Suspension arms

[tja]

Has anyone actually bought, fitted and used the cheap (although claim to be german origin) suspension arm kits for £100 from ebay?
There is obviously some difference between them and the kit for £450 from vagparts, but the difference would pay for a weitec spring and shock suspension kit which is also on my to do list.It's not that I'm tight, just don't want to spend any more than necessary! Do I hedge my bets and get a mid priced kit for £160, or would the cheap ones be worth a punt?

 

[aragorn]

I fitted one to mine a few months ago and so far its been fine. Quality seemed fine and it came with all the bolts and nuts to replace the existing ones that invariably are knackered. Cant fault it really. Just have to hope it actually lasts well.

 

[ian52]

mine is fine too.

 

[ALPINE]

could you boys possably give me a link to your kits as i will be buying some to replace when i fit my coilovers.

thanks

 

[aragorn]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/13-piec-Suspe...QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

that was the auction for mine

the guy has a cheaper kit listed too but i'm not sure what the difference is

 

[Lee Goodall]

Going to replace mine too.. anybody whose fitted these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/13-piec-Suspen...713.m153.l1262 had any problems or issues as it's a massive saving if they're good enough quality?

 

[aragorn]

ours are still ok, I might jack the car up at the weekend and have a look over the bushes to see if theres any obvious wear, but i expect they will be fine.

Ive used pattern parts on all the cars ive had and never had an issue with them, i dont know if they're going to last 10 years like the original ones, but i would certinaly expect them to last a few years before failing.

 

[ian52]

i think thats the ones i got.it was £130 to my door.the bushes on my original ones were ok,it was the ball joints that were gone.

 

[Lee Goodall]

I'll probably give them a go then.. be interested to see if you've got any signs of wear yet aragorn if you get a chance to look.

Cheers.

 

[Lee Goodall]

i think thats the ones i got.it was £130 to my door.the bushes on my original ones were ok,it was the ball joints that were gone.

How long have they been fitted for now?.. Still performing ok?

 

[livlee1]

i had exactly the same kit fitted 3 months ago and all is still fine, mine only took 2 days to arrive from germany, top bloke..

had trouble removing my pinch bolt on the hub carrier even after spraying it with wd40 everyday for days beforehand and when i attempted it, gave up in the end and went to the garage and even they took a few hours to get them out!! so that bumped up the labour charge a tad.

so worth going 4 i reckon..

 

[aragorn]

the pinch bolt on mine was a nightmare too, i was doing the bearings at the same time so had the whole upright off the car, ended up drilling it out on the pillar drill to get it out

The other tricky bit was the rear lower arm bolt thru the subframe, i lowered the subframe a little and removed it as although it would have been possible to hammer it out i didnt think i'd be able to get the new bolt in again, someone since pointed out you can simply put the new bolt in from the other side...

 

[ian52]

give the hub a decent bit of heat at the pinch bolt and just keep working the bold.it should come eventualy.just cut the lower rear bolt and fit it from the inside.saves messing with the subframe or anything.

 

[aragorn]

mine had lots of heat and lots of beating with BIG hammers while clamped to a vice on the bench, it wasnt moving at all ended up snapping the bolt trying to free it using a breaker bar on the nut after about half an hour of beating and roasting it... Hence out with the drill!

Other side just tapped out too

 

[AndyMac]

Just received this kit today from Germany, looks really decent, can't believe the price, each part works out at about £10. You can't buy replacement bushes for that!
Am about to try fitting it and found this brilliant write up:
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel.html

4th article down.
Much more real world than the next to useless Haynes manual with it's 1960's photo's and ideal world "just slide out the pinch bolt". Gives me a bit more confidence to have a go.

 

[Adam-D]

good read that, about a weeks work there lol

 

[AndyMac]

Anyone attempting this without a garage full of specialised machinery & air hammer tools just DON'T!
I now have an undriveable car, mangled tools and am completely ****** off!

 

[Biglockie]

I did mine in my gargae took all day to complete but did it no the less, recived a few sections of spanner rash, use lots of wd-40 or a freeing agent prior to the job and a wire brush on the exposed threads of the bolts.