I have a clunk on both front corners right now. I had some suspension work done about two years ago. I'm doing it myself this time but last couple times I had my shop do it.

What was replaced up to this point according to the shop was:
Right Upper Guide Link
Right Lower Guide Link & Control Arm
Left Lower Control Arm

What wasn't replaced:
Left Upper Control Arm and Guide Link
Left Lower Guide Link

Well, as far as I know Audi Doesn't call them guide links. Which is the control arm and which is the guide link??

Thanks

**edit - yes, I'm sure I could've paid for a whole suspension kit for what i've been charged so far...

 

yeah i ordered the FCP groton kit after i had 2 control arms replaced. still saved myself some money. all of them should be replaced when the first one fails. the others will not be far behind!

 

it seems like I've seen several posts that said they found the fcp groton kit for around $300 but as I see now on their website the kit is $550 am i missing something?

1998-2003 Audi A4 Front Control Arm Kit | Audi A4 Parts

that for the reply but for others I would still like to know the diff btwn guide link and control arm...

 

I've never heard that term either...

In that list in your first post, I see no mention of tie rod ends or sway bar links. I'd make sure you do those while you're at it.

As for the term "guide link", if you think of each front corner as it's own little 4-link suspension setup (which is basically what it is) then you could reasonably call each front control arm a "guide link." That could mean he's referring to the rear control arms "control arms."

Bottom line, the easiest thing to do would be buy an entire CA kit and replace all of them at the same time. If you'd rather not do that, I'd say you need to call your mechanic and get some disambiguation as far as what he considers a "guide link" versus a "control arm."

 

Well, I called to (i like your word) disambiguate the terminology.

The use of "link" in the lowers was pretty clear to me since there's a link and CA. I asked about the uppers and he basically said oh yah, they both links. So I said well, which was change? He said he couldn't tell.

Realizing that the counter guy wasn't going to be much help I just asked for the part number of the right upper link that was changed, said thanks and went on my way.

Turns out by "upper guide link" he was referring to the upper rear (straight) link.

As for the TREs I'm in the middle of trying to figure out if the many posts regarding a 2-300 fcp groton suspension kit are actually the $189 buy now kit on their current ebay:

Audi A4 A6 S4 VW Passat Control Arm Arms Kit Suspension | eBay