Pressed steel and cast front suspension arms 2006 A3 1.6.

[Magnet]

Hello folks,

I could do with some been-there-done-that advice regarding the above. 
A couple of the bushes are showing signs of wear, so I’m intending to renew the arms . Current ones are pressed steel, and understandably are showing signs of rusting, so conclude its better to renew the arms now, rather than just the bushes. 

Problem:- Seems cast arms are available, and the intention was to use Febi Bilstein replacements, but now understand that they don’t interchange with the original steel ones. 
Steel ones are less readily available unless you use ‘unbranded’ ones  ( cheaper) - some being advertised as being of German origin, but I’m reluctant to dip my toe into these without some experience. 
Questions:- Has anyone attempted to fitted cast arms as replacements for steel, and are they indeed not interchangeable -as I’ve been advised? 
Where replacement steel ones have been fitted, has anyone come up with reasonable aftermarket alternatives such as perhaps Lemforder or Meyle, and if so, any advice on competitive sources? 
Many thanks, 

Gareth. 

[cliffcoggin]

Hello Gareth.

Let me start by saying I have no knowledge of the differences between cast (or would they actually be forged?) and pressed arms, and no experience of changing them on a A3.

I am unclear of your reason to change to cast arms. Is it a matter of cost, durability, availability, strength or something else? If the current pressed arms are the originals they have lasted 15 years, and I imagine pressed replacements would last more or less as long, so durability is not a problem unless you plan to keep the car running past the age of 30. In your position I would fit whatever was available and known to fit, in the expectation that they would last the rest of the useful life of the car. If that means unbranded pressed steel parts so be it.

Cliff.

[Magnet]

Many thanks Cliff,

The cast ( forged) ones come complete with the offending bushes and the ball joint, with the Febi ones. Having used Febi as alternative aftermarket I have confidence in the quality of the bushes and the joint. 
The pressed steel ones are generally of unknown origin, and although I am not too concerned with the integrity of the structural metal, I am certainly concerned about the quality and anticipated service life of the bushes, hence the query about whether the forged are/aren’t actually interchangeable. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[cliffcoggin]

Ah, I understand now. It's the quality of the rubber bushes and ball joints that concern you, not the metal arms. I can't help on that score I'm afraid. It will be something of a lottery without a reputation to rely on. Years (decades actually) ago Quinten Hazel was the brand I relied on, but even if they still exist I would be surprised if their parts were not made in China.

[Stevey Y]

Hi the transition from metal to cast arms was bourne of a need to reduce weight and gain economy as far as I know they are not interchangeable, therefore if I was in your position I would and wanted something more bullet proof I would keep the existing arms and buy a power flex kit or similar, get the arms rubbed down and painted then fit them the bushes are in two halves with a stainless steel spigot that pushes down the centre and are easy to fit.

I fitted these to my wife Alfa 147 years ago and they outlasted the car, I also fitted them to my last Mondeo on the rear trailing arms which are notorious for splitting the bushes my old car before that had four sets in 300,000 miles so the last one got power flex the first time they need changing and 200,000 miles later they were still like new.

Yes they are expensive but they are the sort of thing you only buy once, fit and forget I think is the term used and the benefits are sharper handling and very much reduced tyre wear as the neoprene they are made of deforms more progressively than high shore rubber and the bushes are impervious to any chemical you throw at them.

Steve.

[cliffcoggin]

1 hour ago, Stevey Y said:

I fitted these to my wife Alfa 147 years ago

I didn't know Alfas lasted that long <g>

[Stevey Y]

23 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

I didn't know Alfas lasted that long <g>

There you go Clifford, just shows you that you are never to old to learn, it helps if you know a bit about what you are fixing, you should treat yourself to a youtube video of the last national Alfa day some of the cars on show are some of the cars are seventy years old and still in fine running order.

Steve.

[Magnet]

Many thanks Steve and Cliff,

I understand what you say about putting new bushes in my arms, but there are a number of restrictors making this impractical. I would not confidently reuse these 15 year old arms without having a facility to grit blast them, since I’m yet to find any amount of rubbing down and treating, to be a permanent solution to rust. The main issue here is that the old three score and ten has long since passed, and I’ve been ‘banned’ from carrying what would be termed ‘heavy get out and get under’ work! 
Consequently, I’m getting this done by a local free lance mechanic, and obviously his time is at cost, so it’s a question of simply fitting best quality for money parts. I will be checking with Febi tomorrow to see if they do the pressed steel ones as well, and also looking at Lemforder, and some branded Moog - who are new to me, but I understand have been about for as long as I have, and may now be part of Federal Mogul - I think. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Stevey Y]

