Mk4 Control arms

[dylan8]

As per my post in the stickied control arm install thread.
I need to replace my control arms, and I already have the upgraded bushes (R32/TT).
I cant seem to find a part number for them new WITHOUT bushes already pushed in. Does anyone know it?
Also while im at it, is there a OEM 'upgrade' for the control arms?
Car in question is a 01 FWD Bora 2lt
Link below is the what i have found on ECS WITH the bushes, I want without.

Volkswagen Jetta IV 2.0 > Suspension > OEM > Control Arms > ES#259952 Lower Front Control Arm - Fits Left And Right Side - 1J0407151C

[whiteVR6]

They dont sell the arms without the bushes.
Whats wrong with your ams ?

[dylan8]

really? bugger. im sure i saw them at one stage... maybe not.

They have wear marks and a crack in the middle of the top face. dont think its getting worse now I have sorted the problem, but want to replace them anyway.
In the first ECS pic just this side of the larger round hole from memory.

Well if thats the case, can I use some from a R32 or TT with the uprated bushes already pressed in...?

[rayray086]

Well if thats the case, can I use some from a R32 or TT with the uprated bushes already pressed in...?

Don't quote me on this but I think they're different enough to not allow compatibility. The R32/TT ones are slightly longer and have elongated holes to allow for extra camber adjustment. I had looked into getting drop spindles for the A3 (my A3 FWD control arms are the same as yours and Mk4 Golf FWD too) and the TT spindles actually have a lower mounting point for the ball-joint. This evens out the control arm geometry somewhat when the car's lowered quite a bit, which means better handling characteristics. I'm in the process of writing it up in my blog but not quite finished yet. I've posted it up for now so have a look! Another blogger went pretty in-depth with it all, so check it out here - The Mk1 Audi TT Enthusiast Guide: TT Suspension Geometry Analysis: How Bad is Lowering for Handling?.

I might be wrong with it all, but what I'm sure of is that the R32/TT ones are longer. I'm thinking it's a similar situation compared to a Mk3 4 cylinder using VR6 control arms with stock steering knuckle, driveshafts etc. It's not meant to fit.

[whiteVR6]

I dont think they are longer.
The arms are curved differently and dont have allowances for the sway bar to bolt onto the arm itself. The ball joints are different in the way they sit in the arm compared to the mk4 Golf fwd units. To confuse matters worse, the mk4 golf has the same control arms as the V6 Bora 4-motion, yet they are different to the R32,S3 and all TT's including the FWD units!!! Then you have differences in the hub-carrier and tie-rod ends as well!

[rayray086]

Ahh I've always thought they were longer... I'm still stuck in the Mk3 world!

I know that the hub carrier is different, no idea about the tie-rods though... what a mess.

[dylan8]

Good read there Ray! Thanks for the replies guys!
For some reason I thought the 4mo arms had end link holes even though they are not required on those models...
sigh, maybe ill just get some stock ones with stock bushes. Anyone got any spare mk4 FWD control arms in good nick they dont want any more (bush condition doesnt worry me)

While Id love to research/play with the idea of maybe converting it to a TT style setup like in that write up to fix the handling, I just dont have time/money.