Stock control arms/bushings

Evening all!
Has anyone here had good luck with any of the aftermarket control arm options like Moog, TRQ or Detroit axle?

I know to ONLY use OEM LBJ’s but not enjoying the idea of pressing the bushings in and out after watching some videos!

Figured if there was a decent aftermarket option it would save a ton of hassle.

 

Napa makes acceptable lower control arms. Moog is not the same company they used to be.

 

You can buy OEM bushings and try pressing them in yourself. When I researched this the responses ranged from "it isn't too hard" to "it's awful". One member bent his arm trying to use a bottle jack.

The bushings are pricey though. Supposedly Siberian bushings are good but hard to get. Might be worth researching.

 

I’ve watched several videos of people doing it …not fun. The bushings are quite expensive so liking the sound of the Napa arms.

 

I used moog upper and lower. They're fine but not great.

 

I have been searching for an answer to the same question as the OP. Seems like people seem to hold the NAPA LCAs in higher regard than other aftermarket brands like Mevotech, but I'm not sure why... because upon visual inspection they look IDENTICAL. Granted, why you see in not always what you get when shopping online, but Napa and Mevotech use the same photo for their product image.

^NAPA NCP 2606207 - $180.49 https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCP2606207?impressionRank=1


^MEVOTECH CMS86130 - $90.78 https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6118755&cc=1357938&pt=10401&jsn=2232

Is the NAPA LCA really worth 2x as much? I'm skeptical... but it would be awesome if someone who has real world experience could weigh in.

 

It's clearly a stock photo, but potentially the exact same part. Only way to know would be to order one of each and side-by-side them, then return the more expensive one should they be the same. But not before you come back here and tell us

Mevotech and NAPA do the same thing as Moog: They rebrand/outsource to/from others.

NAPA oil? Valvoline.
Mevotech's more expensive upper control arms? SPC. (yep, you heard me right, SPC, at half the SPC pricing).
Eibach's upper control arms? Also SPC. (but 30-40% less than SPC pricing)
Moog? Per their recent LBJ recall, they're outsourcing to other manufacturers deep in China.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NAPA/Mevotech lowers thing is same as the SPC/Eibach/Mevotech situation with uppers.

But that said, on person posted on here not too far back that they went with (Mevotech?) on the lowers, and the bushings were FUBAR in less than 2-3 years.

That's the big problem: Rubber apparently sucks these days, and not enough companies are putting out bushings that won't bulge and crack within a couple years.

 

If you're considering NAPA at $180, might as well go OEM instead. Last I checked it was $250 each but that was years ago. Not sure what they sell for today.

 

Yes I paid $500 for OEM contal arms during the Black Friday sale last November. $250 each.

One of our members went with Napa arms and said the bushings are already cracking. He's only had them a few years.

 

So, based on other peoples experience, sounds like Napa and Mevotech are of the same (subpar) quality. Obviously, YMMV, but if someone is gonna go for a cheap option, Mevotech might be just as average for half the price. We won't know unless someone does a true comparison, so I'll let you guys know if i feel so inclined...

But more than likely I will just buy new OEM LCAs and call it a day. Since I'm just buying them for the rubber, getting the whole assembly isn't a bad deal. At time of posting, a new set of OEM bushings will cost $335, while the new arms cost $500 for a pair (based on current pricing on Serra or McGeorge).

 

Here's the one other tidbit I'd throw at you beyond price.

As anyone here who's done their LCAs - @FirstGenVol and @Jack McCarthy I'll tag you guys - said it was a miserable experience, as I recall.

Even if OEM is twice the cost ... if the bushings only last 3-5 years and you're doing it again, is it really worth it?

I think this is where I struggle with non-OEM parts, even some aftermarket stuff like SAIS/SAIP bypass kits, that many folks have found still throw periodic codes.

At the end of the day, it's your money. I'm not living paycheck for paycheck so it's easy for me to say this: OEM lasted 15-20yrs, I'll pay the xtra for 15-20 more years!

 

PS - be sure to check the sticky thread in this subforum for ordering parts direct from Toyota for local pickup if you haven't already. It'll save you some serious coin.

 

I have a set of SuperPro bushings sitting on my shelf for my arms when they get bad. Just take out your OEM arms and run them to a shop to press them out and in. Also most alignment shops will do this, you will need an alignment anyway.

 

No mine were surprisingly easy actually. No rust. John's had to be cut out. Bill's too I think.
The hardest part was moving the steering rack back. Otherwise it's not a bad job.

 

Yeah, the 2nd time was easy peasy for me, just a lot to do in order to get it done. Still didn't want to do it a 2nd time though.

First time was a nightmare cutting out those cam sleeves.

 

I tried doing this myself and I could only get one bushing in the lower control arm dropped it off somewhere and they struggled with it for some time. So bad I didn't even bother doing the other side. I know i know, I'm redoing both again now. While looking i noticed on rock auto at least one brand now sells front and rear bushings for lower control arm that are 2 different sizes for easier installation. So i might try these bushings because I don't care if i have to mangle the one that was hard to get in

 

I opted for new OEM arms over just swapping bushings. Cost difference wasn't that big, and I didn't have to deal with that hassle.

 

Gang gang. I'm having my Dobs IMS coilovers and rears installed this week. The bushings on my uppers and lowers were cracked and had some play. 21 year old rubber, go figure..... I considered switching out just the bushings but after consulting this thread and some outside shop folks I know, I bit the bullet and bought new OEM uppers and lowers.

The shop doing the install said it's cheaper to buy new assemblies than to try and press in new bushings. Cry once......

I'm looking forward to seeing how it affects the overall feel of the handling. I pick it up from the shop this afternoon.

 

Did you have them save your old lowers? Someone may want them.

 

Finally, a shop that gives sound, top-notch advice. All involved made the right call.

 

I have the original OEM uppers and lowers if anyone is interested.