Picture of my Lower Control Arm Bushing failure

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I started hearing some noise right after I replaced brake pads so I first thought a brale pad was loose in the support spring and was ratteling, but I had time tonight to look at it,

How much time would it take me to do each side with the car on jack stands..

 

It's hard to tell by that picture, but is your lower control arm cracked/broken as well?

 

I don't think so. It's laying down on the body metal in that Picture.
I can pry the control up and down easily.

 

unless you have a press, i dont see you getting them out at home on jack/stands. you can fully replace the control arm though, pretty cheap from ced i belive

 

I'd recommend a set of Powell LCABs. They're pretty heavy duty. Just find an auto shop that can press the old ones out and new ones in.

 

Johns TCABs are meant for the aluminum arms. Depending on the OP budget, I would say just get some new aluminum ones for like 90 each and swap them yourself.

 

I just completed the left side. The right side was not in that condition so I will do it later.


The hardest part was pressing that new bushing into the control arm.

I finally made a jig by taking two pieces of 2x4 and drilling a one inch hole in each so when it was in the vise it didn't restrict the side that was going toward from moving.


Probably took about 30 attempts before I got it started straight and into there enough I could reposition it without it coming back out.

Before I do the other side I am going to line up a place with a press.
The speed shop I use to work at part time has one, so will probably use it unless I find someone closer.

All the other parts and bushing looked fine, for 65000 miles.

But that bugs me because it is the only car I have ever owned that I had to replace front suspension bushings or other parts under 100K miles.
But I like the car otherwise..

Enough work for an old guy today...!!

 

A lot of cars today come with a similar bushing design on the front control arms. It works well for quieting the suspension, but they tend to get torn up quickly, like yours. Rather unfortunate if you ask me. Things (usually) get better with non-strut setups.