Febi Control Arms - Initial Review

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 20 Apr 2016, 12:10

I'm on my 3rd TRW rack and they all have failed differently. First one was the worst with splitting at a casting ridge.
Each time a new pump (warrantied out) , new fluid, and purging of both H&L lines are done during the new rack replacement.

If it weren't for the warranty, I'd have gone with different brands by now.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 18 Apr 2017, 23:59

I don't know about these control arms. I just took off some arms today.

Bad bushings on one side.

The other side had a noisy ball joint.

And man, did they rust...

About 10k of miles on these...

Post by **oragex** » 19 Apr 2017, 05:11

My Febi spring seats Made in Germany came in the same red box were cracked 1 year later.

kaneelschep · Post by **kaneelschep** » 19 Apr 2017, 06:26

I have a left febi control arm and it failed me within 2 years/60000km. While the right one wich I do not know the brand of, is still working smooth since before I got the car.
The ball joint has about 2mm play.
I would not buy one again and do not recomend it to anyone.
It is a rather easy job to do, but I would pay the extra money now.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 19 Apr 2017, 09:21

FWIW - I recently replaced my Meyle control arms with Lemforters from FCP (lifetime warrenty woo hoo!). Driver side Meyle ball joint boot was completely seprated and dry. Cars drives much, much better - I think the new brake calipers, rotors and pads helped alot with that too.

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Apr 2017, 09:31

It happens every few years. Someone(s) on the forum says the other brand control arms are fine, or maybe fine, or probably fine, and there seems to be a lack of bad reports, so people start buying them again. Then they start crapping out, everyone paying attention goes back to Lemforder, and it quiets down for a while.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Apr 2017, 10:24

Trouble with Lemforder is they have been bought out by TRW. I tried to buy their 4 bolt control arms for the 'R' but they are on back order with no known replacement date. The 2 bolt control arms are not too bad to replace (currently have one off on the 2000 V70 NA) so I would b more tolerate on buying cheaper ones, but have also had the bad experience of cheap aftermarket ones crapping out in under 6 months and 10,000km.

In the end I bought Volvo OE on sale at FCP. Expensive relatively, but I don't want to do the job again. The current items I have suspicion have dry ball joints. Don't know the brand as PO fitted them but again they are 5 years old but may have 20,000km max on them and have been noisy for the last 3 years and 6000km. I didn't think they were the issue and still not 100%, but as every other part has been replaced at least once there is nothing else it can be.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Apr 2017, 10:38

Volvo OE is Lemforder, they are the same thing.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Apr 2017, 10:55

Well could be interesting if Volvo is OE for the 4-bolt parts in the future. Maybe they will become TRW?

Neil

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Apr 2017, 12:35

Agreed, the corporate doings could change things. Everybody needs to swap their subframes back to 2 bolt control arms, and stock up on Lemforder!

Febi Control Arms - Initial Review

Re: Febi Control Arms - Initial Review