VR4 Front Lower Arms

[Eurospec]

Hello Everyone,

Just a reminder on the front lower arm situation- the straight ones.

There have been various well documented issues with aftermarket lower arms. These range from squeaks to full failures. Of course the problem is that the aftermarket ones are a lot less than half the price of the mitsu ones, and so most people opt for the cheaper ones.

We have just had our second total failure of an aftermarket lower arm. The failure mode was as reported previously- the ball completely separating from the cup.

The ultimate source of the arms is Nipparts, who sell to Camskill, who sell to the public and to us.

Accordingly, we will now actively reccomend against aftermarket lower arms.

For all our customers who have had replacement aftermarket arms fitted by us, we will remove them and return them to the supplier and fit genuine mitsubishi arms for the difference in price between aftermarket and genuine (ie no labour charge and price difference on the arms only).

Please do think carefully about this- last time we made this offer not one set of arms came back. I still have the genuine ones here on the shelf that i got in in anticipation!

Cheers,

Ben.

[bradc]

Any chance of pics?

[Nick Mann]

Ben - have you heard of the curved arms failing? Or is it always the straight arm?

[Eurospec]

Always the straight arms mate.

Brad, ill snap a pic on monday for you.

Cheers,

Ben.

[elnevio]

Great service Ben. These failures are of concern, and as we have seen, they can cause a fair bit of damage as the wheel tries to reshape various bits of bodywork.

Did it occur at low speed? This seems to be a theme if so.

[Eurospec]

About 30 i think. Took out the drive shaft (broke the CV), bent the wing, sill, bumper and inner wing.

Cheers,

Ben.

[elnevio]

That's higher speed than some of the others, IIRC?

On a straight / turning a corner, do you know?

[Eurospec]

That's higher speed than some of the others, IIRC?

On a straight / turning a corner, do you know?

Yeah, fastest i have heard of. Normally its at manouvering speeds. On a straight i think.

Cheers,

Ben.

[steve190]

Is this just on VR4s or has it happened on other models?

[Davezj]

Hello Everyone,

Just a reminder on the front lower arm situation- the straight ones.

There have been various well documented issues with aftermarket lower arms. These range from squeaks to full failures. Of course the problem is that the aftermarket ones are a lot less than half the price of the mitsu ones, and so most people opt for the cheaper ones.

We have just had our second total failure of an aftermarket lower arm. The failure mode was as reported previously- the ball completely separating from the cup.

The ultimate source of the arms is Nipparts, who sell to Camskill, who sell to the public and to us.

Accordingly, we will now actively reccomend against aftermarket lower arms.

For all our customers who have had replacement aftermarket arms fitted by us, we will remove them and return them to the supplier and fit genuine mitsubishi arms for the difference in price between aftermarket and genuine (ie no labour charge and price difference on the arms only).

Please do think carefully about this- last time we made this offer not one set of arms came back. I still have the genuine ones here on the shelf that i got in in anticipation!

Cheers,

Ben.

That is a very good offer and anyone not taking them up on it would be a fool.
you are getting a fabulous offer from a company that does not have to make this offer, but because they feel it is the right thing to do, that is Amazing in this day and age. Well Done to all involved.

[bradc]

It can happen on all 8G's. It is probably more likely to happen on a VR-4 because of the extra weight, BUT that DOES NOT mean you can/should buy the camskill ones.

[Davezj]

when you think about the loads involved on the these ball joint are, you realise it is a shockingly bad design in the first place.

all the compression from the spring/shock is loaded up on to this one ball joint. it is no wounder they fail.

but you would not get the extra passive steering angle from the front wheel without it. that is the whole point of multilink suspension.

[swinks]

That situation is affecting all 8g Galants. I know from Poland of more than 10 accidents recently with low arm. Apparently half of these happened to geniue Mitsi arms with 19mm nut. Also was noticed that post recall arms had secure nut 22m (IIRC).

All is actally described and reported on Polish Mitsubishi forum.

Re: aftermarked stuff - there's no reported failure of arms from "555".

Thanks for you post Ben!

[gallvr4]

After reading this thread...i have parked up the car as there is a hard/loud knocking comming from the off side front of the car over rough/bumpy road.Am thinking this arm and will get it jacked up and checked at the weekend....so
1)has anyone got a mitsi part no. for this arm...?
2)Ben do you ship over seas...??
And finally...Ben when you setting up over...!!!!? thats a brillant offer....very generous of you in this day and age.Clearly your customers come first...well done

[steve190]

I had the same noise on the same side, had it for 4 years before finding it. Had the car on a ramp with the weight on the suspension and was able to move the lateral (straight arm), with the car jacked up this arm locked tight.
Parts numbers are:
Lateral arm LH: MB912509, RH: MB912510
Compression (curved arm) LH: MB912511 , RH: MB912512

[Eurospec]

There are various part numbers that superseed each other, but the ones i have here on the lateral arms are MR296296 (R) and MR296295 (L)

Cheers,

Ben.

[gallvr4]

so i checked out the bottom arms (straight and curves) in my local mitsubishi garage and this is rock bottom price:
1)Straight arm(MR296296(r)...E175.00 each
2)curved arm(MR296292(r)...E175.00 each
taught this was a bit high...but it was from mitz i suppose..!
Dose anyone have an other options...?? don't mind paying this price but if there is a cheaper part out there.....great.
is the mitz parts in the uk any cheaper...???

Thanks in advance

Brendan

[sanct]

OK
Ben it looks like I will be back into see you to take up your very kind offer.
Cheers mate
Luke

[Mark 4]

DO NOT buy anything other than genuine. I paid £220 back in January for o/s arm. I will be doing the nearside one very soon to be on the safe side.

There have been a lot of failures of aftermarket arms which is why Ben started this thread.

so i checked out the bottom arms (straight and curves) in my local mitsubishi garage and this is rock bottom price:
1)Straight arm(MR296296(r)...E175.00 each
2)curved arm(MR296292(r)...E175.00 each
taught this was a bit high...but it was from mitz i suppose..!
Dose anyone have an other options...?? don't mind paying this price but if there is a cheaper part out there.....great.
is the mitz parts in the uk any cheaper...???

Thanks in advance

Brendan

[sanct]

So I assume camskills have stopped selling these arms?