Replaced driver's side upper control arm -- YIKES
#1
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Replaced driver's side upper control arm -- YIKES
Hey guys. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea how bad. Basically, I had a loud clunking/clanking from the front right corner whenever I went over bumps. Also, when I would go up the curb at the front of the driveway, the entire front end would rock back and forth. I had Lexus take a look at it and the diagnosis was (no surprise here) a bad ball joint in the upper control arm. They wanted $950 to replace it, and told me that even though the front right was still good, they recommended I replace both sides (for a total of $1,600).
I bought the UCA from Sewell for $270 and had a local suspension shop install it for $130. The difference is night and day. It's like a brand new car (at least on that corner). I have the old control arm, and to say the ball joint has some play in it is an understatement. It's totally loose. I can move it around and in and out freely with my pinky. I can't imagine the force/stress that everyday driving put on it. It's a miracle that it didn't give way. The suspension shop told me that I was basically one hard bump away from failure. Uch.
Anyway, the point of this post is to let you know that if you have this problem, get it fixed. $400 is not a lot of money to ensure your safety. And, as a bonus, you get that tight solid ride back.
e
I bought the UCA from Sewell for $270 and had a local suspension shop install it for $130. The difference is night and day. It's like a brand new car (at least on that corner). I have the old control arm, and to say the ball joint has some play in it is an understatement. It's totally loose. I can move it around and in and out freely with my pinky. I can't imagine the force/stress that everyday driving put on it. It's a miracle that it didn't give way. The suspension shop told me that I was basically one hard bump away from failure. Uch.
Anyway, the point of this post is to let you know that if you have this problem, get it fixed. $400 is not a lot of money to ensure your safety. And, as a bonus, you get that tight solid ride back.
e
#3
Do you still have the old upper arm? I interested to see if it's geometry is similar to the IS300 unit as a possible upgrade. If you do, can I pay you shipping for it? Please PM me.
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