What do rear upper control arms do?
Rear control arms bolt to the upper part of the differential housing and connect to the body. Their main purpose is to support the up and down movement of the axles.
How do you know if your rear upper control arm is bad?
Symptoms
- Clunking Noise. Specifically coming from the control arm and usually following a bump, braking, or a hard turn.
- Steering Wander. Pulling to the left or right without input from the steering wheel.
- Un-Even Tire Wear. Wear on the inside or outside edge of the tire or other unusual wear patterns.
- Vibration.
Do rear control arms make a difference?
Replacing your factory rear control arms can provide many benefits, from improved handling in the twisties to better straight-line performance if the dragstrip is your thing. A factory S197 Mustang control arm on the left compared with Team Z’s double-adjustable arm on the right.
Can you drive with a broken rear control arm?
The car is not safe to drive if that arm has broken. You should be able to drive it until you are in a safe place but don’t push your luck. If the control arm is broken, then you are going to have less weight support and the stability of the car is compromised.
Do I need an alignment after replacing upper control arm?
Yes, when you do any major work to the front suspension, you need to have the alignment done. Even though the parts are “basically” the same, they are not exact. Newer parts will be tighter than old (less deflection and no wear), so will put the alignment into a different position.
How long do upper control arms last?
Over time, the control arm assembly can become worn or bent. These assemblies normally wear out between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. They can wear out faster if you go over a large pothole or are involved in a car accident.
Is it OK to drive with bad control arm bushings?
Can you drive with bad bushings? A slightly worn bushing will not make the vehicle undrivable, but since steering and suspension parts can be expensive to replace, it is important to install new bushings at the first sign of deterioration. If there is metal-to-metal scrapping, replace the bushing immediately.
Do Control Arms affect steering?
2. Steering wandering. Another symptom commonly associated with bad or failing control arm assembly is steering wandering. Excessively worn ball joints or bushings can cause the vehicle’s steering alignment to shift, which may cause the steering to pull to the left or right when traveling down the road.