ok on monday i brought my 97 a4 into tire plus to get a alinement done and when they where doing there free check he came out and got me to show that when my car was in the air he could move my tire back and fourth, about a couple of inchs in play!! so does this tell me that i need to replace upper and lower control arms and can you tell which two are bad?? i have no idea on this! so any info would be grealy apprecatied!!!!

thank you

 

sounds more like tie rods to me. if you have a couple inches play, you should be able to feel that while you're driving. and it isn't safe if there's that much play either, so get it looked at.

 

+1 on the TRE - Find a Euro mechanic and have him check it out - I'm a big fan of paying a little to have it diagnosed then doin the work yourself.

 

well was the "play" left to right or top to bottom!? one would diagnose tie rods, and the other ball joints.

 

top to bottom