Lower Control Arm Replacements?
- Thread starter NJshadow93
- Start date
collierunner
New member
I'm glad I didn't go that way with mine.
I pulled some off a 2008 4runner with 40k on them at the auto yard near Mt. Rainier last weekend. They looked great and the balljoints were solid; removed from the donner with hand tools.
They worked really well this weekend on all the washed out roads on the North Side of Mt. Adams. I had the whole mountain to myself except for a few PCT'er, who I envied.
I pulled some off a 2008 4runner with 40k on them at the auto yard near Mt. Rainier last weekend. They looked great and the balljoints were solid; removed from the donner with hand tools.
They worked really well this weekend on all the washed out roads on the North Side of Mt. Adams. I had the whole mountain to myself except for a few PCT'er, who I envied.
blackoutt
New member
My mevotech supreme LCA's are still holding up decent with about 5k miles, a lot more highway that you probably though. No bad sounds but not feeling as tight as new. I wonder if the aftermarket arms will accept poly bushings? I'm thinking this is the only other option to get me the feel I'm after without breaking the bank.
Went with OEM. Some things you really just have to. "you get what you pay for"
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The price for these LCAs can't be beat. $160 for BOTH, wow!! I might have to get a set since mine are OEM and at 320xxx miles. Still no issues with OEM but figured when I do the 6112s up front, I might as well change the LCAs at the same time.
techoguy
New member
Moog LBJ on OEM LCA?
I'm trying to figure out what I should do and what people say about the Moog LBJs?
I just put a lift on my 4runner and when I went to get it alligned, the LCA bushings were shot. I needed the truck back quickly so we decided to replace the bushings. Then we noticed the CV axle boot was leaking grease so we replaced both CV axles, then one of the cam bolts was seized so it had to be cut out. The guy I happened to go to did it all for a great price considering pressing out the bushings was crazy hard and took him all day. To say the least, it was a pain.
Now after about a week, I'm noticing grease around the LBJs. So, I'm thinking those are failing. I wish I had more time to think about it earlier and I would have probably just replaced the entire LCA assembly. But now I'm thinking of just using the Moog LBJ on the OEM LCAs since they're pretty much rebuilt at this point.
What do you guys think? What experience or bad experience have other had with the Moog LBJ replacements?
I'm trying to figure out what I should do and what people say about the Moog LBJs?
I just put a lift on my 4runner and when I went to get it alligned, the LCA bushings were shot. I needed the truck back quickly so we decided to replace the bushings. Then we noticed the CV axle boot was leaking grease so we replaced both CV axles, then one of the cam bolts was seized so it had to be cut out. The guy I happened to go to did it all for a great price considering pressing out the bushings was crazy hard and took him all day. To say the least, it was a pain.
Now after about a week, I'm noticing grease around the LBJs. So, I'm thinking those are failing. I wish I had more time to think about it earlier and I would have probably just replaced the entire LCA assembly. But now I'm thinking of just using the Moog LBJ on the OEM LCAs since they're pretty much rebuilt at this point.
What do you guys think? What experience or bad experience have other had with the Moog LBJ replacements?
Take a close up look and see if the boot is torn. My 320k LBJ was super tight and dry so yours may still be tight.
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alpinhi
New member
I just finished up my suspension (Icon stage 1) and went to have the 4R aligned today. I was told they couldn't get aligned because the LCA cam bolts were froze. They quoted me $850 to cut off the factory arms and replace the lower. I declined because I can do this myself if needed. My question is could I cut the cam bolts and just pound them out, then purchase new bolts? I would rather go this route if possible than put on a new after market control arm.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Purchase both new OEM cam bolts, washers, nuts. I tried using a sawzall to cut but it took too long so I switched to a right angle pneumatic die grinder with 4.5" cut off wheel. It cut through everything like butta. Helps to have a second person moving the LCA this way and that.
There will be no pounding due to the bolt frozen to the inner bushing metal sleeve. You'll have to cut both front and rear cam bolts, remove the LCA from the vehicle, stick it on a vise. Then use the Youtube method of removing the bushings with the pieces of cam bolts still stuck to the bushings. Youtube shows the usage of a hyd bottle jack to push out the bushings, along with using a MAPP gas torch to heat up the bushings. After a while, they'll go POP and Bob's your uncle. Take a look at post #47 in this thread.
Don't forget to cuss a LOT on this project. I give you permission.
I posted up lots of pics of frozen bushings in this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...upgrade-lca-bushing-swap-bilstein-6112-a.html
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These are the things I was trying to avoid, a problem one to another. So I ended up replacing the control arm with beck arnley with balljoint/grease fitting, axles, struts and spring, differential seal.
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A set of OEM what parts? BJs and bushings aren't available unless you buy the loaded LCA from Toyota.
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alpinhi
New member
Well I have the passenger side LCA off and this is a PITA. I would like to keep my factory arms so I'm going to see what I can do to get the bushings out now. I think I'm going to go with the bottle jack method and see what happens. Do you have any recommendations on the brand of bushing to purchase? Worst case scenario I have to buy new arms altogether. Trying to expedite this project since we are heading to Moab on the 25th. I gotta get this completed and get it realigned.
alpinhi
New member
So the bottle jack has been a failure. The outside metal sleeve of the bushing stayed in place and the the rubber portion pushed thru. Now I'm really kinda screwed. I think I'm going to order an off brand set of LCA's for now so I can get this truck on the road. I plan on continuing to mess with factory arms as I have time and get them rebuilt should the aftermarket arms take a dump.
jfry008
New member
You could put install some Energy Suspension Poly Bushings if you haven't damaged the metal part of the bushing too bad.
The metal sleeve stays in when you install them.
alpinhi
New member
It might be a little late for that....:redbrick:
Listen, don't get discouraged my brother. The empty sleeves are easy to remove using a punch/chisel and a hammer. Just hammer them toward the center from the outside in a couple of places, then just hammer them out of their home positions.
I used Moog replacement bushings, FYI.
