92SoCal

iTrader: (1)

Im going to replace my bushings for control arms soon.. as i need them badly.

however i want to know, what the possibility of needing whole new control arms would be as opposed to just new bushings..

Do the sc control arm ball joints wear easily? Dont wanna buy bushings and then need whole new arms.. just a thought.

car has 201k miles and doubt the control arms have ever been replaced

thanks

glbg

In my own opinion, since my son drives daily my SC300 and in order not to worry down the road that the ball joint might wear out, I decided just to buy both front LCA. Also, I am planning to keep the car for a long time, I guess it is worth to buy the LCA.

estomax

iTrader: (2)

once you take the control arm off you can feel the ball joint, a good condition ball joint will spin with some resistance and not have any play at all. if there is some play or if it is really easy to spin (meaning close to having play) then it is probably worn out.

what i have seen is the ball joint boot usually fails first, then dirt gets in and makes quick work of the ball joint itself.

92SoCal

iTrader: (1)

thanks might just buy all new arms.. will take one apart to verify soon

spoolxexo

iTrader: (4)

I recently did the front poly bushings on my 1993.

First of all, buy new Front Lower Rear OEM Toyota cam bolts. They seize. You have to cut them out with a 4" cut off wheel.

The Stock steel sleeve will freeze to the bolt, so it's hot dog bun cut down the stock sleeve with half of your old Eccentric bolt seized to it, and an air hammer, and you can re use that one, or buy a new OEM bolt.

Also there is a vendor on the 'Bay that sells aluminum Front Lower Rear sleeves that wont sieze up.

With this Mod/Maint, the car feels like a hundred bucks up front!

Studiogeek

iTrader: (6)

I will do this as well. On a 95 Sc400 i'd assume it's the same part. If so, do I ask for Front Lower Rear camber bolts for a 95 Supra NA? And camber bolt sleeves for them?

Thank you!

spoolxexo

iTrader: (4)

Either sc or supra, it's around $20 for the bolt, you can re-use the cam plate, washer and nut if you want.

All together is about $40 for the "Kit", for one of the two lowers.

hmhatch

iTrader: (1)

Save yourself the trouble and buy the supra lca's. I replaced just the bushings with oem on my arms and for the time I spent it would have been worth it just to go with whole new arms considering you get the added bonus of a brand new ball joint.

Studiogeek

iTrader: (6)

Thank You!

My mechanic said that mine looked new yesterday. I have to make sure it's not because they are aluminum perhaps and everything else under there is rusty.

SC510

if you got the cash then go control arms, otherwise go bushings. Bushings won't kill your wallets like arms will

hmhatch

iTrader: (1)

If he is paying for the labor to remove the arms and old bushings then install new bushings, it may end up being close to the same price wise as just removing and replacing whole new arms. Keep in mind the bushings in the supra arms are much beefier too.