Lower Control Arm Bushing
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Newton, MA
Lower Control Arm Bushing
Hi. My lower control arm bushing on the left side is shot (squeaking a ton) and I'm hoping to replace it this weekend. Can anyone give me advice on where I can buy a replacement bushing? I can only seem to find a replacement part that includes the control arm, bushings and ball joint. I don't think I need to replace them all. Any advice would be appreciated.
Oh, also. The truck is an Explorer, 1997, 168,000 miles. Am I nuts not to just replace the whole control arm, just as preventive maintenance. And anything else that I should do while I am involved with this job?
Thanks in advance...
Oh, also. The truck is an Explorer, 1997, 168,000 miles. Am I nuts not to just replace the whole control arm, just as preventive maintenance. And anything else that I should do while I am involved with this job?
Thanks in advance...
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
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I've been looking at lower control arm bushings at Advance Auto and PepBoys. They are about $18 per. You will need two per arm, one in the front and one in the rear of the control arm. For both sides of the truck you'll need four for the lower arms. I think each bushing comes as two pieces. Since you are going to take the control arm out you might want to check the ball joints ($30/ea) and replace them if needed. They press out and in as do the bushings. The upper balljoints are not removable so you need to replace the whole upper control arm (~$100 ea). The bushings, however, are replacable on the upper arms, same as the lowers.
I'm also looking at replacing the upper and lower bushings and the balljoints. When wet and cold (all winter) everything squeaks like crazy. I'm going to replace the outer tierod ends at the same time since everything will be apart anyway and those parts aren't too awful expensive @ $20/ea. What about lubricating the bushings and all movable parts during reassembly with some kind of silicon grease so those damnable squeaks don't return? Does anybody know what that grease is called? I noticed that Ford was using it on the sway bar bushings in the newer models. It's white in color and actually has a dry surface but you can feel the silicon, sort of like a silicon caulk.
Best Regards.
I'm also looking at replacing the upper and lower bushings and the balljoints. When wet and cold (all winter) everything squeaks like crazy. I'm going to replace the outer tierod ends at the same time since everything will be apart anyway and those parts aren't too awful expensive @ $20/ea. What about lubricating the bushings and all movable parts during reassembly with some kind of silicon grease so those damnable squeaks don't return? Does anybody know what that grease is called? I noticed that Ford was using it on the sway bar bushings in the newer models. It's white in color and actually has a dry surface but you can feel the silicon, sort of like a silicon caulk.
Best Regards.
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