Lower Control Arm Bushings are shot...

[TonyP]

Never said they were. But a pair of OEM bushings is $145, a 555 ball joint maybe $40-$50? So you're up to 185-190. A new LCA with both already installed ready to go is $280. Is the labor to replace a LBJ and new bushings $90-$100? Most shops charge $75-$80/hr for labor so it's almost a wash just buying the LCA. Plus, you get a new shiny LCA.

Now if you're doing everything yourself, which the OP isn't, that's a whole different calculation.

 

[Willy beamin]

Apologies, let me clarify. I was only only speaking to the labor on pressing out and pressing in new ball joints not being expensive. 555 $50 ea. Plus 1.5 hours of shop labor. That's been my focus this past week so th numbers are fresh

 

[earthsurfer]

Ball joints arent expensive to swap out just for the record. I replaced the LCA bushings and cam bolts last year along with sway bar bushings. These items are available, might come straight from the mothership in Japan but you can obtain them. If you are ever in question and get the run around again give a private message to @beno and he might help you out with sourcing your needs. Tony saved you some loot. You owe him some push-ups

I'll hold off on any push ups until after I actually see the savings. Thanks all the same.

 

[earthsurfer]

Never said they were. But a pair of OEM bushings is $145, a 555 ball joint maybe $40-$50? So you're up to 185-190. A new LCA with both already installed ready to go is $280. Is the labor to replace a LBJ and new bushings $90-$100? Most shops charge $75-$80/hr for labor so it's almost a wash just buying the LCA. Plus, you get a new shiny LCA.

Now if you're doing everything yourself, which the OP isn't, that's a whole different calculation.

I thought each control arm was about $280 by itself and then the front and rear bushings are an additional cost- no?

Or is that what the outline around the diagram of the arm and bushings indicate- that the bushings ( part 8) are included when you buy part 7 ( control arm) - and if so maybe that explains why some dealers and shops claimed that you had to buy the control arms and bushings as a "kit"- they were misreading the diagram?

 

[TonyP]

Generally when parts diagrams have the box around everything, that part number includes everything in that box. I'm not 100% certain in this case, but probably 99% certain.

 

[ranma21]

#7 in the diagram in the complete lower control arm which includes bushings and ball joint. It make better sense to just replace the complete control arm for that price, cheaper than just replacing the bushing with labor. Even if you just diy it still make better sense to replace with new arm as you get new ball joints as well.

 

[UCrazyKid]

https://www.amazon.com/Febest-Toyota-Bushing-Front-48654-60040/dp/B00C6MTTDY
https://www.amazon.com/Febest-Toyota-Joint-Front-48068-60030/dp/B00C6MXX0Y

 

[TonyP]

Febest is garbage.

 

[RS6tofj80]

Maybe a good time to upgrade to the Tundra arms and related other fun stuff ?

E

 

[earthsurfer]

Maybe a good time to upgrade to the Tundra arms and related other fun stuff ?

E

It's tempting but I'm going to keep this one stock.

 

[earthsurfer]

#7 in the diagram in the complete lower control arm which includes bushings and ball joint. It make better sense to just replace the complete control arm for that price, cheaper than just replacing the bushing with labor. Even if you just diy it still make better sense to replace with new arm as you get new ball joints as well.

Thanks for the input

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

@earthsurfer, if you don't mind me asking? Why is the mechanic saying your lower control arm bushings are bad?

 

[JeffH]

I use an independent Toyota mechanic and he did both upper and lower on my 100 Series, replaced bushings only. Same thing - Toyota did not sell them but he said they were same as a Tundra I think and it was way cheaper than complete assys.

Not sure about 200 but sounds like same thing.

 

[SWUtah]

Never said they were. But a pair of OEM bushings is $145, a 555 ball joint maybe $40-$50? So you're up to 185-190. A new LCA with both already installed ready to go is $280. Is the labor to replace a LBJ and new bushings $90-$100? Most shops charge $75-$80/hr for labor so it's almost a wash just buying the LCA. Plus, you get a new shiny LCA.

Now if you're doing everything yourself, which the OP isn't, that's a whole different calculation.

Damn, you got to hate logic

 

[DirtDawg]

I use an independent Toyota mechanic and he did both upper and lower on my 100 Series, replaced bushings only. Same thing - Toyota did not sell them but he said they were same as a Tundra I think and it was way cheaper than complete assys.

Not sure about 200 but sounds like same thing.

They still sell 100 series bushings...

48632-60010 for upper bushings
48654-60010 & 48655-60010 for lowers

Makes me wonder what kind of mechanics you guys are bringing your rigs to...

 

[nsaladin]

Disregard!

 

[Supra88]

My 200 has 230k miles on it. I'm getting ready to pull the LCAs to weld on new cam adjust gussets. I also have a torn lower ball joint boot. I'm considering just purchasing new LCAs from Toyota rather than new bushings and new ball joints.. Do you think that's the right call?

 

[stonepa]

It seems I didn't get lied to. I called Boch Toyota and they said the last Toyota where you could just buy lower control arm bushings and not the control arms as well, was the '96 Camry. Even though the parts are in fact listed separately, as you pointed out, they are not sold separately or replaced independent of the control arm itself. I talked to two separate independent toyota shops that confirmed that to replace the bushings you must also replace the control arms.

There are other sources of bushings. When I drove Land Rovers bushings were a normal maintenance item. Can't tell you how many I pressed out and replaced. LCs are the same.

 

[jimoldguy]

I just found lower control arms Sanki 555 on Parts Geek (they have Toyota stock #s) identicle to stock. $161.00 right $203.00 left. As mentioned in this site buy the bolts because I had to cut mine out. Plus, I had to change the control arms because the ball joints could not be pressed out. broke my breaker bar.

 

[linuxgod]

I just found lower control arms Sanki 555 on Parts Geek (they have Toyota stock #s) identicle to stock. $161.00 right $203.00 left. As mentioned in this site buy the bolts because I had to cut mine out. Plus, I had to change the control arms because the ball joints could not be pressed out. broke my breaker bar.

FYI I paid I think $430 for a new PAIR of OEM Toyota arms shipped from Serra Toyota during one of the 25% off sales that come up a few times each year. Only my bushings were worn, but at 160k I figured new ball joints weren’t a terrible idea. The part number might be the same but I doubt the part is. Personally I don’t think it would be worth the savings to go aftermarket only these but YMMV.