How do my LCA bushings look? (1 Viewer)

[xychromosome]

Hi All. I was recently under my truck (as one is) and noticed that my LCA bushings look worse for wear. Are these just superficial cracks or should I get these replaced?
OEM or aftermarket (e.g. superpro). Not sure if going to urethane version is better than sticking with OEM rubber.

 

[Hehena]

They look typical for the age, eyeball them during an oil change but otherwise rock on.

 

[r2m]

How's the (steering) wheel feel when driving? Still tight? Does it want to wander a lot?
If it's still driving good, I wouldn't worry about it other than keeping an eye on it at each scheduled maintenance.

 

[xychromosome]

Steering feels great as I just recently had the wheels aligned. Think I'll just keep an eye on them for now......

 

[Rednexus]

They look normal, but your rig is also 10 years old. Even OEM Toyota bushings only last so long. I did mine at Year 14. They were a bit more worn than that, and the ball joints in the LCA were floppy, but the rig was not driving like new. IMO, 12-15 years is a reasonable replacement cycle for most rubber bushings in these rigs.

 

[xychromosome]

They look normal, but your rig is also 10 years old. Even OEM Toyota bushings only last so long. I did mine at Year 14. They were a bit more worn than that, and the ball joints in the LCA were floppy, but the rig was not driving like new. IMO, 12-15 years is a reasonable replacement cycle for most rubber bushings in these rigs.

What did you swap them out for? OEM or aftermarket?

 

[Rednexus]

What did you swap them out for? OEM or aftermarket?

Aftermarket Moogs, which are doing fine after 45K or so. In hindsight I just would have paid an extra $400 or so for OEM LCAs to avoid having to think about the LCAs for another decade plus. The Moogs are an identical Chinese replica of the OEM arms, but I'd be surprised if they make it to 145K like the OEM arms did.

 

[xychromosome]

Aftermarket Moogs, which are doing fine after 45K or so. In hindsight I just would have paid an extra $400 or so for OEM LCAs to avoid having to think about the LCAs for another decade plus. The Moogs are an identical Chinese replica of the OEM arms, but I'd be surprised if they make it to 145K like the OEM arms did.

why replace the LCAs and not just the bushings?

 

[Rednexus]

why replace the LCAs and not just the bushings?

Requires a standing shop press to get the old bushings out, and they will probably be rust-seized inside the old LCAs. Same goes for the ball joints. Drastically easier just to swap out the LCAs. Even then, the alignment cams are probably going to be frozen in the LCAs and will likely need to be cut out with a sawzall.