New lower control arms or replace bushings?

Has anyone just replaced lower control arms with new ones vs. replacing bushings? seems that its a real PITA to get the bushings out and from what I've read some of the poly bushing dont work with the camber adjusters? I have access to a press but just at someone else's leisure.

 

LCA’s are expensive. Maybe try bushings first

 

Well from what I found an eight piece bushing set is anywhere from 80 to $100 plus the time it takes to press them out cut them out and I can get two lower control arms with bushings that are factory and new from A-1 Auto parts for about $200 all I would need to do is buy new ball joints which comes to about $250 and I don't have to press anything in or out or do they not press in and out? Sorry if these are stupid questions

 

I must be thinking of the total chaos LCA kit that’s about $3000

 

2002 V8 4wd guy here. Had the front end rebuilt by a shop in summer 2018. They installed new OEM Toy lower control arms per my request. They did not want to do the work without knowing new arms were part of the deal so I went OEM.

Think the Toy LCAs (with bushings) were $650.

Beware of OE types as @Darkness has purchased some and the two arms (same manufacturer) were of different qualities and same brand! IIRC he paid about what you stated. Buyer beware.

Make sure you definitely use OEM lower ball joints on our 1st Gens.

 

thanks. 650? those are aftermarket so i see the price diff. but that aint happening lol. just bought spa's for the uppers and figured id do anything i can while taking shit apart. Maybe I'll just do bushings and suffer through it. Unless I find something that's oem and not shit and doesnt cost a fortune.

 

Yep. I dislike suspension work and only like paying the piper one time. Join us over in the 1st Gen section. You’ll be better served. Post up some pics of your work.

 

I went through this with my SC Lexus. The LCAs are ridiculous expensive since they are aluminum. I ordered a set of Toyota rubber bushings from Japan and pressed them in/out with a Harbor Freight press. Saved a $1000+/- but it took a day to get it done. Now I would just pay for new arms since time is more precious with kiddos around.

 

Total Chaos doesn't make that for first gen.

Toyota bushings will set you back around $300 parts only, but it's a much better quality than aftermarket.

Poly bushings will set you back about $100, there is no reason why they wouldn't work with alignment cams. You have to burn out the rubber and reuse the sleeves from your stock bushings.

Aftermarket arms you can get both for between $160-220 depending on brand. The quality control for most companies is very hit or miss, even if comparing two arms from the same brand. I bought Beck Arnley lower arms and they came in different boxes and were from totally different manufacturers. If I could go back would probably go with Moog. Although they allegedly aren't as good as they used to be, the last few parts I got from them were fine, often made in Japan.

I have seen a lot of reports that Mevotech castings are okay but the bushings last 20k miles or less before needing replacement. A member here went off reading and managed to snap an Auto zone arm, Duralast I presume.

Pick your poison really. Spend a lot and do more work, get guaranteed results. Spend a little and do even more work, get good results. Spend a medium and do the least work possible, take a chance on results.

Worth mentioning, keep some cash handy in case your alignment cams are rusted through or seized. Two of mine were stripped so I replaced with an SPC kit from Wheelers, $150. Toyota wanted $400+ and I had some choice words for them when they I heard that.

 

Thanks again. I have SPC cams on the way already. For the second time, hopefully they don't fuck it up again. Really sucks about reusing the sleeves if ya go aftermarket. But good info. Thanks again y'all. Much love

 

i just finished doing this job and wanted to note that you can buy all 4 SPC cam bolts for 85$ at autozone:
https://www.autozone.com/suspension...alignment-camber-bolt-25445/601028_92214_4222

 

I am a retired front end auto tech and just rebuilt the front end in my sons 2001 access cab. I did all the work myself. I don’t recommend buying the complete arms with the bushings already installed as the quality of the bushings are junk. There are quality aftermarket bushings but you have to know which ones to buy. Check out the ac delco professional grade bushings on rock auto. Its around 125 for all 4 and They seem identical to the O.E. Bushings. As far as pressing in the bushings you can always take the arms and bushings to a suspension shop and have them change them out for you. They really aren’t that hard to change. I use an industrial air hammer to remove the bushings and a ball joint c-clamp style press to put them in.
Cheers,
Dan

 

Hey Dan, bought an 02 AC..its kinda wonky trying to get it going straight. I bought it and only drove it about 25 miles before pulling it in my shop in September and slowly doing cam seals, crank, timing , and whole bunch of other stuff..please cleaning ont for prob over 40 hours if I had to guess..so, now that its running...i need to address the front end. I have OEM LBS sitting in a box..but..i want to first make sure that my LCA's are good. Can you tell me how to determine? Is it safe to say that with an 02 I should prob just get the ac delco bushings your mentioned due to its age and see how that goes first?? thanks for any direction

 

Not sure if he'll answer as this a fairly old thread..here's a couple videos that may help. (Edited: JFC spelling on my behalf)
https://youtu.be/VZZRqlmoQXk?si=edHIkP7lzvEuzY8A

https://youtu.be/GSMIWrNuKsk?si=JCqNScLk2lwKFwbv