Difference betweem B3 and B4 forged control arms?

2939 Views 20 Replies 8 Participants Last post by A1QSHIP, Jul 16, 2013

DE80q

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2013

I am looking at part #s and there seems to be 3 different part #s for the left and right forged control arms (6 in total). The question is, what are the differeences between them? Just looking at them, I really dont see one.

So with the different part #s, are there actually any differences between them?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

90quattrocoupe

· #2 · Jul 5, 2013

DE80q said:
I am looking at part #s and there seems to be 3 different part #s for the left and right forged control arms (6 in total). The question is, what are the differeences between them? Just looking at them, I really dont see one.

So with the different part #s, are there actually any differences between them?

Funny, I come up with 2. All the same for Coupe, B3 and B4 sedan.

893-407-147D left
893-407-148D right

Greg W.

DE80q

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 5, 2013

I went on vagcat and looked on there. Between the B3 and B4 they were showing the same #s with a different letter on the end.

90quattrocoupe

· #4 · Jul 6, 2013

Well for one thing, VAGCAT only shows the Euro models, no States models.

In Europe, they had two different 3 bolt ball joint front controls arms. One was cast/forged and the other was stamped/spot welded. We did not receive the latter ones. That is why you find different part numbers. For the B3, you had the two bolt ball joint stamped control arm, 3 bolt ball joint stamped control arm, and 3 bolt cast/forged. For the B4 you had the two different type of 3 bolt control arms.

Greg W.

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pilihp2

· #5 · Jul 6, 2013

Just did control arm bushings on a stamped 3 bolt control arm on my brothers coupe yesterday.
The early early coupes had stamped 3 bolt control arms.

yodasfro

· #6 · Jul 6, 2013

:stupid: I was gonna say that too the early CQ's had the stamped 3 bolt CA's.

varia

· #7 · Jul 6, 2013

yodasfro said:
:stupid: I was gonna say that too the early CQ's had the stamped 3 bolt CA's.

my very early cq (6/89) had stamped with bolts

ralleyquattro

· #8 · Jul 6, 2013

Yeah, but the 3 bolt B3 units were not offset like the later stamped B4 versions, so they are not interchangeable unless you use the matching ball joint as well.

HTH

90quattrocoupe

· #9 · Jul 8, 2013

The cast/forged control arms are the same. The 3 hole ball joints are different between the B3 and the Coupe/B4.

Greg W.

varia

· #10 · Jul 8, 2013

just to clarify there is no cast, it is forged but people (like me) always call it cast.

my2000apb DrBeastCar

· #11 · Jul 15, 2013

90quattrocoupe said:
The cast/forged control arms are the same. The 3 hole ball joints are different between the B3 and the Coupe/B4.

Greg W.

where do they vary and by how much?

90quattrocoupe

· #12 · Jul 15, 2013

my2000apb said:
90quattrocoupe said:

The cast/forged control arms are the same. The 3 hole ball joints are different between the B3 and the Coupe/B4.

Greg W.

Click to expand...

where do they vary and by how much?

Don't know. Never had a B3 ball joint, only the arms. Never needed it.

Greg W.

my2000apb DrBeastCar

· #13 · Jul 15, 2013

then how do you know at all?

yodasfro

· #14 · Jul 15, 2013

There are 3 different types of 3 bolt ball joints. 1. for the early CQ stamped arms smooth on both sides to slide into the CA. 2. B3 less offset 3. B4/late CQ more offset

my2000apb DrBeastCar

· #15 · Jul 15, 2013

what kind off offset 2mm, 10mm?

yodasfro

· #16 · Jul 15, 2013

Enough to make up the difference between b3 and b4 fenders not much.

my2000apb DrBeastCar

· #17 · Jul 15, 2013

so cq/b4 should be the same

yodasfro

· #18 · Jul 15, 2013

Yes for the forged arms they are the same CQ/b4

my2000apb DrBeastCar

· #19 · Jul 15, 2013

really where I was going with all this, there is no BJ/c-arm combo that is offset enough to center the wheel in the rear arch? using forged arms?

90quattrocoupe

· #20 · Jul 15, 2013

my2000apb said:
then how do you know at all?

3 sources for part numbers.

Greg W.

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