upper A-arm bushings: when are they toast?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
upper A-arm bushings: when are they toast?
Hi Everyone,
I've seen some pics on here of control arm bushings and it seems that some folks say they should be replaced, others say they look near stock(new).
I understand the bushings will affect the alignment settings a bit, but if that's ok, when do they really have to go?
I have the car in shop now for check-out, but I'm not sure if he really knows the answer to this one.
Thanks
Andy
I've seen some pics on here of control arm bushings and it seems that some folks say they should be replaced, others say they look near stock(new).
I understand the bushings will affect the alignment settings a bit, but if that's ok, when do they really have to go?
I have the car in shop now for check-out, but I'm not sure if he really knows the answer to this one.
Thanks
Andy
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
So essentially when you have metal-on-metal, that control arm will be a little loose and the suspension will just have too much play?
#4
not metal on metal - the rubber will still be there, but it will be shifted/off center. there are pictures buried somewhere on the site, but Im having a hard time finding them.
#5
Safety Car
Member Since: Nov 2000
Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
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I have never heard of anyone wearing out a set of A Arm bushings in normal driving, even high milage cars. Tracking or autoX ing a car will tend to push the bushings out of the arm on the top. Each side of the bushing has a "lip" that sits on the outside of the A Arm. If that lip is pulled into the arm and the other side is pushed away, it's time to replace.