Lower arms question

[Albeniz]

Is it reasonable to change whole lower arm when only the rubber pad has been worn out?

 

Some months ago, I could hear some sound when the car was traveling on less even road.

The sound came from metal rubbing against metal underneath the car.

 

The mechanic jacked up the car to about ~50cm high and went underneath to check.

He then told me the sound came from metal rubbing against metal as the supporting rubber pad has been worn out.

He replaced a total of two lower arms. Together with post-installation alignment, the repair came close to $465.

 

The "rubbing" noise was only partly rectified.

 

 

My question is:-

 

(1) If the lower arm structure is still solid, with only the supporting rubber pad on it having been worn out, can we just re-stick another new rubber pad on it without having to replace the whole arm?

 

(2) Must lower arms be replaced in pairs? He replaced both, but I could see one was newer than the other when they took them out from my car.

 

(3) How often do we need to change lower arms?

 

(4) The non-original ones cost almost half price, are they compatible and reliable?

[Elfenstar]

1) yes. i dont understand why your mech didn't just change the bushing....

 

2) Not necessary but from a mod/performance viewpoint its advisable to change any steering or suspension bits in pairs.

 

3) Never unless damaged in some way or as a suspension mod.

 

4)This is a bit hard to answer... some are good some are bad. if from a quality manufacturer sometimes they are even better.

[Albeniz]

1) yes. i dont understand why your mech didn't just change the bushing....

 

2) Not necessary but from a mod/performance viewpoint its advisable to change any steering or suspension bits in pairs.

 

3) Never unless damaged in some way or as a suspension mod.

 

4)This is a bit hard to answer... some are good some are bad. if from a quality manufacturer sometimes they are even better.

 

Then the mechanic was very dishonest!

He was from one of the highly-acclaimed workshop mentioned in this forum!

The location was at Yew Tee Industrial park. He has an English name starting with "S".

[Elfenstar]

I'm not really affay with workshops in singapore other than those i go to or those my friends go to.

 

Dishonest, yes if he told u that there was no other option but to change the LCA's. As for his reasons, probably coz he was lazy (it is an annoying job) and from what yeobh has said abt workshops in sg, it could even be because he had no proper tools.

[Albeniz]

from what yeobh has said abt workshops in sg, it could even be because he had no proper tools.

 

True. I have no confidence in ws which uses jack to raise the car to only above 50cm from ground and have to go underneath and figure out what was wrong with the undercarriage. The "faulty" parts are up to him to name.

 

In CAS, your car can be jacked up above shoulder height and the mechanic can point and discuss with you the parts to replace.

[Elfenstar]

If i was a mech, i would never do big jobs without a hoist... after working on heaps of cars with jacks and axle stands etc in our garages, i figure its too much trouble to do these.

 

Not to mention its a lot quicker with the hoist and proper tools if going under the car is needed. Simple things like exhaust changes or normal maintenence is fair enough though.

[Shor]

I encounter this during my last servicing. The mech wanted me to change both to new one but I don't really know what's all about. He quoted around $450 but I ignore. Anyone can advise, is it necessary to change the lower arm? What if I don't change it, any "big" problems? He just said my front lower arm no good already!!! Never even bother to tell me more.

 

 

 

1) yes. i dont understand why your mech didn't just change the bushing....

 

2) Not necessary but from a mod/performance viewpoint its advisable to change any steering or suspension bits in pairs.

 

3) Never unless damaged in some way or as a suspension mod.

 

4)This is a bit hard to answer... some are good some are bad. if from a quality manufacturer sometimes they are even better.

 

Then the mechanic was very dishonest!

He was from one of the highly-acclaimed workshop mentioned in this forum!

The location was at Yew Tee Industrial park. He has an English name starting with "S".

 

[Ichibawa]

My question is:-

 

(1) If the lower arm structure is still solid, with only the supporting rubber pad on it having been worn out, can we just re-stick another new rubber pad on it without having to replace the whole arm?

Depends on your ride. If you are driving a continental car, then the ball joints could be faulty and this is usually embedded into your aluminium control arm.

