Buying whole LCA. Moog or Mevotech?

[blackfc3s]

Been meaning to replace my lower control arms for a while now. I have read countless threads on how to change out the bushings with rubber or poly and how to press out the ball joint.

Im usually a cheap skate and would go the route of replacing the bushings and ball joint myself, but Im getting older and my time is more precious.

So I was perusing Rockauto today and noticed whole Lower Control Arm assemblies. Moog was about $220/side and Mevotech was $120/side. Moogs are about as much as I want to pay period. OEM isn't really on the decision table.

Anyone have any experience with the mevotech units? I'm looking for long term reliability as I don't want to be doing this again. (Not that I cant, but rather I get grumpy when I have to fix things on the 4runner nowadays.)

 

[07V8]

I'm looking for long term reliability as I don't want to be doing this again.

OEM....paid 270/arm on Amazon from a Toyota dealer.

 

[blackfc3s]

$270 makes me want to press out the bushings and ballpoint myself. Then use the saved money and buy all the beer in the world. Like I said earlier, $220 per side is about my cheap ass limit.

 

[collierunner]

I went to the auto yard and pulled some off a low mileage 4runner. FJ/GX would also be a good donor.

I paid 50 bucks each, also got the cams and bolts for that price.

 

[dgmorr]

How about ebay arms?

I've been using these for the past few months. You can even order just the lowers for about half the price

Control Arm Front Upper Lower LH RH Set of 4 for Toyota 4Runner FJ Cruiser GX470 | eBay

 

[Rodtheviking]

Mevotechs for 120 a pop, been looking at those, heard good things.

 

[nicheel8]

Any more suggestions? I took my 04 4Runner to the dealership for a new dash and thought I would get an alignment. They said they could not align because the LCA were bad.

How often do the LCA bushings go out and any other takes on Mevotech or other aftermarket?

 

[Beater]

I've had my 1aauto arms for a solid 10k miles and no issues whatsoever. Truck was aligned post install with no issues.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/147784-lower-control-arm-replacements.html

Has there been any recent experience or long term experience on what OE style aftermarket lower controls arms seem to the best quality and value?

I went with 1AAuto's LCA's and I had no issues whatsoever. Install went smooth and my alignment came out great. IMO, a decent alternative, and cheaper than OEM; about $175 shipped.

My intention is to rebuild my shot OEM LCA's with Energy Suspension bushings + OEM/Moog ball joints later on. Meanwhile the 1AAuto LCA's are doing just fine.

My post below, taken from this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/205428-lower-control-arm-dilemma.html

I gave it a go today with replacing my LCA's. Began on the driver side and ran into a frozen cam (surprising I know) on the front bolt! I manged to get everything back on and I now have replacement cams/bolts/hardware on order.

From what I can tell, I don't feel the 1A Auto's *look* like they are a "cheap" part. I'm certain they will be fine LCA's.

Pics of the 1A arms:

 

[jfry008]

Any more suggestions? I took my 04 4Runner to the dealership for a new dash and thought I would get an alignment. They said they could not align because the LCA were bad.

How often do the LCA bushings go out and any other takes on Mevotech or other aftermarket?

Sounds like you need to look into what type of camber bolts you need also. I recommend OEM ~$130.

 

[blackfc3s]

TTT.

Im seriously contemplating Mevotech. if they don't last, then just rebuild the OEM LCAs and be done with it.

Tearing into the bolts to make sure that they aren't rusted together. Apply some anti seize while I'm there.

 

[nicheel8]

TTT.

Im seriously contemplating Mevotech. if they don't last, then just rebuild the OEM LCAs and be done with it.

Tearing into the bolts to make sure that they aren't rusted together. Apply some anti seize while I'm there.

Did you start? Just wanted to know how it went.

 

[blackoutt]

Some lessons learned from myself and a bunch of others on here if they don't chime in: I know you said it's not an option but really OEM is the best.

