Top Picks For Upper Control Arm Related Parts

There are several components that make up the suspension system of a vehicle including struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, bushings, etc. Control arms are also known as A-arms and they form an important link between the wheels and your vehicle's chassis. Most passenger cars have one lower control arm, but some vehicles like SUVs and trucks may have two control arms: lower and upper. A lower control arm is used in vehicles that have MacPherson strut suspension, whereas two control arms (upper and lower) are used in vehicles with double-wishbone suspension systems. The two control arms connect to the upper and lower steering knuckle points with ball joints and are attached to the frame via rubber bushings, allowing the wheel to move up and down.

A lower control arm can be found in most of the passenger cars today that are equipped with MacPherson strut suspension systems. The lower control arm is connected to the frame with rubber bushings that allow the arm to articulate with the wheels. The other end of the lower control arm is connected to the steering knuckle via a ball joint that allows the wheels to turn according to the steering input. The lower and upper control arms work similarly and are made from different materials like stamped steel, cast iron, and aluminum.

The lower control arm is a sturdy component that undergoes a lot of rough use, stress, impact, and exposure to water and road salt that can lead to corrosion and shorten the lifespan of the component. Over time, these factors cause the control arm to wear out and fail. However, the condition and replacement of the control arm depend on various factors like driving style, terrain, etc. Ball joints and bushings are the first components to fail on a control arm. Any physical damage caused by a forceful impact can also cause the control arm to bend or flex, which needs to be replaced. Some symptoms that a failing lower control arm will show are vehicle pulling to one side, uneven tire wear, vehicle wandering while driving, and steering vibrations. Any of these symptoms should not be ignored as it could be due to a bad lower control arm. It's highly recommended to get your control arm checked and replaced to ensure 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 well as facilitate up and down movement with the suspension. 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 includes 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 driving and negotiating a turn, the vehicle's body moves outwards due to the centrifugal force generated. This force causes the vehicle and the vehicle body to tilt, and the suspensions on the outside turn to compress and the ones on the inside of the turn to lift. The shift in force can increase while taking a turn at high speeds, causing the vehicle to flip over in the worst cases. This is also known as body roll. In order to avoid body roll, vehicles today are equipped with stabilizer bars, also known as sway bars or anti-roll bars. The sway bars keep the vehicle's body flat by transferring the force from one side to the other while the vehicle goes around a turn. One end of the sway bar is connected to the frame via bushings and the other end is connected to the control arm via sway bar link. This sway bar link smoothens the transfer of motion between the sway bar and the control arm.

The sway bar link features ball joints or bushings on both ends and they can wear out with time due to prolonged exposure to road salt, water, and other factors like stress, strain, age, rust, and lack of lubrication. When a sway bar link gets damaged, it starts to hamper the handling of the vehicle and eventually shows some symptoms like clunking or rattling noises, poor handling, scratching noises due to metal-to-metal rubbing while driving your vehicle around corners or bumps. A damaged sway bar link bushing or ball joint can also lead to increased body roll and adversely affect the handling of your vehicle. A simple way to check a worn-out or failing sway bar link is by checking for cracks, deterioration in bushings, and excessive play or movement in the ball joint. If you notice any of these signs, get your sway bar link checked and replaced to avoid further damage.

The rise in popularity of front-wheel-drive vehicles restricted the under-hood space available in vehicles. Over time, old suspension systems were discarded with the invention of MacPherson strut suspension systems that are used today in several front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles. MacPherson strut suspension eliminated the need for upper control arms, saving a lot of space and making the suspension systems lighter and simpler. A complete 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.

When the strut assembly starts to wear out, it not only affects the vehicle's ride quality but can also lead to poor handling and damage to other components of the suspension system. Some problems like strut noise, knocking sounds while driving over bumps, bumpy rides due to poor damping, a floating front end, and uneven tire wear can occur due to worn-out strut assembly components like the shock absorber, bellows, or strut mount bearings. Often a worn-out strut assembly can also cause the front of the vehicle to squat on braking, which can hamper the overall handling of the vehicle. Bad seals are another source of the problem, which can allow the oil to leak and the strut assembly to eventually 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 of changing individual parts like springs or shock absorbers and also saves you the pain of assembling and disassembling your suspension system.