Visual/physical symptoms of bad lower curved control arm?

[mydreamcar]

I've looked around on other forums but can't find a definitive answer.

I replaced my cv, then decided to replace my front 175k shocks, then noticed the upper control arms are bad so am ordering those.

While I'm in there I'm worried the lower rear/curved control arm is shot at the bushing on the subframe and should replace them if at all bad.

The initial reason I tore the front end sort was my car would have a slight grinding sound on the left front that would become worse in a course of 5 seconds applying the brake at 50 mph. Then the steering wheel would shake a little too. Also, I when I go over 1 inch curbs, I would here a clunk.

Relaxed my motor mounts last week thinking that would solve it, but it didn't- though it helped the clunking young accelerations.

Soooo, my question is, now that my front shocks/trusts have been removed from both sides of my car, and the ball joint of the lower curved control arms separated from the steering Knuckle/wheel mount how can I check if those lower curved control arms are bad.

I'm almost willing to buy them just to make certain they will be good while everything is torn apart.

Below is a screen shot of the rubber on the curved control arm to the subframe.

Thanks a ton.






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[james 408]

Rule of thumb: crumbling rubber = replace. Not sure what joint i'm looking at from the picture.

[mydreamcar]

The lower rear (curved) control arm in the front of the car. This picture is of the control arms bushing to the subframe under the firewall.


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[audinutt]

Your best bet is to replace all the control arms at once that way you have replaced all of the wear-and-tear items there and should be good for a while the only other item I would consider changing at the same time is sway bar links tie rod ends and shock absorbers

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[crazyquik22023]

The bushing is part of the control arm. If that picture is of where the control arm attaches to the subframe (hard to tell from pic), then that control arm bushing is shot and you need a new control arm.

[jpurre]

Wise to replace all at once. I just bought a kit from FCP Euro, going in next.

[wbrunner23]

Relaxed my motor mounts last week thinking that would solve it, but it didn't- though it helped the clunking young accelerations.

Last time I relaxed my motor mounts, it definately hepled with young accelerations... weird

[zillarob]

Can be tough to tell sometimes. I usually stumble across them while torquing lugs.
Ill put a breaker bar on the big center axle nut and rock it back and forth (on the ground, ebrake on) while watching to see if the wheel moves in the fender well.

[christianb5s4]

I agree with the above posters, I highly recommend replacing all the control arms. If one is suspect, chances are the rest are not far behind. I also have had nothing but positive experiences with my FCP control arms.

[MyXbfS4]

I also vote replace all! I was having similar symptoms described so when I took it to the shop for my overheating issue I asked if they would check out the control arms, bushings, axles etc. since I had my bf check it out the night before and he didnt notice anything out of the ordinary.

next day I get a call and the first thing out of the mechanics mouth was "you're lucky to be alive, and lucky no one else was killed". It appears one of the bolts holding the control arm or something had come out of one of the holes and almost completely to the point where he was surprise it didnt come off while driving and I had been driving like that for awhile so kinda scary.

sorry for the long story but the point is its not worth the risk.

[mydreamcar]

You are all wonderful human beings. Thank you very much for your advice and stories. I will be replacing most of the front control arms, and if up to it, all of them. I now understand why my car squeaked over small dips at low speed. Also, I am much less intimidated ripping apart my car after doing the motor mounts for he first time- it just made me believe in my capabilities more after such a long repair. My car will now remain on jack stands for another couple weeks.


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