Lower Control Arm Bushing ?'s with Pictures

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T

timer00

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While trying to find out soon if my rack is bad I realized maybe the front LCA bushings are gone. I have a loud squeak from drivers side over any small bump for a while now, weird handling and lane change issues, and sounds like lower suspension is rattling like crazy over off road.

I took some pictures and have some quick questions.

Bushing gone?

WP_20150803_001.webp

That thick rubber flap/end moves around very easily.. is that normal on these things?
WP_20150803_005.webp

This bushing piece also moves pretty easily
WP_20150803_007.webp

Other side rubber flap.. loose again here to move around a little .. again not sure if normal

WP_20150803_008.webp



Thanks for any help.
 
Those bushings look typical as far as I can see. Hard to tell from the pics but that sounds more typical of an upper or lower ball joint failure to me.
 
AimCOtaco said:
Those bushings look typical as far as I can see. Hard to tell from the pics but that sounds more typical of an upper or lower ball joint failure to me.
Click to expand...

Yea I thought its tough to get good pictures of the inner part of the bushing.
Taking into the shop Friday to hear their take on what the issue is. I may end up buying the whole LCA with ball joint anyways for PM
 
^ the frame side/mount front LCA bushings are stoutly made and tough. I replaced mine last year...just because (I thought they were worn). After I got past the point of no return on that project, at ~225k tough miles, I realized I could have pushed that project downstream.

But if you decide to go with new LCAs then maybe if miles warrant go ahead and swap in new frame side bushings.

I posted about the process with pics in my ROTM link below if you're curious...
 
Yea the bushings looked ok to me for the most part.. Ball joints not sure... My PS side had a glob of grease come out somehow the other week after doing new brake pads. I lift up the rubber and can see grease and all. DS not as bad.

2nd Owner from 24k miles replaced the DS with ball joint at 125k and in all his records never mentioned PS. I got that loud squeak coming from DS though over any bump.

I wish it was my ball joints causing the floaty and scary steering over bumps and lane changes but I dunno my luck could be a combo of that and bad rack which I only can afford one before vacation haha.

Got to wait for Friday to see what happens will report back with what shop thinks
 
^ Ok one other thing to check: Pull the upper REAR control arms. If they are worn (out), usually around 150k miles, they will induce a very similar symptom to a grossly worn/loose steering rack; downright scary under WOT. You can not inspect the bushings without removal...
 
spressomon said:
^ Ok one other thing to check: Pull the upper REAR control arms. If they are worn (out), usually around 150k miles, they will induce a very similar symptom to a grossly worn/loose steering rack; downright scary under WOT. You can not inspect the bushings without removal...
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ehh, truck accelerates fine under WOT, its all just when hitting uneven road, bumps, potholes though I'll have them check the rear control arm bushings this Friday too.
 
If the steering is fine under WOT then the rear UCA bushings are probably fine.

Steering rack and ball joint wear/slop are easy to check...shouldn't be any confusion/wonder there. Are you sure your alignment tech is at the top of his game?

And if you run too high front suspension height (much more than 20.5" or so from hub center straight up to the lower lip of the fender) you will also get "nervous" steering/wander.
 
spressomon said:
If the steering is fine under WOT then the rear UCA bushings are probably fine.

Steering rack and ball joint wear/slop are easy to check...shouldn't be any confusion/wonder there. Are you sure your alignment tech is at the top of his game?

And if you run too high front suspension height (much more than 20.5" or so from hub center straight up to the lower lip of the fender) you will also get "nervous" steering/wander.
Click to expand...

I have the alignment sheet, they told me tie rods were fine which I double checked afterwards anyways. Said ball joints were ok and assuming control arms were fine since they could align and didn't mention anything being out of spec which just leads me more towards the rack itself. I am running stock torsion and shocks so no right height issues besides 33" tires

Thanks for the suggestions
 
ranma21 said:
The front upper and lower control arms cam be renewed with new OEM bushings and new ball joints. Toyota does not sell the ball joints separately, you have to buy the control arms for it. Fortunately Sankei 555 makes the replacement ball joints for it, I carry them if you need them to rebuild your front control arms:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/98...er-lower-control-arms-ball-joints-set.864841/
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll let you know once I find out what the deal is according to my shop
 
Replacing my 01 LC ball joints tonight, anyone have a source to order the front LCA and front sway bar bushings? Thanks!
 
Im starting to show my rear end sway bar and control arms some attention.

My sway bar links came off disgustingly easy and the rubber was like new.

>> Is there any way to check the rear control arm bushings, upper and lower, other than removing and inspecting ? They seem to have some small cracks but idk. I don't want to throw parts at the truck but I'm also ready to replace them if they are worn out and may help my all around stability and control at 230k ish miles
 
Mike NXP said:
Im starting to show my rear end sway bar and control arms some attention.

My sway bar links came off disgustingly easy and the rubber was like new.

>> Is there any way to check the rear control arm bushings, upper and lower, other than removing and inspecting ? They seem to have some small cracks but idk. I don't want to throw parts at the truck but I'm also ready to replace them if they are worn out and may help my all around stability and control at 230k ish miles
Click to expand...
The upper bushings are pretty easy to see. The lowers aren’t.

I replaced my lowers at almost 300k miles because one was bent. The bushings weren’t bad. I just replaced the uppers at 303k because I could see the bushings were shot.

…I honestly couldn’t tell any difference in handling quality…

Redoing the front and sway bar bushings at 250k, on the other hand, made a noticeable improvement.
 
Bisho said:
The upper bushings are pretty easy to see. The lowers aren’t.

I replaced my lowers at almost 300k miles because one was bent. The bushings weren’t bad. I just replaced the uppers at 303k because I could see the bushings were shot.

…I honestly couldn’t tell any difference in handling quality…

Redoing the front and sway bar bushings at 250k, on the other hand, made a noticeable improvement.
Click to expand...

Good to know. Yeah I feel like based on the near new condition of the rear sway bar rubber + no visible damage I can prob move that down the list.

I just ordered in the extended trail tailor rear links with the hopes to stiffen up the body roll feel I've got going on. Hope that makes a difference.
 
When I did the front control arms (OEM entire arm with bushings), I did notice when going over man holes, pot holes, you name it, I hardly feel the bump shaking the car. The ride is much smoother. When I go over a pothole at highway speeds 75-80 MPH I hardly feel it with new bushings.
 
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