B/J Upper Control Arms Differences?

[jamesbissland]

Hi All,

Are the top control arms on a ball joint beam the same casting, with the ball joint just being pressed in from the opposite side?

Ive pressed my ball joints out to tidy the arms up, but now i dont know which is which - both arms have the alignment 'V' on both sides...

I have had a look to see how the bare ones are sold...
Some retailers sell them as the same item (left or right), and some sell then as left and right specifically...

Any help would be appreciated
Cheers
James

[Pez]

Should be part numbers cast into the arms. Are they the same?
_________________
Chasing Squirrel's.

1971 Bay Window
1966 Baja

[Q-Dog]

The shape of the arms might be the same(I haven't really looked), but the machining where the ball joints get pressed in is not the same.

_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[Pez]

As Brian said, castings are different so no they cannot be swapped. I made the mistake years ago and the Ball joint will no sit completely flush in the arm. But always check part numbers on the parts you have, will be a quick a definitive answer.

Also when referencing parts and their numbers use Wolfsburg West. Some other parts sites add onto numbers or change numbers for what ever reason.

Ball Joint Upper torsion arm part numbers:

131405104A Right

131405103A Left
_________________
Chasing Squirrel's.

1971 Bay Window
1966 Baja

[Maeser]

Thanks, gentlemen. There is a left and a right upper torsion arm. Tried to press in the BJ in the wrong end. Need a new Torsion arm.

[modok]

They are forged steel, not castings.
But yes, same left and right.