Racingline adjustable front control arms for VAG A5/PQ35

Racingline adjustable front control arms with bushes – VWR45G501

Racingline adjustable front control arms are a complete front suspension upgrade, developed for sharper handling, lower weight and geometry adjustments that are not possible with the standard arms. Developed and tested in motorsport, they replace the soft, non-adjustable factory arms with a stiffer, lighter and higher-performance assembly.

If the vehicle develops understeer in a corner or the steering feels vague and imprecise at high speed, this upgrade eliminates one of the main causes of this behaviour.

Why replace the factory control arms?

The standard front suspension with MacPherson struts on the VAG “A5” platform is a sensible compromise for everyday driving, but it has two significant disadvantages when used for sporty driving:

• The cast steel arms are heavy and do not allow useful adjustment of wheel camber or steering-axis inclination (caster), which affect cornering grip and steering feel.
• The soft rubber bushes flex under load, so the suspension geometry changes while driving through a corner and the vehicle’s response to steering input is delayed.

Racingline arms are CNC-machined from aluminium alloy. Compared with the standard cast steel arms, they are significantly stiffer and 44% lighter. Reducing unsprung mass, meaning the mass of components not supported by the springs, is one of the most effective ways to improve suspension response, comfort and grip on uneven surfaces.

Motorsport-specification polyurethane bushes

The kit includes harder polyurethane bushes instead of the factory rubber ones. Under braking and cornering loads, they maintain the suspension geometry more accurately and provide more direct contact with the road. The result is sharper turn-in and clearer feedback through the steering wheel. The harder bushes will transmit slightly more road noise and vibration into the cabin than the standard ones, which is the trade-off for greater precision.

Adjustable geometry

The main advantage of these arms is the ability to fine-tune the suspension to suit your driving style:

• Negative wheel camber: the elongated holes allow an additional 0.5–1.0 degrees of static negative camber. During fast cornering, more of the tyre therefore remains in contact with the road. This is one of the most effective changes for reducing understeer and improving front-axle grip.
• Steering-axis inclination (caster): offset rear bushes add 1.0 degrees of caster, improving stability at higher speeds, steering self-centring and overall feedback.

For track driving, these adjustments allow a suitably aggressive alignment to be created. Even for road use, a moderate increase in camber and caster noticeably changes the vehicle’s behaviour in faster corners.

Compatibility

The arms are intended for VAG Group vehicles using the “A5” platform, including Volkswagen Golf V and VI, Scirocco, Audi A3/S3 and SEAT Leon models. Compatibility depends on the specific model, generation and vehicle variant.

Important: A four-wheel alignment is mandatory after installation. Without correctly adjusted geometry, the benefits of the upgrade will not be fully realised, and uneven tyre wear may also occur.

In brief

• Lightweight aluminium construction – 44% lighter than standard
• Significantly greater stiffness compared with factory cast steel arms
• Motorsport-specification polyurethane bushes included
• Additional 0.5–1.0 degrees of negative wheel camber available
• Additional 1.0 degree of caster from the offset rear bushes
• Upgrade developed for the track and also suitable for road use

Weight: 5.00 kg

Suitable for: Audi A3 II (8P), Audi RS3 II (8P), Audi S3 II (8P), SEAT Altea XL I (5P5/5P8), SEAT Altea I (5P1), SEAT Leon II (1P1), SEAT Toledo III (5P2), Škoda Octavia II (1Z3), Škoda Superb II (3T4) / II (3T5), VW Caddy III (2K), VW Eos I (1F), VW Golf Cabriolet VI (517) and 5 more (see the table below).

Approval

This part has no TÜV certification (ABE, TTG or Teilegutachten).

Compatible vehicles (manufacturer data)

Before ordering, check that the product matches your vehicle (model, year and engine). If in doubt, write to us — we will check for you.