VW Mk2 control arm reinforcement

Hi fellow VW Mk2 manglers and others,

We competed in Black Bear this past weekend. Everything was going very well until we went over an exposed rock on an uphill L4 and the left control arm was torn from its socket on the front mounting point, as seen in the photo. The roads were rougher than last year and it was raining in the morning, thus we were going over nasty stuff all day lol.

The control arms were new and were welded continuously around the perimeter, except for the front bushing socket. We used poly bushings also. The weld to the ring that retains the front bushing let go, out the control arm went, separating the CV joint from the driveshaft and the car just...stopped.

Has anyone else had a similar failure? Is this an area of the control arm we should reinforce (i.e. with an additional piece of sheet metal over the bushing socket) or leave as is, so as to have a failure point to prevent bending/breaking something else, such as the subframe or bodyshell?

Looking forward to your perspectives. Messrs. Burress, Hoche-Mong and Wimpey, what do you think?

Thanks,
Chris



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2014 10:47AM by Mr. K.

Never seen that happen. Looks like the weld there broke and the clamshell just opened up. Cheap Chinese arms?

Maybe the urethane bushing did not fit tight enough and allowed some 'hammering'?

Anyway, no need for a urethane bushing up front, there is almost no movement there.

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____________________________________________________________-

One. Class -- 2WD

www.quantumrallysport.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Quantum-Rally-Sport/281129179600?ref=nf

Ive had this happen once .. about 50 miles into my commute on a brand spanking new 30 dollar chinese arm from a local "import" car parts laundry. I really should have expected it after the 45 dollar complete clutch kit let go in a fantastic fashion a few weeks earlier. But hey i was a college kid with a rust 16v gti... why pay more.

I'd say if you're worried about it wrap it.. but I'd try better arms first

Good luck
Dave

Thanks guys. They were new Febi control arms, not sure where they were made.

What's a good source for new higher quality arms if the Febis are no good? Just go to the dealer? Take the arms off the parts cars and clean 'em up?

Thanks,
Chris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2014 01:35PM by Mr. K.

I haven't seen that happen either.

I use OEM arms, reinforced. I usually just get 'em new and don't bother junkyard diving - they're cheap enough. I usually get them from germanautoparts.com.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

Strengthen arm.
Strengthen crossmember
Strengthen shell

Easy.
Strengthen everything..
Oh Chris 8 50mm Bilsteins arrived but not your replacement of Kuligowski's
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Based on my quick look online, it looks like Febi is what everyone is selling. I hope there are other choices...

Michel: do you remember which manufacturer made the arms you bought and about how long ago did you last buy a set?

John: Argh, frustrating. Hope that it arrives soon! Any luck straightening the bent one from Lanark?

I'm liking the idea of adding a small-gauge steel wrap around the front bushing socket. The main weld might break underneath, but the wrap would theoretically retain the bushing place so we can finish the stage.

Are the Passat arms a different design at the front attachment?

Going wide-track might be an option.

Yes, Volkswagen. Yes, it was last year, about a week after I ripped off the whole right front corner at Mendocino.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

Yes/No

So the Passat stuff bolts into your subframe all the same but needs Passat knuckle, which has slightly more material on it.. which "should" be stronger.

The down side is the passat stuff reduces your caster and puts the wheel about an inch farther back in the wheel well.

Going to the mk3 GTI VR6 "Plus" suspension fixes that issue and would be what I would do

here is the difference on my Mk3





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2014 04:58PM by DexterVW.

Try to source some good used oem arms from out west or down south (ie no rust).

We hit a boulder on that same side and it flipped the car. The wheel was pushed back a couple inches as the LCA folded. The mounting points were fine and we drove the car out of the stage.

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Runamuck Rally

Quote
Towona
Try to source some good used oem arms from out west or down south (ie no rust).

We hit a boulder on that same side and it flipped the car. The wheel was pushed back a couple inches as the LCA folded. The mounting points were fine and we drove the car out of the stage.

yep. I',m often appalled when I get peeps to send me piccies of under there car: monchrome.
100% rust colored.


Rust is insidious.. Don't know if most of the boys here know it but rust in a stressed area can give rise to crack propagation...and it can be down in the root of a weld or a joint---like in Saabs where there's a bar with the [ shaped arm arms poke thru...rust right there where the arm pokes thru---snap!

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

rust? whats that?



My Boston Beater... 44mpgs of rusty diesel smasher



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2014 11:49AM by DexterVW.

David, I am not sure why you are having trouble with the Passat arms. We have run several on two different cars and did not experience the offset issues you have.

Quote
DexterVW
Yes/No

So the Passat stuff bolts into your subframe all the same but needs Passat knuckle, which has slightly more material on it.. which "should" be stronger.

The down side is the passat stuff reduces your caster and puts the wheel about an inch farther back in the wheel well.

Going to the mk3 GTI VR6 "Plus" suspension fixes that issue and would be what I would do

here is the difference on my Mk3

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____________________________________________________________-

One. Class -- 2WD

www.quantumrallysport.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Quantum-Rally-Sport/281129179600?ref=nf

I wish I knew Josh... they came from a 92 Passat 16V and appear to be strait and true.

Dave