Can I replace a control arm myself?

If you have any doubts, it's a good idea to leave the job to a professional. You'll save yourself a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. If you have any doubts you can pull off control arm replacement yourself, it's best to leave the job to a professional mechanic.

How long does it take to replace a control arm?

However, control arm bushings need to be pressed in with a special tool or press, which takes some time and adds the labor cost. Is a control arm easy to replace at home? On the difficulty scale from 1 to 10, replacing a control arm is 7 or 8. In the shop, it takes about 1-1.5 hours to replace one control arm.

How much does it cost to replace a control arm?

On average, you can expect a car control arm replacement to cost between $500 and $750. Depending on your vehicle make and model—prices may also vary slightly depending on whether it is a front or rear control arm that needs replacing.

Is it worth replacing control arms?

The most common reason to replace a control arm is to improve wheel travel as part of a suspension lift. However, a new control arm can offer more than just increased ride height (lift) and additional wheel travel: Increased durability in the arm itself. A wider range of uniball/ball joint options.

Do you need an alignment after replacing control arms?

Do you need an alignment after replacing the upper control arms? The need for calibration after lowering the car is not the same as replacing the upper arm. If you're just replacing your upper arm, you shouldn't worry about alignment unless your old arm is badly worn and has significant play.

How to Replace a Control Arm (upper or lower)

Can I drive with a broken control arm?

How long can I drive with the damaged control arm? With the damaged or worn-out control arm, you can drive your vehicle for a week or less but it should be repaired as soon as you detect the problem through the methods given above before the suspension gets broken.

Is it hard to replace control arm bushings?

Some bushings can be difficult to replace and may need specialized tools. In this case, it can be more economical to replace the entire component rather than just the bushing. For example, some control arm bushings cannot be replaced separately, so the control arm will have to be replaced entirely.

What are the symptoms of a failing control arm?

Another symptom commonly associated with bad or failing control arm components is steering wandering. Excessively worn ball joints, bushings, or a combination of these 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.

How do you test a control arm?

Checking the control arm bushings is pretty easy. Place a pry bar on the control arm near the bushing. Then attempt to move the control arm back and forth (you may also want to try moving it downward, depending on the bushing design). Don't use a lot of force while doing this—be gentle.

What happens if you don't replace control arms?

Having damaged control arms and worn bushings or ball joints could cause suspension parts to become misaligned. When this occurs, you may experience issues with steering and handling. Usually you'll notice noises first, either while turning, stopping or driving over speed bumps.

Are struts the same as control arms?

Strut type designs have a lower control arm but no upper control arm. In strut designs, the strut becomes the upper control arm and is sometimes connected directly to the spindle or the lower control arm.

Are control arms and tie rods the same thing?

Tie Rod Vs. Control Arm. A tie rod is a steering component that connects your vehicle's rack and pinion to the vehicle's front wheel via a steering knuckle. In contrast, a control arm connects the vehicle's frame to the vehicle's suspension.

How much does it cost to replace both lower control arms?

Typically, replacing your car's lower control arm will cost somewhere between $500-$700, parts and labor included. However, the cost could come up to $1,000 or more, depending on where you live, your vehicle's make and model, and the mechanic you visit.

Why would a control arm need to be replaced?

Another reason to replace a control arm is when it has been damaged or bent after hitting a pothole or curb. The choice of whether to replace only a ball joint or bushings or the entire control arm often depends on the price, the overall condition of the arm and part availability.

How long can you drive with bad control arm bushings?

So when looking at how long you can drive with bad control arm bushings, it all depends on how bad it is. You can drive long enough to have the same problem on the other side. On average, you should be able to drive the car between 96km and 128km after the control arm bushing problem.

Can you replace bushings yourself?

Bad bushings here can lead to popping noises, irregular wear on your tires, and a shaky steering wheel. It's relatively easy and cost-effective to replace these bushings by yourself -- with the right tools and techniques.

What happens if a ball joint breaks while driving?

A broken ball joint may be the cause of a mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. And once they're worn, they will seriously affect your steering and suspension. If a ball joint fails completely, it can even result in the wheel dramatically falling off the car. A scary thought!

How important is the control arm on a car?

The control arms allow a driver to steer a car while also guiding the wheels up and down with the road surface. Although they are simplistic in appearance, control arms have a vital role in a vehicle's overall stability and drivability.

How many control arms does a car have?

Automotive vehicles usually have between two and four control arms, depending on the vehicle suspension. However, most modern cars only have control arms in the front wheel suspension. Larger or heavy-duty vehicles like trucks may have control arms in the rear axle.

How do I know if I need a new control arm?