Too much time on my hands. I was wondering if control arms last longer with air suspension vs standard suspension under average conditions.

 

I have to replace upper arm bushings and lower forward control arms (AWD air) every 12 mounts or around 15k miles. I drive on bad roads everyday... I have tried both OEM and aftermarket. There is a front control arm bushing kit for $100 for AWD, however, it is a challenge to press in lower bushings due to tight interference fit, at least, it was for me. So, I ended buying same aftermarket control arms and using those instead.

 

When do you decide to replace them? Curious what the symptoms are.

 

First, I get clunk while turning on bumpy road and then it progress to while driving straight on not so bad roads. Replacing lower forward control arms fixes the issue. Upper control bushings develop cracking so replace them in the same time.

Interestingly enough, front lower rearward control arms off 2013-17 on my 2010 still work fine after 30k+ miles.

 

I imagine you can do the work with one eye closed by now! Harsh driving conditions (and spirited driving) definitely reduce the life.

 

I've never been to the lower 48 but you people must have some really bad roads there to be replacing arms and bushings so often, maybe the heat is a factor as well.
Do the ball joints on the uppers wear out or just bushings?

 

It is just bushings, ball joints feel as good as when I got arms new.

 

What's the next step after that? My left front side was clunking softly during sharp turns, but I haven't heard it for a while. I barely drive the car and need to take it for a second opinion. Wheel looked a little wonky the other day when turned, but again drives fine.

 

Who gave you the first opinion? What did they say? Taking it to a shop, a tech can see if the bushing is worn visually and with a pry bar. Sounds like it's just beginning, no emergency.

 

Hiya all. Back from vacay and back to grind.
So, in my experience CA longevity hugely depends on driving style and most of all on everyday road condition.
I tend to baby my suspension, and first LS arms lasted about 100k (then they were just part of a wreck...). My current LS I got at around 70k miles - lower CAs were trashed (along with struts, motor mounts and just about every other rubber bushing front of the vehicle) and whole bottom was covered in dirt, so I assume car was driven HARD. So I replaced all lowers with new tmc ones, and they are still pristine at 100k now.
Uppers shown some surface cracks, but were updated parts and during 30k miles barely changed. But I got a set of uppers ready.
I'm dreading alignment. Takes a lot of time to do to my satisfaction... KUDOS to Anfanger for going thru those hoops yearly.
Love you all


ps. not an amsoil plug but cold restart after month+ produced NO extra noises. Impressive. With tgmo I always had a little chain noise until tensioners primed when leaving my boy for extended periods of time.

 

I agree that driving style and conditions will affect all mounts and bushings much more than type of shocks. My 2013 has 63k with original CAs. Though I'm the second owner, there's consistent maintenance records on drivers.lexus. I've had to do a few hard stops and would have felt a clunk if worn.

 

What's TMC lower C arms?

 

I have 107,384 on my 2010 LS460L now and have had no CA issues. I have them checked every 5,000 miles when I get the oil changed and tires rotated.

Dennis

 

Lower control arms made by toyota motors co

 

Mobile mechanic. They said it looks normal for the mileage (30k). Haven’t heard the clunking sound in a while. I don’t drive it much at all any more (thanks to my ebike which I vastly prefer, haha).

I don’t want to drive the car like a sports car, but it does kinda bug me that it’s gotta be babied around corners.