Control Arm Bushings

Control Arm Bushings – Inspecting and Replacing

It is no secret that many people are reconsidering the cars they drive these days. Government programs and climate change information have made it seem less responsible and more of a hassle to drive your good old Chevy’s and GMC’s lately. Not to mention the fact that those companies aren’t really putting out cars that can compete. However, the best way to save money regarding your car is to learn how to perform relatively simple procedures, like inspecting your control arm bushings, all on your own. If you’re terrified at the thought of do it yourself car repair, rest easy, because there are just a few steps toward getting started.

First of all, you might be wondering what exactly the control arm bushings are, and that’s alright, because unlike brake pads and windshield wipers, these are parts that no one but your mechanic are likely to even see on a regular basis. The control arms and related bushings are important parts of your car’s suspension system, which is what makes it easy to keep your car on the road and prevents you from feeling all the bumps and dips in the road while you drive.

In most professional car shops they would use their press to remove old control arm bushings when it comes time for them to be replaced, but home mechanics can actually accomplish this with much less sophisticated tools and materials. If you have access to a bottle jack and a bench vise, you can use these tools to eject the rubber core and center out of the round housing that encapsulates the bushing. If you fear that your bushings will be stiff and hard to work with, you can apply some penetrating lubricant to the part on the night before you want to work on it. This will help make it ready for replacement.

Even if you have no intention of replacing the control arm bushings on your car yourself, you should at least know what they look like and the telltale signs that will let you know that they will soon need to be replaced. If you hear a knocking or thudding sound every time you travel over bumpy ground, or make a turn, there is a reason to have a professional look at your car. If the car sways from side to side or dips when you brake at a stoplight, these are other indications that your suspension is worn.