 

(2) Must lower arms be replaced in pairs? He replaced both, but I could see one was newer than the other when they took them out from my car.

Not entirely true. It can be replaced either side that is faulty.

(3) How often do we need to change lower arms?

In our region, most of the stock control arms are in the car even if its more than 10 years of use. In Europe, car owners are required to change the car's suspension system every 5 years of use.

 

(4) The non-original ones cost almost half price, are they compatible and reliable?

I go for aftermarket (Non-original non performance) anytime. Of course these must come from a reputable source.

 

[Mustank]

the workshop i go to is more honest. i drive in, he identify the fault, i go buy parts, he change. i pay him for labour. coincidentaly, i also changed the same stuff. i cannot recall lower arm or higher arm though

[Shor]

Bro, which workshop you go.

I went to Tampines MOTOGARD, the head mech bloody Yaya papaya type. Ask him anything, don't really wanna answer . He just said, your lower arm spoil, wanna change? That's it, never even tell me more what's going on, anyway, I will not patronize there again.

 

 

the workshop i go to is more honest. i drive in, he identify the fault, i go buy parts, he change. i pay him for labour. coincidentaly, i also changed the same stuff. i cannot recall lower arm or higher arm though

 

[Godfinger]

Lower arm is made of cast metal. Cant

Be spoilt. Only possible problem is the

Wornt rubber bushing which can be

Removed and replaced. But bear in mind

That not only such replacement job is tedious

And time consuming, there might not

Be replacement bushing avalible but

Rather they will sell as a whole lower arm

Assembly.

[Shor]

I agree, I ask a specialist in this and he advice the same. But he said, the rubber is changable, no need to change the whole arm.

 

 

Lower arm is made of cast metal. Cant

Be spoilt. Only possible problem is the

Wornt rubber bushing which can be

Removed and replaced. But bear in mind

That not only such replacement job is tedious

And time consuming, there might not

Be replacement bushing avalible but

Rather they will sell as a whole lower arm

Assembly.

 

[Beng2]

Yes, I changed the bushings for my car LCA. It is a lot of work as the mechanic needs to use hydraulic punch to remove the old bushings. Changing the whole arm is easier for the mech.

[5936]

These rubbers or actually the bushings are wear and tear parts.

Yes bushings can be replaced.

 

 

[Throttle2]

for premium continentals, lower control arms come with ball joints that are not individually replaceable.

the ball joints are all preassembled onto the control arm.we all know the reason why.

 

the replaceable ball joint is the one that is attached to the anti sway bar link.

it is not easy to do the job as it requires good skill. the wheel , disc rotors and calipers must be moved out of the way to gain access to the control arms.

 

lower control arm is the big fat one which is more expensive. upper control is probably only half the price

anti sway bar link is even cheaper.

 

There is no need to change both left and right becos the parts come seperately either left or right.

 

[Shor]

What if I don't change it? Any down side? Please advice.

 

 

 

for premium continentals, lower control arms come with ball joints that are not individually replaceable.

the ball joints are all preassembled onto the control arm.we all know the reason why.

 

the replaceable ball joint is the one that is attached to the anti sway bar link.

it is not easy to do the job as it requires good skill. the wheel , disc rotors and calipers must be moved out of the way to gain access to the control arms.

 

lower control arm is the big fat one which is more expensive. upper control is probably only half the price

anti sway bar link is even cheaper.

 

There is no need to change both left and right becos the parts come seperately either left or right.

 

[Hamburger]

if its rubber bushing is torn, there will be a tok tok sound when car move forward

 

imagine in a jam, when you inch forward and stop repeatedly.....tok tok all the way.

 

it effects the alignment too......

[Throttle2]

What if I don't change it? Any down side? Please advice.

 

the lower arm, upper arm, and all ball joints work in tandem with your suspension and wheel assembly .

if you dont change, it may cause other areas in that area to wear out quick and finally fail.

 

of course the first down side as already explained by above forummer is a tock tock sound.

irritating. you may also feel very minute movements through your pedals when the ball joint isnt smooth or the arms are not in perfect synch.