Upper Control Arms
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: kilgore tx
Upper Control Arms
Just bought my c4 95, took it in for oil change and general inspection at local deal, was told bushing on both upper control arms aka aframe was bad, that control arms needed to b replaced, at $880.00 each not including labor however after checking with GM was told there were only 1 avaible, also was told there are no aftermaket parts either. I just couious if im being played bye this dealership, dont mind paying price if its really what i need. Any advice on who or where to call help
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Okay, first you need to determine if the bushings are really bad or just dried at the ends (very common, and alot of lets say "agressive" shops will use that as a come on.) The center of the bushings are almost always good, and that is the contact /important area. Otherwise your options are EBAY, vette 2 vette, or similar. Or you can change to nylon/polyurethane bushings which are available and fairly cheap, but will affect your ride quality. Off hand, I'd quess you are being "played", but I suspect they have more serious intentions.
Last edited by zr1fred; Dec 14, 2007 at 10:47 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Okay, first you need to determine if the bushings are really bad or just dried at the ends (very common, and alot of lets say "agressive" shops will use that as a come on.) The center of the bushings are almost always good, and that is the contact /important area. Otherwise your options are EBAY, vette 2 vette, or similar. Or you can change to nylon/polyurethane bushings which are available and fairly cheap, but will affect your ride quality. Off hand, I'd quess you are being "played", but I suspect they have more serious intentions.
GM just sells the complete arm and not the bushings separate, which is complete 
Autox'ers have been pi$$ed about this for years since you need to stick with the stock rubber ones to keep it legal in stock class. 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
Unless the bushing is totally gone (that is super easy to check and very unlikely) and the arm got damaged, I don't see why you would need new arms. Glad you found them cheaper though. Maybe the $800 quote was including installing them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
They didn't say the arms are bad, they said the bushings are bad. When your bushings go bad you replace bushings - not the control arm 
Never seen a C4 control arm which is destroyed because bushings wore out. I suspect something like 500K miles is needed for that
Buy the bushings from Vette part vendor and then go to independent garage and ask "how much would it cost to replace the front end bushings?".
Poly A-arm bushing set is $70-95 complete (both upper and lover A-arms).
A poly bushing kit for the whole car is $200
Complete front end rebuild kit is $220
Never seen a C4 control arm which is destroyed because bushings wore out. I suspect something like 500K miles is needed for that Buy the bushings from Vette part vendor and then go to independent garage and ask "how much would it cost to replace the front end bushings?".
Poly A-arm bushing set is $70-95 complete (both upper and lover A-arms).
A poly bushing kit for the whole car is $200
Complete front end rebuild kit is $220
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Make them show you why they are bad and I bet they can not! Worst cause scenario is still nothing more than replacing the bushings, which is not even a difficult DIY job other than needing a shop to press the bushings for you. Sound like the dealer needs some extra sales stuffed in his stocking (at your expense of course). 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
At $880 per control arm, the dealer is smoking something potent.
Call them back, and tell them you found the same control arms for $104 each.
They once quoted me almost $400 for each wheel bearing not including labor, just the part. That would have been about $2,000 just for bearings with labor. Crazy bastards.
Dealer if F'n with you big time. And I would doublecheck that you even need what they told you. This is typical dealership stuff.
Last edited by 86PACER; Dec 16, 2007 at 01:26 PM.
Pro
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From: Carlisle Pa.
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I just replaced the front upper and lower control arm bushings with graphites on my 85 AutoX car yesterday. The original stock bushings looked like new internally and the car has over 200,000 on it. I suspect very few of these car will ever need the contol arms bushings replaced in their lifetime.
Dave
Dave
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 451
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Control Arms
I would be realy interested to see what CC is selling you for $104.00 each. I have been repairing C4's for a long time and I am yet to see an upper control arm that doesn't have a torn ball joint boot. I have seen some upper control arms so bad that the bushing was completely gone and the aluminum that surrounds the bushing was worn half way through. I found out later that the previous owner had the upper bushings replaced with urethane. I have had to purchase several of these arms through the years and usually pay between $200-275 for decent ones. The factory upper and lower control arms have injection molded bushings. I believe this was an attemp to force us to replace rather than rebuild just like many components for these cars, Cheeky.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 4
From: TremontonUT UT
If you find the need to pay someone to replace front end parts a good alignment shop is the place. Back in the late 60s I was a front end and brake mechanic. I changed quite a few. The hood on our Vettes makes replacing "A" arm bushings, one of the few things, fairly easy. Later! Frank
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
I rebushed the entire cars suspension with poly bushings this past summer. Most of the rubber on my 92 was dry rotted with oblonged holes and in dire need of replacement. The ride now is worlds different from before. I used to get bump steer over expansion joints on bridge overpasses etc. Now, its a firm track with no surprises. I did replace springs and shocks and upgrade the front sway bar, but from what I understand the worn bushings account for most of the sloppy steering the car experienced before. I doubt the dealer was steering you wrong on the bushings needing replacement. But as you found out they were trying to sell you parts that weren't needed as well. I would seriously look at the rest of the rubber, its probably not in that good of shape either.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
I would be realy interested to see what CC is selling you for $104.00 each. I have been repairing C4's for a long time and I am yet to see an upper control arm that doesn't have a torn ball joint boot. I have seen some upper control arms so bad that the bushing was completely gone and the aluminum that surrounds the bushing was worn half way through. I found out later that the previous owner had the upper bushings replaced with urethane. I have had to purchase several of these arms through the years and usually pay between $200-275 for decent ones. The factory upper and lower control arms have injection molded bushings. I believe this was an attemp to force us to replace rather than rebuild just like many components for these cars, Cheeky.
I would have to see what Corvette Central is selling, that sure doesn't sound like them ($$$$).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 854
Likes: 1
From: The burbs of Denver CO
Try it yourself. I did, and it isn't a bad job, very easy to get to. And install new urethane bushings while you are at it, top and bottom. Take it apart, drop the upper and lowers off at your local NAPA or machine shop, pick them up, install, and take in for an alignment. Probably have it for $400 total and a newly built front end and alignment.