Is it worth replacing the lower control arm bushings?
The bushings are key parts to the steering system and the suspension parts of the car, and can be worth whatever the lower control arm bushings replacement cost may be.
When to replace the front suspension arm bushes?
Only tighten top arms once the car is on the ground or you’ll stress the bushes. The lower front arms can go too, but over 100k miles. If you plan to keep the car say another 2 years, then yes replace them at the same time and the ARB links.
Where is the control arm bushing located on a car?
Over time these bushings become hard and start to crack, which can cause some problems. The Control Arm Bushing is located on the control arm, bolted on the vehicle frame side. The control arm is the arm located at the bottom of the suspension in the front suspension.
What are the symptoms of bad control arm bushing?
As mentioned earlier, when accelerating from a dead stop, you may notice that the steering is wobbly and the front of the car tends to shake and jitter when you turn the car at a considerable speed or press the brakes. This is due to the fact that the control arm bushing has too much play and not holding the wheel in place correctly.
Is it necessary to replace the control arm bushing?
Replacing the control arm bushing or even the control arm itself is not difficult, especially if you have some knowledge about cars and their suspensions. The control arms don’t break as often as their bushes, and if it is possible, it can be worth to replace only the bushing.
Why are the sleeves on my control arm bushing so tight?
As the control arm bushing keeps the two metal sleeves nice and tight, the sleeves get a little play when they become worn, as they move and vibrate when the car is moved.
How much does a control arm replacement cost?
A control arm bushing cost between 20$-100$ and the labor cost between 100$-500$. You can expect a total of 120$-600$ for a control arm bushing replacement. On some car models, you cant replace the control arm bushing separately. You have to replace the whole control arm, which can make the part cost much higher.
Why does the bushing on the control arm vibrate?
This is because the control arm bushing is holding the control arm to give you great stability. While you are driving, you can drive over many things on the road, from small stones to other things that lie flat. If your car rolls over the road debris, it will not vibrate.