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YOUR RESEARCHTrack control arms - bushes & ball joint - ADVICE NEEDED
Leading reported evidence
Replace anything else
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Read evidence and context
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Suggestion · Original poster
My plan was to replace anything else that might be worn or will wear during lifetime of new stuff - eg bushes.
Leading evidence: 'Replace anything else' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace anything else' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion · Original poster
What was supposed to be an exciting change from normal to lowered suspension has turned into an almighty saga and a right pain in the @ss.
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Suggestion
If you don't feel any "slop" in the steering and are not hearing a "clonk" over speedbumps and the like, I wouldn't worry about replacing the lower arms as a matter of urgency.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Just been told these bushes arent sold separately, so only option is to replace the whole track control arm.
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Suggestion
If you don't feel any "slop" in the steering and are not hearing a "clonk" over speedbumps and the like, I wouldn't worry about replacing the lower arms as a matter of urgency.
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What was supposed to be an exciting change from normal to lowered suspension has turned into an almighty saga and a right pain in the @ss. Happy to give more details over PM if people are interested in knowing what happened. But right now I need some advice asap (need to reply to supplier by 13:00).
2000 reg C2 Cab - having sports dampers & springs fitted this Saturday. My plan was to replace anything else that might be worn or will wear during lifetime of new stuff - eg bushes. Its tracked 2x p.a. otherwise mostly motorway miles.
Am replacing anti roll bar bushes (2 front, 2 rear, c.£8 each)
I also planned to replace front lower track control arm bushes (2 inner, 2 outer, c.£50 per pair). Just been told these bushes arent sold separately, so only option is to replace the whole track control arm. Refurbished ones are £140 each and include new bushes (as above) and also a new ball joint.
I guess what I'm asking is: is it worth spending the extra cash on the parts (£280 vs £120) to get the whole track arm replaced? Do ball joints tend to wear & tear, or are they pretty robust?
One option would be to leave everything as it is. I want to avoid having to go back to the garage in 10k miles time to get bushes done.
Any advice v gratefully received. I'm so annoyed at this that I'm not entirely rational right now.
If you don't feel any "slop" in the steering and are not hearing a "clonk" over speedbumps and the like, I wouldn't worry about replacing the lower arms as a matter of urgency.
That said, they are prone to wearing out & when I had them done on my old C4 there was a noticable improvement in the steering feel. Mine were done at around 55K miles.
It's frustrating when faced with a potentially bigger bill than expected, but things like bushes/suspension arms/ball joints/etc are prone to wear and tear over time.
Probably not the answer you were hoping for... but if they need replacement, then you might as well just replace them and bite the bullet. At least you will have peace of mind that all the items are new, your car is driving and handling as it should be, and you probably won't have to deal with them for another 10/20/30k miles.
The alternative, of course, is to simply not change them and have a car that doesn't handle or drive well. :?
power flex sell the bushes seperately, ball joints not really prone to wear and at least if fitting the power flex stuff they should never need replaced again
Thanks andyc - plan was to get the powerlex stuff but I was let down in a big way (not by powerflex). Would prefer the powerflex purple, but happy with refurb'd track arms.
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