5th gen LCA bushings. Anyone had issues?

[cleveland48]

The bushings in my lower control arms are shot now at 38,000 miles on my 2014 SR5. Has anyone else had this happen in their 5th gen? Mine happens to be out of warranty which is just perfect lol (sarcasm) I took it to a shop my neighbor works at which he is suppose to be very good at suspension work. They ordered me two new lower control arms I believe from napa, but not quite sure. Well the cam bolts were way to large for the control arms, and why I don't know. It he showed me what he ordered and pulled it up on his computer. It said they were for 4runner non kdss. Well he sent them back and I ordered the bushings from the dealer which cost a whopping $311 ( no idea they cost so much ). They don't be in for about 3 weeks according to the guy at the parts counter which sucks. I was just wondering if any other 5th gen owners have replaced these yet? My neighbor said he has replaced a lot of them in tacomas over the years but not a 4runner. So am I just lucky to have these problems, or have others had it ?

 

[Jeremy556]

What makes you think your old ones were bad?

Cam bolts were too large for the arms because they are not the correct arms.

All 4 LCA bushings from Toyota at MSRP, are under $250.

 

[cbielat]

You said you ordered new lower control arms. So you ordered the lca's and bushings? Just sounds like the parts are incorrect. Also, three weeks for bushings seems odd. I get most parts the next day but then again my hub may just be closer than theirs.

 

[cleveland48]

It pops when hitting bumps9 and when you slam on the breaks, or change directions pretty fast. The mechanic also showed me the play in the bushings. The dealer I was at actually cost more than $311 but I get 10% off parts because I work at one of the Toyota factories that just moved in a few years ago. The shop ordered the lower control arms that didn't fit so I had to go and order bushings instead, and the mechanic sent the arms back to napa I believe. Guys at dealer desk said the parts were special order and had to come from Canada, which I believe shouldn't take 3 weeks also but he insisted it would? They also said I had to pay before they ordered it so I really don't know. I just hope they were wrong about the time frame. Here is a pick of my receipt anyways for the parts.

 

[cleveland48]

 

[WarnerD9]

I broke one of mine at about the same mileage when I hit a rock on a trail. I wanted to just replace the one but then we checked both out and the bushings were bad. They could only replace the LCAs and it was spendy. Just be glad you don't have KDSS because at that time bushings only, weren't available.

 

[cleveland48]

I looked at just getting the LCA's through the dealer but they were around $450 a piece I believe. I should have just got them instead anyways probably.

 

[Jeremy556]

You need to find a different dealer or order parts online. Prices below are MSRP and can be had for about 25% less ordered online.

 

[Intruder]

Once you take into account the labour cost to replace the bushings (they're supposed to be a pita) it's about the same to just replace the arms. The reason the bushings alone are hard to come by is that if they're under warranty the dealerships replace the full arm instead of just the bushings because it's easier.

 

[Apex Overland]

I've got the same pop I'm sure. How is your truck out of warranty?

 

[cleveland48]

Dealer said it went out at 36,000 miles. I had extended warranty on my 2007 and 2012 tacomas and never had to use it, so I decided not to spend the money on it for the 4runner. I regret it very much now lol.

 

[cleveland48]

Does lift kits accelerate wear on this parts also ?

 

[cleveland48]

Still waiting on my bushings to come in. Been exactly one week since I ordered them. Really hoping for it to not actually take 3 weeks

 

[wfo9]

I have not done it myself, but this is the cheap way to do it and the bushings are suppose to be better. There are instructions over on the FJ forum on how to do the install... You have to burn the old ones out and press the new ones in to the sleeves. They supposedly work fine on the 150 platform 2010+. The actual LCA is different.

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspension-8-3128G-Control-Bushing/dp/B004IZF8BO

 

[Wandering1]

What kind of pop are we talking about? Would love to be on the lookout for this since mine is a 2014 approaching yours in mileage. Should these be changed periodically or or wait for them to break before messing with them?

 

[cleveland48]

It's actually probably better described as a clank also does it if you have to slam on the breaks pretty hard. And when hitting bumps or uneven parts of the road. Sometime when turning in or backing up really sharp

 

[adam2562]

guys, just so you know.. when i had a clunk up front and was contemplating what to replace that was suspension related.. i went with the cheapest first option.. being that it did it mostly on uneven surfaces led me to believe that it had to do with the uca's, lca's or sway bar bushings.. i went the cheapest route first and got all new sway bar bushings.. problem solved rides great again over bumps. i have kdss ..

i replaced the outer sway bar bushings where it connects to the lca and the bushings that wrap around the sway bar where the kdss piston is.. and the other one at the stabilizer link connected to the kdss sway bar on the pass side. so 4 bushings in all.

check image at which bushings i'm talking about

 

[Jeremy556]

guys, just so you know.. when i had a clunk up front and was contemplating what to replace that was suspension related.. i went with the cheapest first option.. being that it did it mostly on uneven surfaces led me to believe that it had to do with the uca's, lca's or sway bar bushings.. i went the cheapest route first and got all new sway bar bushings.. problem solved rides great again over bumps. i have kdss ..

i replaced the outer sway bar bushings where it connects to the lca and the bushings that wrap around the sway bar where the kdss piston is.. and the other one at the stabilizer link connected to the kdss sway bar on the pass side. so 4 bushings in all.

check image at which bushings i'm talking about

This. New KDSS sway bushing fixed all of my random clunks and other noises. IIRC, I replaced them somewhere around 100K miles

 

[adam2562]

This. New KDSS sway bushing fixed all of my random clunks and other noises. IIRC, I replaced them somewhere around 100K miles

[MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] i remember you saying on here that it got rid of your rattles and so that's what swayed me to try that first!

 

[Ol'Baditude]

It's actually probably better described as a clank also does it if you have to slam on the breaks pretty hard. And when hitting bumps or uneven parts of the road. Sometime when turning in or backing up really sharp

I get my LCA bushings replaced on Thursday. Have all the same clinks and clanks as have been described, and narrowed it down to the UCA bushings after some visual testing (Tech got in the truck and drove towards me slowly then applied the breaks and there is significant front to back movement and noise).
Steering rack, tie-rods, swaybar components and CV's are all in good shape, so pretty much have it narrowed it down I think. Getting the uni balls replaced at the same time anyway just for good measure, since they're starting to get some play. I'll post back here once it's all done to let you know what happens.