Time for new Lower Control Arms

As far as I know, my arms are original at 181k miles. After looking at the bushings this week, they are worse than I thought.

When I rebuilt the front in 2019 these were the only parts I didn't replace.

It sounds like there are only a few good options.

• OEM @ $240 each-$480 total
• Napa @ 175 each- $350 total
• Solo- $1,130 can't imagine why I need these but I'm sure they quality is great
• Last option, replace just the bushings? I know some have done this. It looks like the bushings alone would be over $200 plus the labor to press them in.
• Did anyone reuse their cam sleeve/bolts/eccentric if they weren't rusty? Very little rust on my truck. Just grease and fluid film.

Last question, my lower ball joints are 3.5 years old with around 20k miles. Would anyone install new ones while you have it apart or should I just keep using these? I have no reason to think anything is wrong with them.

 

I reused my CAM hardware by just sanding smooth any rusty ones and reapplying nickel anti-seize. I only replaced the sleeves on the back two that were rustier than most. I would invest that $200 in a 20-ton HF press with adapter accessories and replace the bushings on the original arms myself.

 

I put napa arms on the silver truck 2(?) Years and the bushings according to dad are starting to crack. I havent seen it myself... I used OEM cams. I'd replace them anyways due to fatigue. That's just me. Metal can only be stressed so much.

 

Seems like cracking and failing bushings is common for non-OEM, regardless how "quality" the brand is. I'd just go OEM.

 

If the arms aren't super rusty, replace the bushings. If the LBJs are 3yr old genuine Toyota parts, leave em alone if no play is present. Reuse the hardware if you can.

 

I've been wondering why no one just replaces the bushings on their original OEM arms. Granted, it's a huge pain in the ass, and likely extends the repair process by another day, more or less.

My idea is to get someone's old arms, take my time to clean and paint them, and then install new OEM bushings. When I'm ready to do the front end work I can just pop them in as new!

Q: Does anyone have their old arms laying around?
Q: You'd think by now Toyota would have added rebuilt arm to their catalogue as they did with CV axles.

 

I mean, them not having it could be an indicator of just how much a pain in the Ass those bushings are to replace. I've never done it myself, but it sounds, and looks like a huge pain.

 

There’s also least a couple of YouTube videos out there on the process of replacing the bushings for a Tacoma LCA. It’s pretty much the same for our trucks.

 

Another member replaced his with OEM arms and they are already cracking after a relatively short period.Trying to remember who that was.

I'm still leaning towards OEM though. I'm really not sure I'll save much money by buying the bushings and then paying someone to press them on.

 

Now is the time to buy if you're gonna do it. Veterans day and Thanksgiving/BF always attract some of the best deals of the year.

And I remember what you're talking about too, but I swore those were NAPA arms...

 

Found it. @Hi06silver confirmed they were OEM. 2 years old.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/lower-control-arm-bushing-fail.114212/#post-2941079

 

Are you aware of any Toyota Parts sales? I'm willing to buy this week.

 

I haven't gotten any emails yet, but without fail, something inevitably pops up between Veteran's Day and BF.

 

Are those bushings supposed to crack maybe?

 

I was wondering that too. Or maybe not supposed to but very common. They are cracked on the RAV4 too.

I really don't want to replace mine but they are almost 21 years old.

 

And we have no idea how much longer OEM will be available either... I mean if everyone went, and looked at their bushings I'd bet even low mileage trucks like @shifty` s truck has crackie bushings.

I mean think about how often, and how much those bushings flex. Literally all the time with the full weight of everything

 

That was my hope. I'll keep looking for a sale this week. Nothing listed on Serra yet.

 

If anything, I'd expect low-mile like mine to be cracked. Rubber dries out with lack of use. When you actually use it, drive in rain, you kick up oil and other things off the road, and it helps keep rubber pliable.

I've said it too many times on here: Low-mile trucks are not better trucks.

 

Napa is running a 20% off sale if you have stuff shipped to your house right now.

I've done bushings in leaf springs similar to these. They're a huge pain even if it goes easy.

 

That brings them down to $280. It's tempting.

 

@FirstGenVol Solo is having a BF sale right now, just sayin

 

When my frame was done they sawzall off the original ones and replace the whole arm with OEM. With how much of a pain it is to deal with them I'm glad mine were knocked out at no cost. I should be good for quite a while I hope.

 

And still expensive AF. That IS the sale price I have listed.

 

That's the down side BUT they're really pretty! hahaha.

 

At least the powder coating is included. Very generous of them.

 

I bought a new loaded arm shortly after that and then the damn noise couldn't be replicated but I did take off my cat guard for FF spray and splash guard fab project so apparently it was the guard making the metal on metal sound?
I paid like 290 after everything. on sale yota dealer a couple hours away from me.

 

I got the moogs for $86 a piece. They seem to be fine.

 

I reused one of my and used SPC on the other. I had to use the SPC on one side is because the threads were stripped on the factory bolt on 1 side. Mine weren't siezed thank God

 

Just go Total Chaos 3.5 and be done with it

 

I'm wondering if the fluid film dried out those bushings pre-maturely.