Control Arms question...

**Allaidback** · 07-02-2008 01:51 PM

Can you just replace the bushings in the control arms instead of replacing the whole arms? Isn't the bushings the only things that go bad?

**mholme** · 07-02-2008 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Allaidback

Can you just replace the bushings in the control arms instead of replacing the whole arms? Isn't the bushings the only things that go bad?

The ball joints fail too on the other end. You can buy the bushing seperately, but pressing them in the old, soft arms might damage them I would think...

**IamEzraM** · 07-02-2008 06:47 PM

yes, it is possible to replace just the bushings, but it's not very easy, separating the ball-joint to remove the control arm can be difficult aswell

**Mike@PureMS** · 07-03-2008 12:16 AM

Yes, the bushings are available separately. However the ball joints fail as well, which cannot be replaced. For the labor that's involved in swapping just the bushing, you're better off replacing the arm.

**BurnAll4S4** · 07-03-2008 06:31 AM

like he said. its more cost effective to just replace the arm.

**Allaidback** · 07-03-2008 06:49 AM

Thanks guys for the input. I was just browsing for new control arms and I saw that the bushing were sold seperately as well...so was confused. I ending up getting all four upper control arms for $80 brand new from FCP.

**RuS4ty** · 07-03-2008 08:11 AM

I wouldn't say its the only thing that does wrong with them...

(don't mind all the dimples in the arm, that was just me taking my frustration out on it)

This was the result from just a standing start to show how cheap the FCP control arms really are. Arm bent completely back pushing the wheel into the back of the wheel well.
The arm had only been on there for about a month too. Hope you have better luck with yours.

**Allaidback** · 07-03-2008 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by RuS4ty

I wouldn't say its the only thing that does wrong with them...
This was the result from just a standing start to show how cheap the FCP control arms really are. Arm bent completely back pushing the wheel into the back of the wheel well.
The arm had only been on there for about a month too. Hope you have better luck with yours.

lol...wtf...are you serious. did you get the steel or aluminum one. I checked the specs and found them to be better than oem. Wow...I was pretty rough with mine putting them in and didn't see any flaws. I guess I'll keep an eye on them. I'm a sucker for good customer service and the rep for fcp was great so I went with them...I do hope I have better luck with mine. Thanks for the heads up though.

**sCeRaXn** · 07-03-2008 08:45 AM

RuS4ty i still dont understand how a control arm could bend like that from a launch. What does the other arms look like? Youd think if it bent from just a launch then the other lower arm would be messed up as well.

**RuS4ty** · 07-03-2008 09:20 AM

the other one looks fine. I don't know what to tell you though, since everything else looks okay (besides a bad motor mount on that side). Everything else popped back into place when I took the bad one off.

FCP does have good customer service though, when I ordered the kit they forgot to ship one of the uppers and instead ship two of a kind of another arm. So I called and they shipped the missing parts out asap with no questions asked.