dal20402

It's the bushings. I've never heard of a failure of the arm portion of a 4LS control arm, either OEM or aftermarket. I'm still reluctant to trust the aftermarket parts based on my own and others' experiences with parts on different cars.

It's still a safety issue for a number of reasons, although a less severe one. First, shot bushings substantially increase the momentary loads on other suspension components when there is a transition (such as a braking event or a sharp corner). That could increase the likelihood of something like a control arm or a tie rod failing catastrophically. Second, shot bushings effectively put the car out of alignment (and in different ways on acceleration and braking), giving less accurate steering control and potentially less grip in an emergency situation. Third, this failure on the LS in particular tends to lead to inner-edge tire wear, to the point where members have posted that they had exposed belts on the far inner edges when there was still plenty of tread on most of the tire. That type of wear is hard to see unless you're looking very carefully and may go unnoticed for too long.

gsbeforels

Thinking the same thing as I had what I thought were the Control arms replaced by Se*ell here in dallas to only have the same popping and squeaking noise reoccur a few months later, I ordered a set of after market bushings from eBay but of course they don't want to touch them and now telling me the noise I'm hearing are actually the brake rotors(they didn't install might add) which are also aftermarket, I'm at a loss, love the LS but sick of the panny anny repairs even if my extended warranty does cover!!!