Lower Control Arms -- Rebush or Replace? (7 Viewers)

[HomersCanyonero]

Anyone on here pay to replace the bushings on lower control arms? If so, about how much does it cost and which bushings did you get?

If you replaced the LCAs, what did you replace with? Total Chaos has LCAs for $1500 and I don't want to pay that much. There's a few other brands that cost between $300 (Mevotech) to $500 (Moog) per pair of LCAs.

I'm not sure what's the best thing to do and keep it low cost. Here's a picture of one of my bushings from the LCA

 

[BlackCat]

I’m in the same boat. I think I’ll go with A/M ones on Rock Auto or something. My alignment cams are seized so I’ll need to cut all mine out. I’m not even considering pressing bushings in with the cost of aftermarket arms.

 

[GXO]

Buy new. Replacing costs more

 

[langsen]

I replaced mine with OEM bushings from Toyota, had a local shop press out the old and press in the new for about $20. Replaced the sway bar links and bushings at the same time. Should have done the CVs at the same time while everything was apart.

If you think the alignment cams are seized, get some PB Blaster and a longer breaker bar. They are torqued to 100 ft lbs. After you get alignment, double check the torque on those, I've never had it come back from a shop with them torqued higher than 80 or so.

 

[GXO]

If you do the bushings you should also order a lower ball joint and swap it out at the same time. It is likely worn.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I went on the FJ Cruiser and T4R forums and they use the same lower control arms in the front as the GX470.

Regardless if you are re-building or replacing, there's a potential that the bolts/hardware is seized/rusted. I'm hoping that a So Cal rig doesn't have this problem at all, but we'll see. The hardware should be Toyota OEM.

If you rebuild, the Toyota OEM bushings are expensive. Just the 4 bushings for the LCAs are like $160 or something like that on ebay. This doesn't include the ball joints which should be replaced as well. There's other options for cheaper bushings and ball joints, but OEM is spendy.

If you replace, there are various degrees of prices on the new LCAs. It's just the quality is unknown on some of the lowered priced units. People on the aforementioned boards claim the really inexpensive ones from 1AAuto are okay and one guy has had them for 15k miles.

Quick summary on prices (not extensive research -- updated prices on 3/12/2018 from what others have commented):
1. $140/pair, TRQ LCAs, from 1A-Auto at Amazon (no tax, free shipping with prime)
2. $200/pair, MAC Auto
3. $270/pair, Mevotech
4. $330/pair, Moog
6. $528/pair, Toyota OEM, online stores
7. $1800/pair, Total Chaos

I'm still not sure which path to take, but I'm getting a better idea on what needs to be done on each path.

 

[GXO]

I did the TC lowers (stock width) and they are awesome. Poly inner bushings, HUGE hardened steel LBJ. I got the non-racing so it has integrated skid plates. I love them.

 

[dnp]

I replaced my LCAs with AC Delcos from Rock Auto. Quality seemed really good. The pair for $377 delivered.

 

[mercedeezel]

I went with new OEM LCA's. I got them off ebay and the price wasn't much greater compared to the after market offerings. The originals lasted 12 years and 128,000 miles. That was enough to convince me to spend just a bit extra for OEM replacements. I don't want to redo this job anytime soon.
Plus, if something goes wrong, the can't blame me for cheaping out on on parts

 

[Itsky]

I bought new oem at about 110k. Really tightened up the steering and feel. The ball joint will need replacing to.

 

[UTFJ]

I replaced mine with new OEM LCAs because I didn’t want to redo the job in a few years. I got 11 years and 174,000 miles on the original set, so OEM made sense to me.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Decided to go with Toyota oem LCAs for $528/pair from trdparts.com with free shipping and no taxes upfront because I'm in a different state. I think they are in Houston, so no upfront taxes to California.

My friend advised me to just refresh the original LCAs with new poly bushings and new ball joint, but I really couldn’t figure out how to order the correct polybushings with metal inner sleeves plus new ball joints.

Also, I went to two auto repair shops and they both advised me to get new oem ones. They did not want to quote me a price on replacing the bushings on the existing LCAs because they said if there are complications pushing out or installing the bushings could raise labor price to where it doesn’t make sense.

I might try to refurbish the old LCAs myself with poly bushings and try to sell them locally. It all depends on the price of the bushings and ball joint.

 

[Dharma Dude]

@HomersCanyonero There is in fact taxes on all online sales from out-of-state in CA. You either heave to declare in on your 540 or if you don't they just calculate the "average" total untaxed online purchases for your demographics and then just charge you that on the 540. Turbotax calculated it automatically.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Thanks for the heads up on the taxes. I meant to say that TRDParts.com didn't charge me taxes up front on this order because I'm in a different state.

