New front control arms or just the bushes?

[Johnny Hohenzollern]

Hi everyone, I just brought my car to a local specialist for a steering and suspension check and I was advised that my front upper control arms bushes are broken ( yea I can slightly feel my steering is a bit soft). Now I’m thinking to get the Superpro upgrades kit online by myself but I’m not sure which ones I should get? The whole brand new Superpro upper control arm assembly kits ($395/pair) or just the Superpro bushes ($190/pair)? The local mechanic would charge me $350 for the labour if I bring my own brand new control arms. Otherwise it would be more than $900 if they supply me the parts (Superpro-Control Arm Lower Assembly Kit and Superpro Control Arm Upper Assembly Kit - Polyelast Bushes) + $550 labour.

I prefer high quality products that can last very long.

What do you guys think?

Cheers.

[El Andrew]

I'd get another quote.

One advantage of complete new arms is you will get a new ball joint included too. New bushes and ball joints would be a lot cheaper but have to be pressed into your existing arms of course. (Looks like the bush kit should cost under $100 - check a few sites out).

Removing and installing a complete new arm (with new bushes and ball joint pre-fitted) should only be 20 mins each side for a mechanic. You just unbolt the ball joint from the upright, undo the two inner bolts and out it comes.

Not sure whether a wheel alignment is needed or not afterwards.

[Johnny Hohenzollern]

Thanks El Andrew, yes they said you must do the wheel alignment after installing the bushes or the new control arms. I think now if I just replace the whole control arms then I dont need to worry about the ball-joints later. I found the complete Superpro upper control arms assembly kit online but I couldn’t find the lower control arms (only the bushes available), I reckon the upper control arms bushes are broken so the lower parts may not last very long so I better replace them now. Also I heard a lot of people said the the control arms are more expensive than the bushes but the labour’s cost to install the bushes is much more so at the end you will pay almost the same.

[El Andrew]

If you lower ones are ok, I wouldn't worry for now. Suspension stuff wears at different rates and is subject to different loads so no reason to suspect the lower bushes are flogged just because the upper ones are.

Other than removing the wheel there's not much overlap between the two jobs so you aren't saving anything by doing them both at the same time, other than a wheel alignment which is needed periodically anyway.

You are correct that the main labour cost would be pressing out the old bushes and pressing in the new ones. Therefore if you are supplying complete arms this should be much less.

[Johnny Hohenzollern]

#El Andrew, the mechanic also said I would need to do the shim/caster or something likes that as well. Is that including in the wheel-alignment service or different job?

[El Andrew]

Not sure mate. Would have thought shim adjustments for castor angle were just part of the alignment process and shouldn't need too much if you swapping like for like with the arms. Unless there's some other issue going on that he is talking about.

By the way, Sparesbox have 20% storewide (code frenzy20) until the 15th which knocks the price of those arms down to about $320.