Upper control arm bushing failure (pictures)

[xoo00oox]

[61Scout]

[levi]

What you've inferred about Christopher is not cool.

Suggest that you retract that statement.
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One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[Jake de Villiers]

[Wellington]

A quick assumption is to think a vendor would promote their product over anything else available, but such is not the case with Christopher as others have commented.

With all the bashing that goes on it would be nice if people left positive feedback when it is deserved, as provided in this forum.

I'm guilty of not leaving feedback,
T3 Technique.....great to work with, and as others have stated, so much free info posted on this forum regarding wheel fitment, fabulous products.

Flint European automotive, outstanding service!!!! My best addition to my Westy, reversed 1.8T

Now to go leave two great members some feedback that have both helped me.

[ZsZ]

Last year I bought Febis here in Hungary and they look like the Meyle ones posted in the first posts. Not installed them yet planning to do before the state exam. My Lemforder ones lasted 7-8 years and they squeking since about the third or fourth year.

pics:

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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[elizer]

Echoing everyone here in regards to T3 Chris. Honest and worked with me when the shipper lost my goods. Very communicative and has great product support.

When it comes to poly bushings. Ive changed all my past vehicles to poly bushings. 07 sti, 15 rubicon, 00 xj and 12 softail. I changed the suspension on all the vehicles at the same time so I can't comment on any ride harshness. I also can't comment on the squeaking because none of the above vehicles were quiet in anyway. But I like doing things once and being done with it.

I have the burley uca but got powerflex everything else to include the power steering rack. The upfront investment may be more costly, but just value your own time at $150 an hour and the cost of replacing rubber bushings becomes unreasonable. Right?

[Vanagon Nut]

Hi all.

re: installing a Zerk grease fitting at each UCA bushing.

Any need to tack weld them in place?

i.e. does the thin metal hold them in place well enough over time and use?

I'll upgrade to Whiteline bushings soon but want to do a short road trip before that. My UCA are noisy and arm is difficult to move up down. Bushings were replaced about a year and 15K ago.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[T3Syncrohammer!]

Hi, I’m getting ready to buy upper control arm bushings for my Syncro aka Syncrohammer! And I am wondering if anyone has tried these Australian made

Nolathane Revo420086

They look good! As does the price! but hard to tell

[Mikesarge]

I agree- hard to tell!

You could always go with the tried and true powerflex or whiteline bits from a forum sponsor, then it’s no worries. They look a bit like the whitelines, and they’re only a little cheaper- A personal choice no doubt but I’d rather spend a little more and have the product support/ integrity behind a forum sponsor’s products than give van money to bezos, who has never posted here, or shown any interest in these vans.
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1986 Syncro westfauxlia EJ22
1980 911 SC 3.1

[broncoisl]

This seems to be the upper control arm bushing thread so I post this here.

I'm currently replacing the bushings in my westy. The bushings were old and cracked but not squeaking. I have owned this van since 2008 and have never replaced them. The van has only 150000 Km on the clock so the old bushings might be original. Only pressed in no weld.

Has anyone used Lemförder recently?

The Lemförder bushings I bought are made in Turkey and were not cheap They look low quality to me but have the lemförder logo and vw partnumber on them. The inner sleeve in the old bushings seems to be much thicker.

[ZsZ]

Lemforder is the OE manufacturer of these bushings, however the rubber quality nowadays not as good as was in the 80s.
As I wrote before new lemforders started to squeak after 3-4 years.
Its too late but I would have had leave the old ones in.

EDIT: the lack of the securing weld means that those were replaced before. The grinding marks are visible on your second pic. Probably your old ones are some aftermarket ones
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[broncoisl]

I decided to replace them anyway because the rubber looked really bad. If they fail I probably will try something different and more expensive like the GoWesty bushings.

[ZsZ]

[MarkWard]

Went to install a set of Lemforders into my Syncro upper control arms. Was pleased to see the vw number cast into them. Unfortunately after pressing out the old ones, the Lemforders “fall” in. Bummer.
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[ZsZ]

[ZsZ]

The new Lemforder bushings arrived. I bought a JPGroup one for comparsion.

ZF changed the partnr and the part itself. The old ones had the VW-Audi logo removed by a grinder. The new one have a new style plastic cap with no grinding marks.
I have read on Brickwerks site that the design was changed and they no longer recommend it on syncros. In comparsion to the JPG one it is smaller in every dimension

Lemförder:

JPGroup:

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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[ZsZ]

Looks like the right front failed. The rubber is pressed out from the bushing

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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[therastavan]

I am having trouble removing the control arm bolt. Read all the posts, even made a tool to push it out and it will not budge. Also does not seem rusted. Soaked i n KROIL for days. Any other ideas?

[MarkWard]

Contact Christopher at T3 Technique. He lists the bolts on his website. Get the bolts and carefully cut the control arm free with a sawzall. Be careful not to cut the arm or the chassis. I’m fairly certain the bolt is seized to the bushing sleeves not the chassis. Once you have the arm cut free, you can press the bushings out of the control arm. Press in new ones. Hopefully the remaining piece of bolt comes out of the chassis.

Freeing up frozen items usually takes a lot of heat. I would discourage trying to use a torch to free up the bolt especially on a 2wd. The fuel tank is right there. Good luck.
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