Control arm replacement
A control arm determines suspension geometry, so its condition affects handling and tyre wear.
Symptoms
- Wheel angles won't hold to spec even after a wheel alignment.
What's included
- Replacement is needed when pressed-in bushes or a ball joint fail, or the arm bends after an impact. The latter is particularly deceptive: the part looks intact but wheel angles cannot be set to specification. We test arms on a play detector, assess geometry visually and compare sides where needed. If the design permits, we replace only the bushes, which costs less than a complete arm. Wheel alignment is mandatory after any control-arm work.
Additional checks
- Testing the arms on a play detector
- Wheel alignment after any control-arm work
Why it matters
After an impact, a control arm can look intact from outside while deformation already prevents wheel angles from being set to spec. Where the design allows, only the bushings are replaced.
More details
The control arm sets the suspension geometry, so its condition affects both handling and tire wear. The arm has to be replaced when the bushings or ball joint pressed into it have failed, or when the part has been deformed by an impact. The second case is especially deceptive: the arm looks intact from the outside, but the wheel angles can no longer be set to spec. We check the arms on a play detector and visually assess the geometry, comparing with the opposite side if needed. If the design allows it, we replace only the bushings — that's cheaper than the whole arm assembly. After any work on the arms, a wheel alignment is mandatory.
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