 

[helocat]

Any Prado 120 front lowers are the same for the GX. So take off FJC, 4th gen 4runner etc. are all good candidates. At the same time so are the replacment parts you press in. Note the Prado 150's (GX460, 5th Gen etc) the inner bushings have a 1mm bigger cross bolt so they are not interchangeable with the 120 trucks. (TIP look for FJC guys that went TC long travel on the front yrs ago but saved their stock lowers! I cringe at the number I tossed over the years doing LT installs)

For my personaly 2005 GX with 160k miles I put TC stock replacement lowers on my truck. The bushings are easy to R and R as is the uni-ball outer joint. Built like a tank they have great clearance and built in armor.

But at $1800+ for the set they are not cheap.

Total Chaos Stock Length 4130 Race Series Lower: 2003-2009 4Runner | 2003-2009 GX 470 | 2007-2009 FJ Cruiser

Consider also IF you wheel the truck to remove the weak stock CAM tabs and go with the TC upgraded tabs, they will not bend. The kit is not expensive just takes some time to install and requires welding.

Total Chaos Lower Control Arm CAM Tab Gussets: 2005-2015 Tacoma | 2007-2009 FJ Cruiser | 2003-2009 4Runner | 2003-2009 GX 470

 

[HomersCanyonero]

@helocat Thanks for the tip on the TC LCA CAM Tab Gussets. I didn't know the stock ones were considered weak and they bend, so this is good tip to replace as preventive maintenance when doing the LCAs. I'm assuming that the TC CAM Gussets work with the stock OEM LCAs. I'm gonna go take a look under the GX470, so I can see where they go.

Also, after I followed your link to the TC LC CAM Tab Gussets, I saw that MT also sells TC poly bushings. I've bought many things from MT in the past for my GX470, but I had missed these poly bushings. I should call to get more details, but do you sell a kit just for the stock OEM LCAs that includes the bushings, metal sleeves, and the ball joint? That would have made it easier for me to order a LCA bushing/ball-joint kit and then contemplate rebuilding my stock LCAs.

 

[caz]

I've only got 85k miles, but the boots on my ball joints are cracked and seeping. Can you just replace the boot?

I'm seeing Moog LCAs for a little over 300 for the pair on Rockauto. Was planning to go that route. They seem to have a good reputation on the FJC forums.

My truck is not an offroader.

 

[helocat]

@helocat Thanks for the tip on the TC LCA CAM Tab Gussets. I didn't know the stock ones were considered weak and they bend, so this is good tip to replace as preventive maintenance when doing the LCAs. I'm assuming that the TC CAM Gussets work with the stock OEM LCAs. I'm gonna go take a look under the GX470, so I can see where they go.

Also, after I followed your link to the TC LC CAM Tab Gussets, I saw that MT also sells TC poly bushings. I've bought many things from MT in the past for my GX470, but I had missed these poly bushings. I should call to get more details, but do you sell a kit just for the stock OEM LCAs that includes the bushings, metal sleeves, and the ball joint? That would have made it easier for me to order a LCA bushing/ball-joint kit and then contemplate rebuilding my stock LCAs.

Yes the cam tabs stock are crazy weak. They are know for rounding out on you, leaving your alignment to go crazy. I have photos and some tips from my last install for the TC replacements. I will toss them up on our website blog and provide a link for them.

Sorry man the poly bushings on our site are replacements for the TC' lowers. They are not replacements for OEM lowers. We just stock all the service bits for the TC gear. This helps two ways one, before one buys you can see what the service stuff costs and after 2-3+yrs later depending on use, order them up easily.

I've only got 85k miles, but the boots on my ball joints are cracked and seeping. Can you just replace the boot?

I'm seeing Moog LCAs for a little over 300 for the pair on Rockauto. Was planning to go that route. They seem to have a good reputation on the FJC forums.

My truck is not an offroader.

Moog makes good stuff with my experience. For the boots on the ball joints, not seen replacement boots before. I just R&R the joints if they are exposed and getting sick.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Re: I have photos and some tips from my last install for the TC replacements. I will toss them up on our website blog and provide a link for them.

@helocat It would be awesome if you can put pictures on your blog. I will check it often to see if they are there. This is something that interests me in doing to beef up the CAM tabs. I'm off-roading more and more and might as well do it now that I have the new OEM LCAs in the garage.

For anyone else interested in your blog: https://www.metaltech4x4.com/blog/

 

[BlackCat]

Just ordered my factory lower replacements today. Thank god for employee pricing! Woot woot.