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Play in LCA bushings changes the way the tire meets the road. In ideal circumstances the [perfect road and going strait with minimal change in speed], you will not get vibration in the steering due to bad bushings. Yet you can encounter catastrophic failure if they separate [1 or 2 or all 3 points]. Not to drive fear, but the play changes the sustained force into dynamic blow as the direction changes [weight of a hammer vs swing of the same hammer]. I would urge you replace if you say a play in any suspension part.
Tire wear abnormality is also based on how bad the LCA bushing play is. It can be masked out by rotation of tires [made less obvious] and if alignment is performed. A good alignment shop would refuse alignment if there is a play in any suspension part.
Play in LCA bushings changes the way the tire meets the road. In ideal circumstances the [perfect road and going strait with minimal change in speed], you will not get vibration in the steering due to bad bushings. Yet you can encounter catastrophic failure if they separate [1 or 2 or all 3 points]. Not to drive fear, but the play changes the sustained force into dynamic blow as the direction changes [weight of a hammer vs swing of the same hammer]. I would urge you replace if you say a play in any suspension part.
Tire wear abnormality is also based on how bad the LCA bushing play is. It can be masked out by rotation of tires [made less obvious] and if alignment is performed. A good alignment shop would refuse alignment if there is a play in any suspension part.
Salim.
My dad didn't think the lower control arms were that bad if I didn't feel anything on the road, but he hadn't seen the wheel move like I showed in the video earlier. I showed him the video and he said "Oh wow yea those need to be replaced badly." Probably thought I was going off what the mechanic said and hadn't checked myself and thought I was scamming myself lol. But yeah, both of us completely agree with you and we will replace it (eventually, hopefully soon)
The $80 Monroe struts are coming in the mail Wednesday and we will put them in this weekend, so I will update then.
The lower control arms likely won't be bought until next paycheck unless I get a loan from the parents.
I might have added a DIY post on LCA. I remember sliding on the garage floor. It is doable as DIY provided there is no rust [I had no need to saw off or heat].
Word of caution on suspension ... face the fasteners but toque them after the vehicle is on the ground. You don't want the rubber busing twisted one the vehicle is in normal position.
Okay so I got both front lower control arms installed and torqued down properly, (not without their issues but everything seems fine now and is reassembled) The rear passenger strut went on with no problems and that is completed and back together with new strut.
Problem is the rear driver side strut, the sway bar link in there had it's torx hole (allen? idk) striped out because we missed that in the list of needed penetrating fluid sprays last night. So we are buying 2 new sway bar link kits on amazon for $22 and it will be here Monday. It's an aftermarket brand but it's cheap and has like 4.4 stars in 117 reviews so it should be fine probably. (It's the same price as manufacturer but from the factory or Denso takes a few weeks to get here so no thank you on that.)
Good thing I won't need the car until Tuesday.
My dad want's to just drill out the hole, stamp it to make it work properly again, and not deal with taking off both sway bar links and putting new ones on. But the width of the hole to the threads is so small that I don't think he can do that. So I am keeping the swap bars on order to be here Monday and if his method doesn't work, then we will put the swap bars on.
Last edited by Obscurations; 07-27-24 at 04:04 PM.
And the problems continue... I got 2 rear right struts from rock auto when I just checked it 2 weeks after buying it. I will be getting a refund but that is annoying. Now that strut to reorder it on rock auto, is now 40$ more expensive than when I initially ordered it... I just ordered the same part on amazon for $100 (price and shipping). Hopefully amazon doesn't have the same problems as rock auto
Last edited by Obscurations; 07-28-24 at 07:53 AM.
Big update, amazon shipped the right part, everything is installed, just got home from the wheel alignment appointment.
Firestone said that the rear right camber bolt was seized.
Now they said that when I get that bolt replaced, I can come in and get that wheel aligned for free.
(Which they better because they charged $40 more than I was expecting...)
My question is, do I have to replace it, or can I break it loose with heat and penetrating fluid and keep using this bolt?
... snip Salim
My question is, do I have to replace it, or can I break it loose with heat and penetrating fluid and keep using this bolt?
There is some binding that has caused the bolt to seize. Once you have it apart you can establish if the issue was due to threads or the shaft or the passage hole.You can use wire brush and weigh against purchasing a new bolt. If you have to grid/cut then the decision pre-determined.
Local dealership [free shipping] maybe the best option.
I am going to spray it with wd-40 penetrating stuff a few times a couple hours apart, and try to break it loose tonight, if that works then yay, otherwise I will have to spend $30 on a new bolt from the factory or spend $35 and get it today instead of in a week.
Last edited by Obscurations; 08-03-24 at 10:49 AM.
Dealerships have a parts delivery program from distribution center and normally should have the part in 1 or 2 days and they charge you retail price with no shipping charge.
07-15-24, 02:59 PM
