. Unless that is a common outcome due to worn bushings (which I would doubt given it's job) then the arm itself would most likely never need to be replaced.
05-06-2004, 10:04 PM
#26
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Re: well that would be great. I have had little luck getting ahold of the company
I will have to get my hands on a set of arms out
of an A4 to measure the bushing dimensions. I wish
I could market these for people on the forums but
it's not like I have the equipment in my basement
to do them.
If I get my own set of custom bushings made it's
only because my friends can do it at work as a...
"Government Project" aka stay after work and
make them for me.
I should buy a CNC Haas machining center and
start mass producing the bushings
Once the
original design is made and tested it's just a
matter of sticking a long bar into the machine and
walking away
(Too bad the machines cost upwards of $250K....)
D'oh!
of an A4 to measure the bushing dimensions. I wish
I could market these for people on the forums but
it's not like I have the equipment in my basement
to do them.
If I get my own set of custom bushings made it's
only because my friends can do it at work as a...
"Government Project" aka stay after work and
make them for me.
I should buy a CNC Haas machining center and
start mass producing the bushings
Once theoriginal design is made and tested it's just a
matter of sticking a long bar into the machine and
walking away
(Too bad the machines cost upwards of $250K....)
D'oh!
05-06-2004, 10:08 PM
#28
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As long as the bushing doesn't wear through..
Usually control arm bushings are a steel shell
that is pressed into the control arm and then a
rubber or urethane bushing goes into the steel
sleeve and then another steel sleve goes into the
center of the rubber/urethane bushing and this is
where the control arm bolts go through.
Assuming the bushing hasn't worn to the point
where the bare aluminum arm is rubbing on the bolt
(and if it was... You would KNOW it!) it should
just be a matter or replacing just the rubber or
urethane part. Of course this is how most American
cars are... I have no clue how Audi designed the
control arms
that is pressed into the control arm and then a
rubber or urethane bushing goes into the steel
sleeve and then another steel sleve goes into the
center of the rubber/urethane bushing and this is
where the control arm bolts go through.
Assuming the bushing hasn't worn to the point
where the bare aluminum arm is rubbing on the bolt
(and if it was... You would KNOW it!) it should
just be a matter or replacing just the rubber or
urethane part. Of course this is how most American
cars are... I have no clue how Audi designed the
control arms
05-06-2004, 10:19 PM
#30
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It's not about money.. It's about laziness :)
All of my machinist friends are slower than
molases.. It takes months for me to get stuff
made by them.. Always excuses why they can't get
it done bla bla bla..
I just wish I could afford the equipment for in
my garage and I would rack all sorts of neat parts
out
molases.. It takes months for me to get stuff
made by them.. Always excuses why they can't get
it done bla bla bla..
I just wish I could afford the equipment for in
my garage and I would rack all sorts of neat parts
out