I rebuilt mine with Moog parts and the bushings fell apart in less than 5k miles (no complaints with the BJ's) and moog cam bolts that are just junk, then I replaced with Mevotech complete arms and OEM cam bolts with about 13k on them now, they are doing alright but I still feel like the bushings could be tighter. I will give the mevotechs a rating of "meh" and the OEM cam bolts are awesome, for sure the only way to go. I stupidly sold my OEM arms that I should have kept to rebuild with poly bushings since I now think that's the only thing that'll make me happy. That or new OEM arms but like you, that price tag (which I've more than paid inadvertently now) is still not welcoming to me. Just my two cents for doing it right the first time cause this is one you will do again if you don't.

 

[earthrealm]

how do you know if the lca ball joints need to be replacement?

 

[Inv4drZm]

Some lessons learned from myself and a bunch of others on here if they don't chime in: I know you said it's not an option but really OEM is the best.

I rebuilt mine with Moog parts and the bushings fell apart in less than 5k miles (no complaints with the BJ's) and moog cam bolts that are just junk, then I replaced with Mevotech complete arms and OEM cam bolts with about 13k on them now, they are doing alright but I still feel like the bushings could be tighter. I will give the mevotechs a rating of "meh" and the OEM cam bolts are awesome, for sure the only way to go. I stupidly sold my OEM arms that I should have kept to rebuild with poly bushings since I now think that's the only thing that'll make me happy. That or new OEM arms but like you, that price tag (which I've more than paid inadvertently now) is still not welcoming to me. Just my two cents for doing it right the first time cause this is one you will do again if you don't.

Sounds like the best way is to buy a used OEM set from Ebay or a member on here, and rebuild with Moog BJ and Energy Suspension Poly joints? Then swap directly with yours and sell your shot LCA's to another member for them do the same with.

 

[blackoutt]

Sounds like the best way is to buy a used OEM set from Ebay or a member on here, and rebuild with Moog BJ and Energy Suspension Poly joints? Then swap directly with yours and sell your shot LCA's to another member for them do the same with.

Fast forward from my last post in here from 2016. I ended up getting someones shot LCA's taking the time to rebuild them with Moog greaseable BJ, Energy suspension bushings (had to buy 1 OEM bushing that was cut for the sleeve/washers), and I've been very happy with them since then, now up to 30k miles no issues. This is definitely the best way to go short of fabricated arms but we don't all have the need or budget for that.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Fast forward from my last post in here from 2016. I ended up getting someones shot LCA's taking the time to rebuild them with Moog greaseable BJ, Energy suspension bushings (had to buy 1 OEM bushing that was cut for the sleeve/washers), and I've been very happy with them since then, now up to 30k miles no issues. This is definitely the best way to go short of fabricated arms but we don't all have the need or budget for that.

I bought some used arms on ebay to do just that, sweet. Thanks for the update.

 

[Elan750]

I went with mevotech, mainly because I fould a new pair on craigslist that the guy didnt end up installing. Got them for 100/pair. The metal itself is stout, just like oem. Im at almost 2 years later and while it seems solid still, the ball joint rubber has surface cracks forming on them. I stil would have bought them. THe biggest thing is to torque them when the truck is on its wheels, not jacked up.

 

[blackoutt]

And to retorque on the ground after an alignment because I find they NEVER torque them to spec. Leading to clunks and a lost alignment. 135 Nm (100 ft lbs)!

 

[Drunner97]

Beware cheap, non oem LCAs. This was after about 3 years of abuse with the last 3 runs out a little harder than I thought.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Sounds like the best way is to buy a used OEM set from Ebay or a member on here, and rebuild with Moog BJ and Energy Suspension Poly joints? Then swap directly with yours and sell your shot LCA's to another member for them do the same with.

This is what we used to do back in my Audi B5S4 days. We would sell the used Downpipes to someone for cheap. They then could "modify" them by gutting something on those downpipes (we called them Piggy Pipes) to make them high flow. Then when the person put those on and took there stock ones off they would sell to the next person for the same price essentially making their money back and not having any long downtime. It was an honor system. We essentially tracked from person to person and if one person didn't forward it on, yeah, we called them out publicly. But it's a lot different these days with lots of selfish people and calling someone out might hurt someones feelings. <rolls eyes> Hence why I haven't offered mine up.