Lower Control Arm Dilemma

[dchild]

Since you are cutting off the old arms, be ABSOLUTELY certain you have the right replacement parts first. When I did this I checked the part numbers on the boxes before I started but the left-side box contained a right-side arm and as a result my truck was out of commission until I could get the correct part.

If you end up needing the sawzall, be sure you have a way to get some cutting oil in there. You'll cut faster and the blades will last slightly longer. (You'll still need 4+ blades though.)

 

[TowelThief]

Ok I had the same problem, went to get an alignment and my bolts were seized.

What did I do? Research. Tons of topics on this and how to get the bushings out. And a lot of people saying the Moog bolts arent holding up.

I bought a 5 pack of blades for like 20 bucks. Used one and cut 2 of the bolts that were seized (one of each side). Then I hacked off the ends of the bushings with the saw zaw (same blade). I then took a chizel and hammered the ends up (says to do this in the factory manual). I pressed out the smaller bushings with a C-clamp and a 36mm socket. Lots of liquid wrench was used during all this but not a whole can.

The bigger bushings were trickier. Those i drilled the rubber out of them and hammered that center sleeve out then took the sawzaw to it and hammered it out.

Bought Whiteline Bushings (w53312) about $150 and SPC cam bolts with the plastic sleeve for both sides for $60 (a good deal)

Im not done yet, having a shop press the bushings in this weekend. Then it will all be done. Around $300 total for the job. Only used about 1.5 blades too.

 

[njsanna]

Haven't been able to put them in yet but I just bought a whole kit off Ebay, was the same kit they had on RockAuto but cheaper. Here's the link to what I got. Everything seems good quality as far as I can tell. New bushings, ball joint installed in lca, new Inner and outer tie rod ends, new sway bar links, which you won't be using.
GX470 4Runner FJ Cruiser Control Arms Sway Bar Links Tie Rods $5 Years Warranty$ | eBay

[MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION]
Did you get this kit installed yet...curious about your thoughts on quality.

 

[t-man]

[MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION]
Did you get this kit installed yet...curious about your thoughts on quality.

Oh Ya! Have had them on for several months now, zero issues. It seems much smoother without froze bushings too. Lol.
I painted mine red and put them on, spc uppers and then the new tie rod ends too as mine were shot. I probably have 8k miles on them and several wheeling trips.

 

[Adventurer_]

I know this is really old. But looking at replacing my uppers/lowers with 1a auto parts. Are these ok to use?

 

[Morphyne]

I know this is really old. But looking at replacing my uppers/lowers with 1a auto parts. Are these ok to use?

Yeah. You'll be fine.

 

[Adventurer_]

Thanks. The huge price cut kinda throws me off. But i'll probably try them. My rig isn't lifted or anything.

 

[Morphyne]

OEM is better but is retarded 3xpensive and not worth the price really. Aftermarket will do just fine.

 

[nicheel8]

Oh Ya! Have had them on for several months now, zero issues. It seems much smoother without froze bushings too. Lol.
I painted mine red and put them on, spc uppers and then the new tie rod ends too as mine were shot. I probably have 8k miles on them and several wheeling trips.

t-man do you still have the LCAs installed? If so, how did they hold up?

 

[03v8raleigh]

t-man do you still have the LCAs installed? If so, how did they hold up?

Just asked him this a couple hours ago in my thread haha click here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ts-what-would-you-do-if-your-front-end-3.html

 

[nicheel8]

Just asked him this a couple hours ago in my thread haha click here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ts-what-would-you-do-if-your-front-end-3.html

Thanks. I took my 4Runner to get aligned and they are seized so I am getting ready to do the LCA swap. I'm going aftermarket on the LCA assemblies and OEM on the cam bolts.

 

[t-man]

t-man do you still have the LCAs installed? If so, how did they hold up?

Held up great, no issues a year later. As I said in the other thread the only problem eat the outer tie rods but I had a bent spindle that could have helped that along. I have approximately 20k on them, maybe a little more.

Just asked him this a couple hours ago in my thread haha click here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ts-what-would-you-do-if-your-front-end-3.html

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[4-Runner]

1AAuto Control Control arms

Hey everyone, long time reader, first time to post. I have a 2006 sport (v6, 2wd) with 225k miles and I think it's time to replace the ball joints. The dealer quoted $1818 *parts only* for oem uppers and lowers for both sides. RockAuto had a brand called Beck/Arnley that seemed good, so I bought them and the total with shipping came out to about $495. But as I was digging here on the forum, I saw that someone used the the ones from 1aauto.com and seemed happy with them (after a year). So I cancelled the RockAuto order and bought the 1aauto ones for a whopping $185.96. Now......I'm a little concerned about the quality of these but I'd like to get 2 more years out of this 4runner so hopefully they're good enough for that. Any feedback on them is appreciated.

I have two questions....

- should I also replace the tie rod ends when the the control arms are installed? 1aauto sells them for like $40 bucks (total for both sides).

- what is typical labor hours for installing the upper and lower control arms? I called a local garage and they quoted me 3.5 hours per side....so 7 total for a total labor cost of $734.73 out the door - does this sound reasonable?

Thanks for any info or feedback you have

 

[radlynx]

Hey everyone, long time reader, first time to post. I have a 2006 sport (v6, 2wd) with 225k miles and I think it's time to replace the ball joints. The dealer quoted $1818 *parts only* for oem uppers and lowers for both sides. RockAuto had a brand called Beck/Arnley that seemed good, so I bought them and the total with shipping came out to about $495. But as I was digging here on the forum, I saw that someone used the the ones from 1aauto.com and seemed happy with them (after a year). So I cancelled the RockAuto order and bought the 1aauto ones for a whopping $185.96. Now......I'm a little concerned about the quality of these but I'd like to get 2 more years out of this 4runner so hopefully they're good enough for that. Any feedback on them is appreciated.

I have two questions....

- should I also replace the tie rod ends when the the control arms are installed? 1aauto sells them for like $40 bucks (total for both sides).

- what is typical labor hours for installing the upper and lower control arms? I called a local garage and they quoted me 3.5 hours per side....so 7 total for a total labor cost of $734.73 out the door - does this sound reasonable?

Thanks for any info or feedback you have

tie rod ends dont need to be replaced if it does not have any play. 3.5 hours per side seems okay. when i replaced my control arms, i spent so much time due to the frozen bolts. to make things easier, i ended up cutting my control arms and bolts. i also spent so much time removing the rust, cleaning it up and painting it. now, i believe with what i did, im sure i can get 10 more years out of it.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[daphneRod]

I know this is really old. But looking at replacing my uppers/lowers with 1a auto parts. Are these ok to use?

How did these workout for you?? I'd like to order the UCAs with the ball joints from 1a auto. Thank you!

 

[4-Runner]

How did these workout for you?? I'd like to order the UCAs with the ball joints from 1a auto. Thank you!

I've had mine since around January or February of 2018 and they're going great so far.

 

[rdruss]

1A auto LCA's

Had one on for one year, so far so good, I do not off-road however.