Lemforder Control Arms & Motor Mounts: A Specialist's Honest FAQ

When a car's on the lift and the owner's asking if it'll be ready by tonight, you don't have time for fluff. I've spent 12 years sourcing parts for an independent repair shop—300+ rush orders, same-day deliveries, "you're my only hope" phone calls. These are the questions I actually get asked. The answers aren't always what people want to hear. But they're what I've learned the hard way.

Are Lemforder control arms worth the premium price?

Yes, for most road cars. But the "why" matters more than the "yes."

From the outside, all control arms look the same. The reality is what's inside: bushing compound, ball joint tolerances, how the arm flexes under load. Lemforder is an original-equipment supplier for several European automakers, and you can feel that engineering in the fit. I've fitted their arms on Volkswagens, Audis, BMWs, and Volvos without fighting them. No prying, no grinding, no "make it fit" tricks.

At 80,000 miles, you'll see the difference between a Lemforder arm and a no-name special. Bushings crack, boots split, ball joints get loose. I've seen cheap arms fail at 10,000 miles in our own shop. If you're keeping the car, Lemforder is a no-brainer.

But here's the honest part: if you're driving a 15-year-old car that's worth less than a month's rent, a mid-range arm might make more economic sense. I do not say that lightly. You might not own the car long enough to benefit from the extra durability.

How can I tell if a Lemforder control arm is genuine?

This is the question more people should ask before clicking "buy." Counterfeit Lemforder parts are everywhere, and they're getting harder to spot.

In March 2024, a client brought in "Lemforder" arms from an online marketplace. The box looked right. The part numbers matched. The QR code even scanned to a convincing-but-fake page. But the bushings were rock-hard, the ball joint boots were thin, and both arms had play within a week. A red flag that cost him twice.

Here's what I check now: the holographic label—real ones shift color—the weight of the arm, and the seller's history. If the price is 40% below every other listing, that's not a deal. It's bait. Bottom line: buy from a dealer with a paper trail. A control arm failure at highway speed is not a risk worth saving $80 on.

Do Lemforder motor mounts make a real difference?

It's tempting to think a motor mount is just rubber with metal on both sides. Hold the engine in place, done. But that oversimplification is why so many cars leave the shop with vibrations they didn't have before.

Engine mounts dampen specific frequencies. A cheap rubber mount transmits them all. A hydraulic mount—like the ones Lemforder makes—absorbs the ones you feel in the cabin and the steering wheel. On a diesel or a three-cylinder, the difference is night and day.

I've had customers mention an idle vibration, we swap in Lemforder hydraulic mounts, and at the next visit they ask what we did. Same signal, completely different output. That's the best part of the job.

Would I put them on a 2003 Corolla with 240,000 miles? No. For a car you care about? Absolutely.

What's the #1 mistake when changing a radiator hose?

Over-tightening the clamps. Period.

I can't count how many times a customer has brought in a brand-new hose that leaks at the clamp. They tightened it, then tightened it again, and the clamp cut into the rubber. New leak path. That's what you get for being thorough.

Here's how to change a radiator hose the right way:

• Let the engine cool completely. Minimum 30 minutes.
• Drain the coolant into a clean container.
• Take a photo of the hose routing before you disconnect anything.
• Loosen the clamps, then twist the hose off. Don't pull—twist.
• Clean the fittings with a wire brush.
• Slide the new hose on, position the clamps, tighten until snug.

Snug. Not "torque it like a lug nut." Snug.

One customer paid $200 in labor after cracking his radiator outlet with a clamp tightened too far. The photo alone would've saved him an hour.

What does a piston ring installation diagram actually tell you?

More than you'd think. The first thing to notice is the ring order: top ring, second ring, oil control ring. They're not interchangeable. The diagram labels each one for a reason—the top ring handles heat and pressure, the second ring assists sealing, and the oil ring's spring expander must face up. Get them in the wrong order, and you get to do the job twice.

The second thing is the gap orientation. Ring gaps shouldn't line up. A typical diagram shows them spaced 120 degrees apart. I remember a rebuild where the engine smoked on startup. Pulled it apart, and two gaps were stacked perfectly. That's what happens when you trust your memory instead of the diagram.

It takes 45 seconds to check. It takes 4 hours to fix when you don't.

Why does a Stihl FS55 ignition coil fail?

Come for the Stihl FS55 ignition coil problems, stay for the actual cause. The coil itself rarely fails. The real culprit is usually the air gap between the coil and the flywheel.

The FS55 needs roughly 0.2mm. Too wide, and you get weak or intermittent spark—especially when the engine's hot. Too narrow, and the coil rubs the flywheel. Many people replace the coil without checking the gap, bolt the new one in with the same old setting, and the "new" coil has the same symptom.

Before you spend $50 on a replacement, set the air gap. A business card works as a feeler gauge. Free fix. Also, check the fuel lines—FS55s have a silent fuel line failure that mimics a perfect coil problem. I learned that one the expensive way.

When should you NOT buy Lemforder?

Here's where I lose some sales and gain some trust.

If you're repairing a 20-year-old work truck that just needs to pass inspection, a mid-range brand will do the job. The car won't outlast the part. Save the money.

If you're building a track car with spherical bearings and adjustable arms, Lemforder's road-focused compliance is the wrong tool. Motorsport specialists make parts for that. Not a knock on Lemforder—just the right tool for a different job.

But for a car you drive every day? That's who Lemforder serves. Not because the logo looks good, but because proper bushings, sealed ball joints, and correct geometry keep a car reliable. I recommend them to most customers, and I mean it.

Know your situation, not just the brand. That's the real advice.