Top Picks For Lower Control Arm Related Parts

A suspension system of a vehicle comprises components like struts, shocks, bushings, ball joints, control arms, etc. Control arms are also known as A-arms, and they form a critical link between the chassis and the wheels of your vehicle. They can be A-shaped, L-shaped, or wishbone-shaped, depending on the type of vehicle and the suspension geometry. The control arms are connected to the frame with rubber bushings that allow the control arm to move up and down with the suspension and the wheels. At the wheels, the control arm is connected to the steering knuckle via a ball joint, which allows the wheels to turn left or right according to the steering input. Control arms are made of different materials like stamped steel, cast iron, and aluminum. Over the years, control arm construction has evolved from stamped steel and cast iron into aluminum ones as they are light, strong and corrosion-resistant, and are used widely on vehicles today. Most cars are equipped with lower control arms but some vehicles like SUVs and trucks may have two control arms, namely upper and lower control arms. A vehicle that uses a MacPherson strut suspension is equipped with only one control arm per wheel, which is known as the lower control arm.

The number of control arms can vary depending on the type of vehicle and design. Some vehicles use two control arms- upper and lower control arms and this type of suspension system is called a double-wishbone suspension system. This type of system can be found on many pickup trucks, SUVs, luxury vehicles, and race cars. The two control arms connect to the highest and the lowest steering knuckle points with ball joints. They work similar to the lower control arms and are attached to the frame via rubber bushings that allow the wheels to move up and down.

A control arm is a sturdy component that undergoes a lot of stress, impact, and rough use, which eventually takes its toll on the part leading to eventual wear and tear. However, the degree of wear and tear and the time or replacement of the control arm depends on various factors like driving styles, terrains, etc. Water, road salt can cause corrosion, and harsh driving on broken roads can shorten the lifespan of the component. The first thing to fail on the control arm is the ball joint and the bushings. Also, any physical damage by a forceful impact can cause the control arm to bend or flex, leaving no option but to get it replaced. If you witness clunking noise from the suspension, the vehicle pulling to the side, uneven tire wear or steering vibrations, and wandering while driving, you should get your control arms checked and replaced if damaged. Replacing your control arms will benefit your vehicle with improved ride quality and stability.

The ball joints serve the simple purpose of providing a pivoting movement to the wheels. The ball joints are attached to the end of the control arms and they enable the front wheels to turn right or left as they move up and down with the suspensions. Most of the vehicles have at least one lower ball joint attached to the lower control arm and, in some cases, an upper ball joint as well. A ball joint construction features a bearing stud and a socket inside a housing. The bearing stud is tapered and threaded so it can be attached to the steering knuckle. The ball joint also has a rubber-like boot that prevents the dirt and dust from damaging the ball joint and keeps the grease in for proper lubrication.

The ball joint is designed to last a long time, but its life depends on several factors like driving styles, road conditions, exposure to splash, road salt, etc. Ball joints have grease filled inside them which can leak with age, accelerating the wear of the ball joints causing them to fail, eventually. Also, the lower ball joint undergoes a lot of stress as it handles the load of the vehicle and therefore wears out faster. A failing ball joint will show several symptoms, like sloppy steering, steering wheel vibrations, uneven tire wear, and clunking noises from the front of the vehicle while driving on rough roads, over a bump, or around a corner. A worn-out ball joint can snap and break the control arm or other components of the suspension system and, in the worst-case scenario, allow your wheel to come loose. Therefore, if you notice any of these symptoms on your vehicle while driving, get your ball joints replaced for the proper functioning of the steering and suspension assembly.

While taking a turn around a corner, the vehicle's body moves outwards due to the centrifugal force generated. This causes the vehicle and the vehicle body to tilt as the suspension or wheels on the outside of the turn compresses whereas the suspension on the inside of the turn lifts. This shift in force while taking the turn can be too intense if you are at high speed, and can eventually cause the vehicle to flip over, also known as a body roll. In order to avoid body roll, sway bars are used, which are also known as stabilizer bars and anti-roll bars. The sway bars keep the vehicle's body flat and transfer the force from one side to the other while the vehicle goes around a turn. It is connected to the frame of the vehicle by rubber bushings, and the outer end of the sway bar is connected to the control arm via a sway bar link. The sway bar link smoothens the motion transfer between the sway bar and the control arm.

A sway bar link consists of ball joints or bushing or both on either ends that can wear out and deteriorate with time due to exposure to water, road salt, and other factors like age, rust, and lack of lubrication. A damaged sway bar link can adversely affect the handling of your vehicle and start to show few symptoms, like clunking or rattling noises from the front of the vehicle, poor handling, and metal-to-metal scratching noises around corners or bumps. If your sway bar link bushings or ball joints wear out, you will experience increased body roll, which can severely affect the handling of the vehicle. One can also spot a worn-out or failing sway bar link by checking for excessive play or movement in the ball joint and for cracks and deterioration on the bushings. If you witness these issues with your sway bar links, it is a good idea to get them replaced immediately else it can lead to further damage.

With the popularity of front-wheel-drive vehicles, the under-hood space became restricted, leaving little space for old suspension systems. Therefore, newer vehicles were incorporated with MacPherson strut suspension systems, which are still used on the front and rear-wheel-drive vehicles. MacPherson strut suspensions eliminated the need for upper control arms, making the suspension system lighter and simpler, saving a lot of space. The strut assembly consists of a coil spring and a shock absorber. The coil supports the weight and maintains the height and stability of the vehicle, whereas the shock absorber dampens the vibrations caused by the irregularities on the road. Yet another defining factor of the MacPherson strut is that the top of its telescopic damper acts as the upper steering pivot.

If your strut assembly begins to fail or wear out, it not only affects the vehicle's ride quality but can also lead to poor handling and damage to the other components of the suspension system. The components of the strut assembly that usually wear out are shock absorber, bellows, and the strut mount bearings and can lead to problems like strut noise, knocking sounds while driving over bumps, bumpy rides due to poor damping, a floating front end, and uneven tire wear. Worn-out strut assemblies can also hamper the overall handling and the braking of the vehicle because the front of the vehicle will squat on braking if your strut assemblies are bad. Oil seepage due to a damaged seal is another issue that causes the struts to fail. If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is important to get your strut assembly checked and replaced for better ride quality. Replacing your complete front strut assembly eliminates the need to disassemble the strut, spring, and mounts and ensures a quick installation with new parts to ensure proper functionality.