Lower control arm options - rear bushing

[enobiko]

My 2018 MK7 GTI (manual) is making a groaning/creaking noise from the front lower control arm rear bushing. FCP Euro has the Lemforder control arms, but I wonder if there is a way I can get the A3-style rear bushings as a bonus.
Will the MK8 LCAs fit? Don't they come with the less-compliant ("A3") rear bushings? Will these bushings be more reliable than the standard MK7? I live in NE Ohio, so the bad roads may have taken a toll on the bushing.
I autocross this car in class GS, so adjustable camber is not allowed, and poly bushings are out (this is my daily driver). I need OEM-style.
I suppose it is possible to remove the LCA and replace only the rear bushing, but I don't know if the labor involved would bring the price close to the cost of a brand-new Lemforder control arm, and I don't know where I'd take it to have that done. (Ideas?) I'd have to replace all the single-use bolts anyway, get an alignment... so the incremental cost won't be too high, and if I replaced just the rear bearing, I'd still have the old front bearing. Probably I should do the right LCA at the same time, especially if I can get the less-compliant bearings, and only do the alignment once. Hopefully, these bearings don't noticeably increase NVH.

Dean

 

[Pineapple]

You can get mk8r lca's with the newer bushing revision, I got mine for ~$125 ea from https://parts.vw.com/

 

[enobiko]

OMG! The price I see is $445! Part number 5QM407151A? What part number did you order?

I found the Lemforder MK8 control arm at FCP Euro for $99:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-control-arm-lemforder-5qm407151a

I hope that's the right part number...

 

[aegis]

MK8 LCA's would be a direct bolt-on? Would be interested in this as well.

 

[Pineapple]

OMG! The price I see is $445! Part number 5QM407151A? What part number did you order?

I found the Lemforder MK8 control arm at FCP Euro for $99:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-control-arm-lemforder-5qm407151a

I hope that's the right part number...

See this post here:
https://golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/mk7-random-stupid-questions-thread.331597/post-8065752

I did get the website wrong, it's https://vw.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/volkswagen-control-arm-81a407151f

 

[enobiko]

Ah! OK, that's better.

I wonder if these bushings last longer than the MK7 bushings? Less flex, so maybe longer-lasting? Given the nature of the sound (creak/groan) I wonder if the issue may not be the rubber, but rather the bushing-to-control-arm connection, which would argue against me replacing just the bearing. We do have road salt in NE Ohio...

I looked on the Lemforder website, and they apparently do not make LCAs for the MK8 R(!) The part number I had must be for the MK7...

 

[2LEEGIT]

You can get mk8r lca's with the newer bushing revision, I got mine for ~$125 ea from https://parts.vw.com/

Bushing in your pics look the same as old ones came off my MK7.

 

[Jachas]

My 2018 MK7 GTI (manual) is making a groaning/creaking noise from the front lower control arm rear bushing.

If your bushing in not thorn/damaged, VW had TSB for this kind of noise (had, beacuse now is in reapair manual as normal procedure when changing LCA rear bushing)on LCA rear bushing. You need to grease voids in bushing with G052150A2 grase, but any grease that is not dissolving rubber should be ok

 

[Pineapple]

Bushing in your pics look the same as old ones came off my MK7.

Interesting, these are the ones that came off mine

 

[2LEEGIT]

Interesting, these are the ones that came off mine

The original bushings are torn, I pressed in RS3 bushings.

https://www.urotuning.com/products/control-arm-bushing-audi-rs3-bushing-upgrade-for-mk-7-golf-jetta-81a407183?currency=USD&variant=32323028680759&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&stkn=334b6bf4d9c9&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwk8e1BhALEiwAc8MHiAa9h55-86ruocuLfrfG3Cmae-ZURbUPHGHpbb5OoPFk1c9ZRCw_IBoCAZ0QAvD_BwE

 

[DerHase]

Deleted because lots of fucking confusion muddied up by bad parts listings. See this post further down.

 

[Track R]

like I said before....

81A407183 - not fully solid very small void used on Clubsport S, 8V RS3, MK8 R, RSQ3 evo's

8S0407183B - fully solid used on all 8S TT, RS3 evo's

 

[DerHase]

like I said before....

81A407183 - not fully solid very small void used on Clubsport S, 8V RS3, MK8 R, RSQ3 evo's

8S0407183B - fully solid used on all 8S TT, RS3 evo's

If that's the case then wtf is Urotuning selling? Because @2LEEGIT clearly got solid bushings, but their part listing shows the 81A407183 part number.

https://www.urotuning.com/products/...bushing-upgrade-for-mk-7-golf-jetta-81a407183


Went ahead and edited my original post. Either Urotuning is selling BFI bushings labeled as OEM or they're just outright putting the wrong PN on the website. @2LEEGIT did your bushings come in a sealed OEM bag w/ label and all?

 

[Track R]

If that's the case then wtf is Urotuning selling? Because @2LEEGIT clearly got solid bushings, but their part listing shows the 81A407183 part number.

https://www.urotuning.com/products/...bushing-upgrade-for-mk-7-golf-jetta-81a407183


Went ahead and edited my original post. Either Urotuning is selling BFI bushings labeled as OEM or they're just outright putting the wrong PN on the website. @2LEEGIT did your bushings come in a sealed OEM bag w/ label and all?

its an error on there end

 

[DerHase]

Part Number	Application(s)	Notes
5Q0 407 183 E	MK7 and 7.5 up to 03.08.2020 PD	Large voids, discontinued Dec 2019. Original on 2015-19 MY, possibly some early 2020 as well.
5Q0 407 183 L	MK7.5 03.08.2022+ PD, 8Y GTI	Believe to still have large voids - superseded PN for all 15-21 MK7 GTI/R
81A 407 183	8V RS3, 8Y Golf R	Small voids, seems similar/near identical to 183 L part number above
8S0 407 183 B	8S TTRS, 8Y RS3	Solid rubber, no voids

Thanks @Track R I'll run those VINs when I get a free chance.

In the meantime at least for US market stuff, I believe the above to be correct after running a few.

I could have sworn I'd checked a 2022 GTI VIN before... but the 8Y GTI and 8Y R have different bushings. And it does appear the L revision indeed still has big dumbass voids. Assuming a dealer photo can be trusted (it probably cannot).

https://parts.vw.com/p/Volkswagen__...-Bushing-Rear--Lower/78754431/5Q0407183L.html