So I got the front tie end rods and the state inspection to get the DMV off my *** and I was told by the mechanic that my front upper control arm ball joint needs to be replaced. He said that he would have to order the full front control arm to fix this. I found how to replace it on Audidiy.com but I was wondering if just the ball can be replaced. Id like to do this repair myself because thats kindof why I bought the car but it looks like ECS only sells the rear control arms. Does anyone know where I can get the front ones? Thanks.
He told me this whole arm would have to be replaced.

The bad ball joint.

 

Nope, I don't know of any replacement separate ball joints for these. Also, the bushings (on the other end of the CA) are said to be failure points.

A lot of people just replace all of the control arms when this happens. The stock ones are junk.

 

Alright I found a front upper and the bushings on ECS I think im just gonna replace the one CA

 

depending on the mileage on the vehicle, it might be good preventative maintenance to replace all the front control arms. if you do the work yourself, be sure to allow plenty of time, that pinch bolt is a mother....

 

I know it might be good in the long run but what about the good old phrase "if it aint broke dont fix it" all the control arms even if I do the work myself will run me like 500. Are they really that prone to breaking?

 

the majority yes. It's $500 well spent though. I just figure, replace them all rather than having to possibly doing the same job on the other side or the same side but the lower joint. That's just me though

 

The stock bushings are made of urethane, not polyurethane like the aftermarkets. The urethane are supposed to give more comfort, blah blah... but they dry out faster, hence the squeaking.

Don't replace them all if you don't have to. I have replace two on my car and that's it. The others are still just fine. My car is a 2000.

 

I would replace all the control arms, but the upper links are the ones that have issues. If you have one upper link giving you ****, the other 3 aren't far behind.

 

if you buy the arms separate, you would be paying about 2x the amount of a kit. like auditech79 said if you're having trouble with 1, the other 3 are getting there. also start with the pinch bolt first thing so you know if it'll come off. you don't want to replace other things and find out you can't take off the pinch bolt and then have to take everything apart again.