Control Arm Bushing

Control Arm Bushing – How to Know if Repairs are Needed

When you are a teenager, the only thing you can think about is the day when you will own your own car. Cars seem to hold all the keys to the freedom and independence when you are young, and the first time you have the opportunity to cash in all your hard earned money on a vehicle, most people do it. Of course, the initial days of being able to cruise all the way to school and back on your own are exhilarating, but what about when things start to creak and clunk? Knowing whether or not your control arm bushing needs to be replaced is far from the glamour many imagined, but it is necessary all the same.

If you've never even heard of the control arm bushing before, you should know that it is a part of the car's suspension system, which makes it possible to enjoy a smooth ride around town. Without a suspension system that's working like it should, you would be jostling and swaying every time your car stops, starts, turns, or goes over a small bump in the road. Your suspension system is also the one that you should thank for being able to control your car as it navigates over hills and around corners.

So, you're probably realizing that the control arm bushing is an important part of an already important system in your car, the suspension system. But what exactly does this part do? Basically it is a cushioning joint that absorbs some of the shock and force that is transferred from the tire up to the wheel and the base of the car. Instead of leaving the metal joints to absorb this rough shock all on their own, the bushing is a soft rubberlike or synthetic device that takes some of the responsibility on itself. This means that even less of the jostling that occurs down below the car is transferred to you as you ride.

If you suspect that the suspension of your car is not absorbing the shock as well as it used to, the culprit may be the control arm bushing. Knowing about this part will help you to avoid being duped by a mechanic that will try to tell you the clunking is being caused by a much more expensive part. Be aware that it is necessary to lift the car slightly to be able to tell whether or not this part is worn.