Hi all. ive got an 850 tdi on a P plate could anyone tell me if it should have the bolt on ball joints or complete wish bone. i have a hip problem which stops me from doing most work on my car now (gutted) otherwise i would look myself if i could.
many thanks

 

You would need to give a better description of the car but what it came with originally might not be what it has now. That and if it's a diesel they didn't make it to the U.S. and I haven't come across any info on them.

Best bet is to slide under it (or someone you trust) and see if the ball joint bolts on. If you can't find the bolts near the ball joint it's likely you have a one piece assembly.

From what I've read the bolt on control arms are aluminum like the first picture and the one piece are stamped or cast steel like the second.

 

Thanks for the reply. im told the tdi arms are different to the petrol ones also but im not sure on that either to be honest. thanks for the pictures too, looking at them it seems i may be able to see some part of the arm to tel the difference without needing to get underneeth.
If i have the pressed/stamped all in one arms can they be change for the other type to make it cheaper each time ball joints are needed.
Thanks again

 

I would think the diesel wasn't heavy enough to need different suspension components so I would ASSUME they are the same from petrol to diesel but I'd call a dealer, IPD or FCP to make sure.

On the petrol cars they are interchangeable. As for the lifetime warranty, different suppliers offer a lifetime warranty on the complete arm. I bought mine at an auto parts store that offered a lifetime warranty so when the ball joint gets weak I trade in the arm and get another AND it will have new rubber control arm bushings too. They will usually start to wear out too at about the same time. Unless you go with the polyurethane

 

Fuller, if you'd like you can swing by here and I'll take a look for you.