Front wishbones

[simufly]

Having now been made to change the front wishbone due to corrosion, (clean MOT less than 300 miles ago!) I am faced with the choice of returning to cast or stick with pressed. Not sure which way I will go. I assume full rust proofing on the pressed will prevent a further reoccurrence of the problem.
So here is the question, which is the easiest to fix, and if I decide to go along the cast route what if any are the pitfalls?
Having read the various helpful threads on wishbones, it appears that the console casting has to be dropped. This is rapidly coming under the “too difficult“ heading and I might be paying a visit to WOM!

 

[dj_efk]

Simon on this, I would fit whatever quality part you can find, therefore probably pressed as they are more available. If you still have the car in 10 years I would carefully inspect for corrosion however.

 

[steve_c]

Both cast and pressed front wishbones remain easily available, so the choice is yours.

If you opt for pressed wishbones, it's a good idea to treat them with some sort of rust resistant measure ahead of fitting. I give away my age if I tell you that my first thought would be Waxoyl, but I'm sure there are other more modern and more effective equivalents out there these days.

 

[Alan_uk]

Back in 2018 I swapped steel for pair Lemforder Arms & bushes costing £247 (AutoPartsPro) and my independent Audi/VW garage charged £147 to fit - I guess about 3 hours labour back then.

 

[steve_c]

I've mentioned before that these are the original Lemforder castings, with the part numbers ground out, at £150 for the pair:

FOR AUDI A2 FRONT LOWER AXLE LEFT RIGHT SUSPENSION WISHBONE CONTROL ARM ARMS SET | eBay

Product Description AUDI A2 FRONT LOWER LEFT RIGHT SUSPENSION WISHBONE CONTROL ARMS COMPLETE OE QUALITY TUV APPROVED BRAND NEW DIRECT REPLACEMENT PART 2 YEAR WARRANTY Buyer Guide AUDI A2 1.4 2000-2005 AUDI A2 1.6 FSI 2002-2005 AUDI A2 1.4 TDI 2000-2005 75 BHP AUDI A2 1.4 TDI 2003-2005 90 BHP...

www.ebay.co.uk

They're what I used when I had my front suspension rebuilt.

 

[audifan]

Simon I echo dj_efk in fitting what you can obtain that is good quality. Remember that the wishbones must be a pair so either both pressed steel or both cast. You could buy yourself a bit of time by replacing that rusted one with another pressed steel and then fit a new pressed steel to the other side at a ( slightly ) later date.

Note the pressed steel are universal and not handed ( unless the supplier has already bolted on the separate ball joint which fits on the upper surface for that side ) and the cast are handed for each side.

This job is well within the capability of any garage as long as they are made aware how and where to jack the car.

 

[ANDYT]

One of my pressed ones snapped a couple of weeks ago, currently being replaced with pressed ones. Please check yours folks !
Andy

 

[MG man]

Do look back on my post of October 2019 and be very careful . There are a number of identical looking wishbones out there but they can result in the tracking being way out. I have heard that originally the wishbones were slightly different depending on whether the car was diesel or petrol, and that aftermarket ones do not differentiate between models. The ones which Audi eventually supplied have been fine but what a wait and the price was painful.

 

[steve_c]

I have heard that originally the wishbones were slightly different depending on whether the car was diesel or petrol, and that aftermarket ones do not differentiate between models.

The only difference between the main petrol and diesel wishbones was a slightly stiffer rubber bush for the wishbones intended for diesel. In reality, they are entirely interchangeable, and your tracking will not be affected.

 

[audifan]

As you are changing suspension components it really does make sense to have a 4 wheel alignment performed on the car regardless of whether you are fitting pressed steel or cast wishbones. Tolerance variations between different manufacturers can easily change the suspension geometry, add in changed or worn bushes and perhaps moving the consoles and you now see it makes perfect sense to have the 4 wheel alignment done.

 

[simufly]

I have ordered a couple of Febi cast wishbones. Let’s see what turns up! Will talk to WOM tomorrow

 

[dj_efk]

I’d have reasonable confidence in Febi to be fair

 

[nealefloyd]

I had my drivers side wishbone replaced for mot in April,pressed type,the other side was an advisory.Planning to do it soon but need to know;is it ok to have pressed one side and cast on the other?Would greatly appreciate advice on this.Cheers!

 

[Proghound]

I had my drivers side wishbone replaced for mot in April,pressed type,the other side was an advisory.Planning to do it soon but need to know;is it ok to have pressed one side and cast on the other?Would greatly appreciate advice on this.Cheers!

Opinions differ on this point. The geometry of both types is the same so it shouldn't make any difference. People have certainly run their A2s like that with no known adverse effects, except the continued risk of corrosion on the pressed arm. Given how long it has taken the pressed arms to corrode, you'd be best replacing both anyway, with either type. Especially if one has had an advisory ... they have been known to fail before now within weeks of passing an MOT unadvised!

 

[audifan]

Well according to Audi the two different types of suspension arms must not be mixed, so either both cast or both pressed and not one of each....

 

[nealefloyd]

Opinions differ on this point. The geometry of both types is the same so it shouldn't make any difference. People have certainly run their A2s like that with no known adverse effects, except the continued risk of corrosion on the pressed arm. Given how long it has taken the pressed arms to corrode, you'd be best replacing both anyway, with either type. Especially if one has had an advisory ... they have been known to fail before now within weeks of passing an MOT unadvised!

Thanks!good to know I haven't wasted my money.Waiting for a gap in the weather to do the job and will report back.

 

[andrewparkeruk]

I have ordered a couple of Febi cast wishbones. Let’s see what turns up! Will talk to WOM tomorrow

Morning Simon, have you switched to the Febi cast wishbones; do you notice any difference when driving?
Thank you, Andrew

 

[simufly]

No absolutely no change. Except relieved to know the wheel is not going to depart.
Great job by WOM so know the job has been done properly! Tracking reset too.

 

[simon martyn]

More than delighted that your problem is solved,Simon. Best choices on both the who and the what! Taking chances with front wishbones is a definite no no.

All the best.

Simon

 

[Raymie]

Simon I echo dj_efk in fitting what you can obtain that is good quality. Remember that the wishbones must be a pair so either both pressed steel or both cast. You could buy yourself a bit of time by replacing that rusted one with another pressed steel and then fit a new pressed steel to the other side at a ( slightly ) later date.

Note the pressed steel are universal and not handed ( unless the supplier has already bolted on the separate ball joint which fits on the upper surface for that side ) and the cast are handed for each side.

This job is well within the capability of any garage as long as they are made aware how and where to jack the car.

Yeah, I bought a pair of arms and intended to do replace both sides at same time after the pressed RHS wishbone snapped but ended up just replacing the broken one for the time being. The LHS is on the list to replace next spring !

I did however make use of the new ball joint, transferring it the LHS arm for the last MOT....

I stuck with the pressed design as I liked the idea of keeping the weight down and the thought that it'll likely be 15+ years before I need to replace them again !