I have a 2004 Corolla with a worn control arm bushing. Should I just take the control arms off and have a local shop press in new bushings or should I just buy new control arms that already have new bushings in them? If I buy new control arms and don't want to buy the $200+ OEM Toyota ones should I buy the ones from local parts stores like Autozone for $120+ or should I buy the cheaper ones on ebay or amazon for $40+? My concern is the welds on the cheaper ebay and amazon ones might be weak. Have you heard of any problems buying the cheap $40 control arms on amazon/ebay? My gut tells me to buy the middle range priced ones from a local parts store like Autozone, but I still wanted to hear your opinion and if you've heard of any stories about low quality Corolla control arms failing from weak welds or low quality bushings. Thank you
I would take them to a machine shop and get new bushings installed. At least that way, you know your control arms are OE.
Normally I would agree with you, but the ones on the car are rusty so I bought the ones from autozone for $84.99 They even had them in stock locally and the quality looks pretty good. Bushings alone are $70 so it's only $15 more to get the new control arms and I didn't have to pay a local shop $100 to press in the bushings so I saved money and time.
If you want the real thing here they are -
toyotapartsdeal.com - Control arm lower LH - 48069-02021, RH - 48068-02021, $172.87 each. You're welcome.
To be honest, I would never cheap out on a control arm unless you want to have it replaced again in the near future. It does see a lot of stress and not sure I want to depend on a cheapo $40 from eBay. For convenience, I usually get them as one piece with the bushings already installed. Now, I haven’t heard anything bad about the Autozone ones but I’d probably just settle with OEM since I keep my cars until the wheels fall off and don’t want to think about replacing them (again) for a long time (if ever).
Yes you can buy entire control arms. No, do not buy the cheap crappy ones.
Do you have any experience with or have you heard of any actual problems buying the cheapest options for control arms or are you just assuming the cheapest ones are " crappy " without any experience or knowledge to back up that assumption? Lots of times the cheapest options are " crappy ", but sometimes they aren't. An example is the cheapest aluminum radiators from China. According to Scotty those are fine even though they are the cheapest.
All I need to do is look at them to know. But yes I have experience. You get what you pay for. You will be doing the job again very soon
You have X-Ray vision that can see through welds ?? Can you give me any details about your experience you claim to have?
Sounds like you want learn the hard way. Knock yourself out.
I bought the duralast ones at my local autozone that come with new bushings already installed for $84.99 each and they even had both in stock. Sure, they aren't as cheap as the $40 ones on ebay/amazon, but at least I got a warranty buying the ones from autozone and I didn't need to wait for anything to be delivered. I still wouldn't mind hearing a story or two from you about some bad experience you've had in the past buying the cheap $40 ones on ebay/amazon. Do you have any actual stories or were you just assuming those are probably crappy based on no actual personal experience you've had ?
Here are two parts. They are for the same model vehicle, and go in the same place.
1st one is OEM. The 2nd is made by some offshore, unknown company and cost 1/3 the price. Which one would you rather have on your vehicle? Which one do you think lasts longer? Which one do you think will hold up better in a mishap?
Thanks, but that still doesn't count as personal experience when it comes to control arms.
I don't know what you expect me to say. There's no story here. Cheap crappy parts are made of garbage material (and less of it), with garbage design. The result is that they don't work as well, and don't last nearly as long as the good ones. It's not rocket surgery! LOL You clearly need the life experience, so go ahead and install the cheap ones, pinch your pennies, and then cry every time you have to replace them again and again.
My comment - " Do you have any experience with or have you heard of any actual problems buying the cheapest options for control arms "
Your comment - " yes I have experience "
Still haven't heard any specifics about personal experiences you've had with cheap control arms. You just keep repeating the same generalizations about cheap parts, that I do agree with you about and that's why I decided to buy the middle of the road ones in terms of price from Autozone. Is it really that hard for you to admit you don't have any specific experience with cheap control arms ?
hahaha, it's not hard at all. I would admit it if it were true.
Go ahead and buy cheap beer. Buy a cheap sofa. Do not buy cheap structural components for your car.
That's all from me. Good luck.
Why are you so fixated on replacing the control arms when you can easily get the bushings replaced?
Pressing bushings is a lot more hassle
It's your money.
" Easily " get the bushings replaced? What do you mean? The control arms must be removed from the car to replace the bushings and if a local shop is going to charge me $100 to press in new bushings that I buy and give to them the difference in price is only maybe $50-$100 compared to just buying new control arms at autozone that already have new bushings installed which means I wont have to make any extra trip to a local shop while the car sits at home jacked up while I wait around for them to press in the bushings at the shop. Essentially I can just remove the old control arms and install complete new ones right away for about an extra $50-$100 if I buy the control arms from autozone or the cost would even be cheaper than just replacing the bushings alone if I bought the new control arms on ebay/amazon for $40 each. So to answer your question about why I'm " fixated " on replacing the entire control arm when it's just the bushings that are bad - my answer is because I can save money and time if I buy the $40 ebay/amazon ones or I can just save time and spend an extra $50-$100 for new, unrusted, control arms at autozone.
Whatever.
You don’t save that much money. Certainly not worth my time.
Actually I was wrong, the duralast control arms at autozone that come with new bushings already installed aren't $120+ they are only $84.99 and the bushings alone are $70.48 so essentially it costs more to replace just the bushings when you factor in the $100 a local shop will charge to press the bushing in.