What happens when control arm bushings wear out?
When bushings wear, they allow more movement. The driver may feel a shimmy from the front of the vehicle, or hear clunking or rattling noises on rough roads, when turning the wheel or in hard braking. Worn control-arm bushings can allow the vehicle’s front end to slip out of alignment and cause premature tire wear.
What causes control arm bushings to wear?
Sometimes the wear and tear driving can cause bushings to become loose. Other times, it could be a mechanic who forgot to tightly fasten the bushing back onto the control arm. In any event, the bushing will get damaged if it keeps knocking into those components.
How do I know if my car needs bushings?
Typical tell-tale signs of worn bushings under a vehicle include the following symptoms:
- The vehicle makes rattling noises when driven over gravelly roads.
- The vehicle sounds as though it is clunking when you make sharp turns or hit the brakes.
- The vehicle feels as though it is trembling along the front portion.
Is it bad to drive with a bad lower control arm?
the short answer to this is yes. driving with bad control arm is dangerous. The bushings and ball joints allow the control arms to move up and down. If the control arm is damaged or bent, the vehicle is not very safe to drive.
What happens to the control arm on a Toyota Sienna?
If they are severely worn, a knocking sound may be heard as the control arm makes metal-to-metal contact with the bushing bracket. If the control arm is damaged or bent, tire wear may be uneven and the vehicle may pull to one side or wander.
When do you need to replace control arm bushings?
While there is no prescribed frequency for replacement of a control arm, the bushings may wear out and need to be replaced as a vehicle approaches 100k miles. Driving aggressively or over rough roads can decrease the lifespan of the control arm bushings.
How do you replace a lower control arm?
A technician will replace a lower control arm by first lifting and supporting the vehicle in the air on a hoist and removing the wheel and tire. A lower control arm must be disconnected from the lower ball joint (attached to the steering knuckle) and from the vehicle frame or body.
How is a worn lower control arm diagnosed?
A technician may diagnose a worn lower control arm during a test drive of the vehicle. The condition may also present itself during a bounce test, where the technician will press down firmly on one corner of the vehicle to bounce the suspension and pivot the control arms.