22 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Many thanks Steve and Cliff,

I understand what you say about putting new bushes in my arms, but there are a number of restrictors making this impractical. I would not confidently reuse these 15 year old arms without having a facility to grit blast them, since I’m yet to find any amount of rubbing down and treating, to be a permanent solution to rust. The main issue here is that the old three score and ten has long since passed, and I’ve been ‘banned’ from carrying what would be termed ‘heavy get out and get under’ work! 
Consequently, I’m getting this done by a local free lance mechanic, and obviously his time is at cost, so it’s a question of simply fitting best quality for money parts. I will be checking with Febi tomorrow to see if they do the pressed steel ones as well, and also looking at Lemforder, and some branded Moog - who are new to me, but I understand have been about for as long as I have, and may now be part of Federal Mogul - I think. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

I wish you luck with it Moog and Lemforder are both excellent brands with a reputation for durability as they only use high shore rubber, with regard to the ban I can see where you are coming from, I have not been banned by the missus yet but my body is doing it for her as after changing my front brakes disc/pads last week I was as stiff as a skinheads boot for about two days after.

Steve.

[Magnet]

Many thanks for the contributions.

Just to close off this thread, I’ve opted for Lemforder arms - one has already arrived and looks very well constructed - and Febi ball joints, since I feel that after 160k +, the originals warrant changing. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Stevey Y]

Good skills Gareth, you will now be equipped for another 160k by which time we will all be past caring and if still driving it will be a golf buggy and have Greta Thunberg as a pin up, those that cant afford a £50,000 reasonably priced Audi all electric will have to content themselves with magazines like What Cart and Classic Pony even practical Cart owner, which will show you how to grease up wooden stub axles and replace timber sides on your pony and trap.

Steve.

[Magnet]

Like it Steve!
I’ve already got cars older than me - now that takes some believing - but true, so I can carry on with mild tinkering in my dotage. Great! 
Many thanks again Steve, and kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Steve Q]

2 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Good skills Gareth, you will now be equipped for another 160k by which time we will all be past caring and if still driving it will be a golf buggy and have Greta Thunberg as a pin up, those that cant afford a £50,000 reasonably priced Audi all electric will have to content themselves with magazines like What Cart and Classic Pony even practical Cart owner, which will show you how to grease up wooden stub axles and replace timber sides on your pony and trap.

Steve.

That's brilliant 🤣 and totally agree, cars in general bare just increasing in price. They want us in electric cars/hybrid but the prices are unachievable to most. Either way ill be running my a6 untill I'm not legally allowed to

[Stevey Y]

Hi Steve, have you ever watched chasing cars, I would like to see a video of the official who serves the writ saying that the guy who paid three million dollars for his 1960 Ferrari GTO that he can never drive it again I would bet the film would start with the worlds supply of expletives and a hail of buckshot as the official left the premises like an unmarked missile, lets be honest these people who will try to make driving our cars illegal are the same people who own great big Range Rovers and run about in Jaguars all of their career, talk about double standards, bet you never see Boris leaving Number 10 in a Nissan Leaf.

Steve.

[cliffcoggin]

3 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Good skills Gareth, you will now be equipped for another 160k by which time we will all be past caring and if still driving it will be a golf buggy and have Greta Thunberg as a pin up, those that cant afford a £50,000 reasonably priced Audi all electric will have to content themselves with magazines like What Cart and Classic Pony even practical Cart owner, which will show you how to grease up wooden stub axles and replace timber sides on your pony and trap.

Steve.

Funny you should mention that. Here is one of my favourite Youtube channels:

https://www.youtube.com/user/EngelsCoachShop

[Steve Q]

9 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi Steve, have you ever watched chasing cars, I would like to see a video of the official who serves the writ saying that the guy who paid three million dollars for his 1960 Ferrari GTO that he can never drive it again I would bet the film would start with the worlds supply of expletives and a hail of buckshot as the official left the premises like an unmarked missile, lets be honest these people who will try to make driving our cars illegal are the same people who own great big Range Rovers and run about in Jaguars all of their career, talk about double standards, bet you never see Boris leaving Number 10 in a Nissan Leaf.

Steve.

Exactly! I irony is my Audi abd Ford escort are less damaging bro the planet when you take the build process into account. The carbon used to build electric cars and ship components etc will never be equalized. People who think they're genuinely saving the planet by driving one are misguided.