Are these front lower control arm bushings bad?

[Lamer]

I had just finished installing new O2 sensors and had a look around under my engine, just to see if there were any leaks or oddities that I could remedy. I say these bushings with cracks...

Do these need replacing??

Passenger side

drivers side

I'm going to go have a look at my rear bushings now...

 

[Twisted Sid]

Yeah, those are done

 

[96RedRunner]

yep they done, have a sawz-al with 6" blades nearby bet you need it with rust I see.

 

[Lamer]

Yeah, those are done

yep they done, have a sawz-al with 6" blades nearby bet you need it with rust I see.

dam.

any recomendations for replacements? or is this an OEM only sort of thing...?

 

[96RedRunner]

Oh boy can o worms asking that?
Been happy with OEM, I hear think it's whiteline white something are popular.
Ban me mentioning Moog have held up good on other rides, stay away from other aftermarket chit.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Can you tell just by looking? I was told you cannot and that a simple visual is not how to tell if lower LCA bushings need replacing.

 

[Lamer]

Can you tell just by looking? I was told you cannot and that a simple visual is not how to tell if lower LCA bushings need replacing.

thats what I thought too, I pry'd around with a flathead and there wasnt alot of movement, but the weight of the car might mitigate any movement.

 

[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION], Will agree with that, But the cracks do mean something wouldn't you say.
Not a oh shit moment, get ready.

Edit: would you say correct way is to seperate LBJ swing arm up and down see what ya got.

 

[S1996R]

Looks like mud not rust.

 

[96RedRunner]

Look past the mud, looks like rust in cam bolt threads other places also.
Doesn't take much to freeze sleeve to bolt mine had no rust or mud a sawzall
was needed just warning Lamer of what could be.

 

[theesotericone]

Can you tell just by looking? I was told you cannot and that a simple visual is not how to tell if lower LCA bushings need replacing.

thats what I thought too, I pry'd around with a flathead and there wasnt alot of movement, but the weight of the car might mitigate any movement.

You can guess by looking. You can tell by doing a simple test.

Get under the car with both wheels on the ground. Start the truck and have someone turn lock to lock. Look at all 4 bushings. If there's more then 1/8" of play they're bad. I just did mine two weeks ago. Visually they looked fine but both passenger and driver front had almost 3/8" play.

 

[BikeDestroyer]

If they’ve never been replace then they are probably due along with most other rubber bushings in these vehicles. I had a shop replace mine last year and they used MOOG, they tore within the year so I replaced those with Whiteline.

 

[Lamer]

[MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION], Will agree with that, But the cracks do mean something wouldn't you say.
Not a oh shit moment, get ready.

Edit: would you say correct way is to seperate LBJ swing arm up and down see what ya got.

thats what I thinking of doing to test them out. but I had a look at my rear control arms and those bushings look very worn. So now I may just do the fronts and rears all at once. Whiteline or Energy Suspension for the fronts, and Energy Suspension for the rears.

Looks like mud not rust.

I concur, I weny under and brushed most of that crap away, doesnt look too bad.

Look past the mud, looks like rust in cam bolt threads other places also.
Doesn't take much to freeze sleeve to bolt mine had no rust or mud a sawzall
was needed just warning Lamer of what could be.

I went under again and was able to brush that off. but I will have the means necessary to remove them should I need it.

You can guess by looking. You can tell by doing a simple test.

Get under the car with both wheels on the ground. Start the truck and have someone turn lock to lock. Look at all 4 bushings. If there's more then 1/8" of play they're bad. I just did mine two weeks ago. Visually they looked fine but both passenger and driver front had almost 3/8" play.

I might do this before taking them off just so I can compaRe to the new ones.

If they’ve never been replace then they are probably due along with most other rubber bushings in these vehicles. I had a shop replace mine last year and they used MOOG, they tore within the year so I replaced those with Whiteline.

They are the original bushings with 260k miles. probably due for a change.

 

[BikeDestroyer]

thats what I thinking of doing to test them out. but I had a look at my rear control arms and those bushings look very worn. So now I may just do the fronts and rears all at once. Whiteline or Energy Suspension for the fronts, and Energy Suspension for the rears

Whiteline for the front will be easier since you don’t have to re-use the inner sleeve like you do on the Energy Suspension ones. Rears, I’m not sure, I just put SPC arms in because they are stronger and I didn’t have to deal with replacing bushings.

 

[Lamer]

Whiteline for the front will be easier since you don’t have to re-use the inner sleeve like you do on the Energy Suspension ones. Rears, I’m not sure, I just put SPC arms in because they are stronger and I didn’t have to deal with replacing bushings.

from what I have seen, if you have enough heat on the front control arm around the bushing, you can "melt" the rubberized connection to the outer sleeve and push the rubber out. followed by some clean up of course. But it doesn't sound too hard.

 

[mtbtim]

I'd say you can tell by looking. If you have cracks like that, there's most likely gross play in the bushing. I've replaced lower control arm bushings many times, and when the bushing is cracked like that, there is significant play.

But, is the play causing issues? I just noticed I have cracked bushings but don't have any vibration or alignment issues. If it's not causing you issues right now, go ahead and drive it as is until you feel like tackling this repair. When you do get ready to do it, [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I have a couple videos that might assist you. I recommend you use Whiteline Poly bushings as a replacement.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kmaZNBp1gZM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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[Lamer]

I'd say you can tell by looking. If you have cracks like that, there's most likely gross play in the bushing. I've replaced lower control arm bushings many times, and when the bushing is cracked like that, there is significant play.

But, is the play causing issues? I just noticed I have cracked bushings but don't have any vibration or alignment issues. If it's not causing you issues right now, go ahead and drive it as is until you feel like tackling this repair. When you do get ready to do it, [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I have a couple videos that might assist you.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kmaZNBp1gZM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I actually watched your video yesterday. Have you installed Energy Suspension bushings? your video has you using Whiteline.

Its tough to say what the exact problem is. But I would feel much better if I replaced the front and rear control arm bushings. And in time I will be going to SPC uppers and a new steering rack! Then I will have all new bushings in every corner and hopefully a tighter feeling vehicle.

 

[T4R2014]

I would get OEM bushing. Poly will squeak.

 

[nissanh]

I don't know why there are plastic bushings. A bushing supposed to absorb an impact and mitigate its effect going into the frame and body. If plastic bushings are good as a bush, many automakers will go into plastic as those are nearly free these days compared to good rubber.

Get OEM bushings.

 

[mtbtim]

Many, many guys are running poly bushings for their control arms with no issues, including myself. OEM is always a safe way to go but you will spend more. OP, I heavily suggest you steer clear of the Energy Suspension bushings because they are more of a pain in the ass to deal with. Whiteline is the way to go if you're going to use poly.