Signs that my Control Arms need to be replaced?

[Alpinevelo]

Dudes, what are some of the signs that my control arms need to be replaced? My 6 is at 54K, new tires 3k miles ago, new brake rotors and pads 3K ago, the car tracks perfectly straight while driving and braking. However sometimes when I brake the steering wheel has slight feedback, side to side vibration and the brakes have a feeling that they are grabbing on and off until I come to a stop. Also at times the car and steering wheel vibrate between speeds of 35-45 mph. It doesn't happen all the time and I have not been able to identify a pattern. This is not the shaking that many of us experience once the wheels start to get bold, I've had that and this is more subtle and again it comes and goes.

Any help is appreciated... W

[FrankA6]

Yeah, my car is lowered and i have NEW! wheels and tires, only 500 miles on them, and everything is balanced and lined up, but the car vibrates still in the back wheels and in the steering wheel at about 45-55, so i think i may have the same problem as you, and my first guess was somthing going wrong or broke, near or around or the control arms :(

[NCrings]

Please let me know what you find. I had Eibach springs, Koni sport shocks and Hsports sways put on about a year ago and have been fighting a steering wheel shake ever since. Steering wheels begins to shake around 50MPH and continues to about 70. Passenger cannot feel it so it's probably related to a steering component gone bad. The severity of the shake depends on the road. I'm having the stock shocks put back on next week because the Koni sports are too stiff. Hoping the mechanic will be able to pinpoint the problem.

[Gigi]

Mr. Wobbles is on! Welcome!

[EYE4SPEED]

At the drive through or in traffic, car will creak when you apply the brakes when going slow. Very noticeable with the windows down.

[white fish]

also with that wheel off the ground grab the wheel (1 hand to the front on the car, 1 to the back) wiggle the wheel like you are turning the car side to side
watch the rubber part of the contol arm/tie rod end

do the same but this time grap the wheel 1 hand on top and 1 on the bottom, wiggle look again same spots

any movement in the rubber you have a bad arm/tie rod

[oc-drop]

Please let me know what you find. I had Eibach springs, Koni sport shocks and Hsports sways put on about a year ago and have been fighting a steering wheel shake ever since. Steering wheels begins to shake around 50MPH and continues to about 70. Passenger cannot feel it so it's probably related to a steering component gone bad. The severity of the shake depends on the road. I'm having the stock shocks put back on next week because the Koni sports are too stiff. Hoping the mechanic will be able to pinpoint the problem.

that sounds like tie rods.

are the koni's really too firm? wonder if anyones ever used the dampening on these to make it softer

another note... theres a vibration in my steering wheel, coming from the rear end it seems... i guess the lower bolt of the sway bar link stripped the threads and just sits there now ~ so maybe get those hsports checked out while you're at it

[Gigi]

^ i told him his toe rods or even control arms might be the cause. but hsi car has been doing this for a long time... he had 40k miles or so when he started...

and yeah the koni yellow are way to harsh for our cars

[oc-drop]

yellows ride perfect and comfy with my race springs... =D

never had 1 complaint from my many passengers

[Gigi]

Interesting, both Adam (NCrings) and I are/were very unhappy with them. More so me b/c I ahd the H&R springs with a more aggressive rate than hsi eibachs. My wife and kids complained among others. That's why I switched to FSDs

[NCrings]

Thanks for info OC. Was thinking tie rods as well. Will have the sways looked at as well.
Yea, the yellow sport koni were too stiff for my liking. Great performance but was looking for a little more comfort on the ride. Have the yellows on the softest setting. At least that's what the mechanic told me.

[xpl0sive]

just an obviuos question, but do you have hub-centrics on your rims, cause that will cause crazy vibration if you don't have them