Lower control arm bushings

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:30 pm

I never installed the MOOGs Lower Ball Joints because I wanted to give one dealership a chance. I took my Jeep to GO Chrysler (was John Elway) today and they called me later tonight saying my "front lower control arm bushings were shot". He said they have to replace the entire lower control arm just for the bushings, and it would be ~$1000 for parts and labor for all that. My front suspension was making a lot of noise and I though it was a bad LBJ, but I can beleive it's my LCA bushings...but do I need to replace the entire arm just for the bushings??? Please help with any info on this or if you have links to some website with bushings and/or the arms themselves. I think I'm being sold, cause $1000 is crazy. It just doesn't make sense to me...

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:37 pm

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

I never installed the MOOGs Lower Ball Joints because I wanted to give one dealership a chance. I took my Jeep to GO Chrysler (was John Elway) today and they called me later tonight saying my "front lower control arm bushings were shot". He said they have to replace the entire lower control arm just for the bushings, and it would be ~$1000 for parts and labor for all that. My front suspension was making a lot of noise and I though it was a bad LBJ, but I can beleive it's my LCA bushings...but do I need to replace the entire arm just for the bushings??? Please help with any info on this or if you have links to some website with bushings and/or the arms themselves. I think I'm being sold, cause $1000 is crazy. It just doesn't make sense to me...

I just did my LCA's,got them for $194 apiece from worldpartsexpress.com.Did the work myself(with the rest of the guy's from L.O.S.T. Rockies) I posted in the Rockies section,you should've came and learned how to do them.They are not that hard,had them done in like 3 hours.The Farcyboys wanted $1380 to do mine,I laughed at them.The bushings are like $50 apiece and a real pain in the a$# to replace so they just replace the whole LCA,which comes with all new bushings in it.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:48 pm

just had my LCA's done for $ 100 under my extended warrenty

it would be easier to do the whole arm because it has all 3 bushing sets, shop around for a better price I say, plus they have to do an alignment

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:49 pm

Sweet, thanks man! I forget to mention they said the problem was "specifically caused by the lift kit". What's up with that? I've never heard anyone talk on these forums about lifts causing lower control arm bushings problems. Oh, and do you think I'll be OK to drive with the shot bushings once my LBJs are done, until I get the new LCAs?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:57 pm

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

Sweet, thanks man! I forget to mention they said the problem was "specifically caused by the lift kit". What's up with that? I've never heard anyone talk on these forums about lifts causing lower control arm bushings problems. Oh, and do you think I'll be OK to drive with the shot bushings once my LBJs are done, until I get the new LCAs?

The lift had nothing to do with it but the harder wheeling will wear the bushings faster.If yours where as bad as mine get them changed soon.Mine made all sorts of really bad noises,sounded like the suspension was going to fall off.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:27 pm

Its crazy how much a dealer will try to charge for something thats so simple.

They already have the lower balljoint popped when they change out the joint, two bolts and the arm is off.

If the arm cost $194 a piece x2=$388. That means they are charging $600 to take four bolts out. :shock:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:29 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Its crazy how much a dealer will try to charge for something thats so simple.

They already have the lower balljoint popped when they change out the joint, two bolts and the arm is off.

If the arm cost $194 a piece x2=$488. That means they are charging $500 to take four bolts out. :shock:

It's alot more involved then that,then you need a alignment to(which the dealer is figuring into the cost).All said and done doing it myself it cost about $550.Oh by the way $194x2=$388.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:49 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Its crazy how much a dealer will try to charge for something thats so simple.

They already have the lower balljoint popped when they change out the joint, two bolts and the arm is off.

If the arm cost $194 a piece x2=$388. That means they are charging $600 to take four bolts out. :shock:

It's alot more involved then that,then you need a alignment to(which the dealer is figuring into the cost).All said and done doing it myself it cost about $550.Oh by the way $194x2=$388.

Ahh, give or take $100.

What else is needed besides an alignment? Ive had everything off before besides those a-arms when I was changing the balljoints and it didnt seem like it would take much more to get the lower a-arms off.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:48 pm

I already have the MOOGs, and I'm not sure if I need to replace my LCA themselves. I can get just the bushings from where tjkj2002 got his LCAs:
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214078&chapter=DP3043&appSectionid=19&groupid=20090&subgroupid=60181&make=17&model=Liberty&year=2003&catalogid=1
I am tight on money right now so if I can replace just the bushings while I'm already putting in the MOOGs, that'd be great. Is there a specific reason I'd want to replace the LCAs? Are aftermarket LCAs sturdier?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:29 am

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

I already have the MOOGs, and I'm not sure if I need to replace my LCA themselves. I can get just the bushings from where tjkj2002 got his LCAs:
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214078&chapter=DP3043&appSectionid=19&groupid=20090&subgroupid=60181&make=17&model=Liberty&year=2003&catalogid=1
I am tight on money right now so if I can replace just the bushings while I'm already putting in the MOOGs, that'd be great. Is there a specific reason I'd want to replace the LCAs? Are aftermarket LCAs sturdier?

The specific reason would be it's way easier,most dealers will just replace the whole LCA then replace just those bushings.Also you will need special tools that are hard to find.As far as I know no one makes aftermarket LCA's for the KJ,That web site is OEM parts.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:14 pm

Tell DC to Respect My "Libertay" and for them to go to h3ll. You can probably do the work yourself. I've read on several post that the dealer told them that the cause was the lift that is total BS.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:10 pm

Well, other than their anti-lift opinion, they're reasonable, but labor charges are ridiculous. It looks like I'm going to end up replacing both LCAs like they would, but save myself some serious cash by doing it myself with some help.

Lower control arm bushings

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