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Old 08-22-2018, 08:20 PM   #1
Ladeef
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Default Control arm bushing tearing

anyone have any issue with their lower control arm bushings? here's my driver front at 67k. Is this a warranty item? I have the extended warranty.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5M36LBi3HAHiSs5j8
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Old 08-23-2018, 08:48 AM   #2
DieselDorf
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That's what they look like when you jack the car up.

They don't usually flex at that angle.

If there aren't any issues with driving or if it isn't loose then don't worry about it.

That's what mine look like as well.
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Old 08-29-2018, 09:13 AM   #3
Ladeef
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselDorf View Post
That's what they look like when you jack the car up.

They don't usually flex at that angle.

If there aren't any issues with driving or if it isn't loose then don't worry about it.

That's what mine look like as well.
A little disconcerting as I would think it should be solid, but I'll keep an eye on it.
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Old 08-29-2018, 10:26 AM   #4
shadowsports
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladeef View Post
anyone have any issue with their lower control arm bushings? here's my driver front at 67k. Is this a warranty item? I have the extended warranty.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5M36LBi3HAHiSs5j8
That's starting to look pretty worn. Even if your jacking at a strange angle. Life expectancy for bushing varies greatly. Where you live, parked outside or garaged, mileage, etc. If they have been replaced, using a inferior quality bushing can also degrade more quickly.

Bushings are not covered by extended warranties. They are a wear and tear item. So unless it fails due to a manufacturing defect, there is no coverage.

If you are going to keep the car, I'd consider replacing them, but I wouldn't stop there. I've replaced the struts, shocks and many bushings on my LGT at least 3 times in 150k miles. You can get more than 50k out of your suspension and bushings, but if you drive spirited and want to maintain steering response, handling, and appreciate good driveability and low noise, you have to service your suspension more frequently.

My car is garaged and I live in CA, so no weather extremes. But she drives straight, tracks perfectly and feels almost as good as she did new. Unless you are driving on coilovers (which still have to be serviced regularly), you've got to be due for some suspension bits at 67k. Inspect your endlinks, tierod ends, balljoints, chassis bushings, etc. Easy for a shop to do when they have the car apart. I do all of my own routine/advanced maintenance, so spending money to have a shop do suspension bushings (since you need a press) is not a big deal.

Last edited by shadowsports; 08-29-2018 at 10:36 AM.
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Old 08-29-2018, 11:18 AM   #5
DieselDorf
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At 50k miles nothing on your suspension should be worn out unless you drive on really crappy roads.
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Old 08-29-2018, 12:20 PM   #6
FB20GP7
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As others have stated, I don't think you'd be covered under warranty due it being a wear-and-tear item. The bushing is probably fine for now but it would be worth keeping an eye on every time you're due for an oil change.

These types of wear components can and do vary greatly. Rubber does age even when not driven on. That's why old but new tires won't have the same level of grip as a fresh tire.
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Old 09-01-2018, 10:00 AM   #7
shadowsports
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselDorf View Post
At 50k miles nothing on your suspension should be worn out unless you drive on really crappy roads.
Depends on where you live, age, parking car inside / outside and subjected conditions. Bumpy roads too. KYB, Monroe etc useable life is 50-100k, with the recommended replacement intervals between 60-80k. Some will get more, some less.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FB20GP7 View Post
As others have stated, I don't think you'd be covered under warranty due it being a wear-and-tear item. The bushing is probably fine for now but it would be worth keeping an eye on every time you're due for an oil change.

These types of wear components can and do vary greatly. Rubber does age even when not driven on. That's why old but new tires won't have the same level of grip as a fresh tire.
Agree, I go by feel and drivability. You can tell when things are starting to get bouncy and sloppy.
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Old 09-04-2018, 09:13 AM   #8
Ladeef
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Seems to drive fine for now, my car does live outside and we have some crap roads here in Atlanta. I do hear a pop noise sometimes when I backup and have the wheel locked all the way however.
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Old 09-04-2018, 11:48 AM   #9
DieselDorf
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I get that same noise I think.
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Old 09-04-2018, 02:32 PM   #10
Ladeef
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Originally Posted by DieselDorf View Post
I get that same noise I think.
Yea, it's some sort of weird clunk. I thought it might have to do with that bushing. Anyone changed that thing?
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Old 09-04-2018, 03:41 PM   #11
DieselDorf
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NVm on flat I don't get it. It only happens when backing down my driveway which is super steep.
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Old 09-05-2018, 10:55 PM   #12
RSTrider
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Regarding the clunking noise when the steering wheel is turned, I had that too. It is a known issue with the front strut mounts. Mine were replaced under my extended warranty. It was addressed by TSB # 05-61-16.
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Old 10-29-2018, 10:26 PM   #13
aldanavaldez
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladeef View Post
Yea, it's some sort of weird clunk. I thought it might have to do with that bushing. Anyone changed that thing?


Have you changed the bushing yet? I think mine is having the same issue. I sometimes get a weird vibration when turning he steering wheel and a clunking noise that I thought was a bad strut or some other suspension part. I was looking into changing the strut, but then I found this:

https://www.perrin.com/blog/post/why...s-for-your-car

I also get a bad vibration on my steering wheel under heavy braking. I thought it was warped rotors even though I changed them out twice, but after reading that write up from Perrin I think the bushing is the root cause of several of my front end issues. Let me know what you found when/if you change the bushing.
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Old 01-25-2019, 10:13 PM   #14
surfNskiSubie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aldanavaldez View Post
Have you changed the bushing yet? I think mine is having the same issue. I sometimes get a weird vibration when turning he steering wheel and a clunking noise that I thought was a bad strut or some other suspension part. I was looking into changing the strut, but then I found this:

https://www.perrin.com/blog/post/why...s-for-your-car

I also get a bad vibration on my steering wheel under heavy braking. I thought it was warped rotors even though I changed them out twice, but after reading that write up from Perrin I think the bushing is the root cause of several of my front end issues. Let me know what you found when/if you change the bushing.
I've been experiencing the same heavy vibrations on the steering wheel when braking coming off the highway. I too thought it was warped rotors. While replacing the pads and rotors, I saw my lower bushings look just like the picture Ladeef posted. At 68000 miles I was a little surprised these are already this worn.

I recently put new, grippier tires on the car. The first few days the car handled great, but now it seems really loose/sloppy. I'm suspecting the extra grip from the tires, plus my spirited driving style put more stress on the bushings. Might have torn one.

I'll post an update after I replace the bushings.
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Old 01-31-2019, 03:50 PM   #15
Ladeef
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aldanavaldez View Post
Have you changed the bushing yet? I think mine is having the same issue. I sometimes get a weird vibration when turning he steering wheel and a clunking noise that I thought was a bad strut or some other suspension part. I was looking into changing the strut, but then I found this:

https://www.perrin.com/blog/post/why...s-for-your-car

I also get a bad vibration on my steering wheel under heavy braking. I thought it was warped rotors even though I changed them out twice, but after reading that write up from Perrin I think the bushing is the root cause of several of my front end issues. Let me know what you found when/if you change the bushing.
The car seems to be driving fine, no vibrations or anything so I'm just gonna leave it alone for now.
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