Upper and Lower control arm bushings

[BillyL]

I took my bird to the shop to have the cross braces retorqued and to get an inspection of the suspension. The mechanic did find "several" cross brace bolts to be under torqued, but not loose. Good find and good heads up from this forum
Now for the rest of the story... Seems all the rubber boots on the steering and suspension joints are dry rotted from age, some have already torn and/or split. The shop quoted new rear control arms with bushings installed at $260.00 each for uppers and $400.00 each for lowers. Seems high to me. I also questioned if the bushings can be changed? The mechanic said yes if the parts are available. So I am now searching for control arm bushings. Any other birders have had experience with this? If so are the bushings available?

[StevenM]

Billy,
In doing my suspension overhaul months ago, I ordered replacement bushings for the upper control arms from a supplier on eBay. But upon inspection, I found the upper ball joints worn and the rubber boots shot. So then I ordered the upper arms. The new arms had the bushings installed and all is good. Now I have the bushings in a garage tool cabinet drawer and will likely never be used. They are yours if you want them for the shipping charges, maybe a few bucks. Let me know where to send them if you want the bushings, there are four. Yeah...free! That what TBN will do for members!
Steve

[ISSYRO]

I have been on the hunt for the rear control arm bushings and after AutoZone, O'Riellys, Ford dealership and NAPA parts they are not attainable. I wondered if anyone had a lead to a company that just dealt with bushings but internet searches have found nothing.

So I will order the rear uppers left and right as the are plenty out there, and as for the lowers they are hard to find and if found they are expensive! but I will cross my fingers and find them. I did find out that there is a manufacturer cutoff of before and after 11/17/02, and apparently they are different according to the Ford dealer.

[11TH GEN]

Wife's SRX was at dealer today. I have heard infrequently a noise from the left front, only when the steering wheel is hard to the left. The don't mess with bushings and just replaced both sides with new lower control arms with bushings in them. 14K miles on the car.

[Jimr]

The shop quoted new rear control arms with bushings installed at $260.00 each for uppers and $400.00 each for lowers. Seems high to me. I also questioned if the bushings can be changed? The mechanic said yes if the parts are available. So I am now searching for control arm bushings. Any other birders have had experience with this? If so are the bushings available?

[Jimr]

Rockauto has the lower control arms listed for about $130.00. The upper bushings are available for a little over $20.00 at Autozone.

[ISSYRO]

Rockauto has the lower control arms listed for about $130.00. The upper bushings are available for a little over $20.00 at Autozone.

Are you looking at the lower rear on Rock Auto?

[ISSYRO]

I may have gotten lucky at CARID and found the lower rear control arms, I’ll see when they get here. Fellow at NAPA helped me locate them, with the fact that they had to be manufactured for cars past 11/17/02

[Jimr]

Are you looking at the lower rear on Rock Auto?

Yes the lower rear control arms, both right and Left side and several choices with bushings. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...trol+arm,10401

[BillyL]

StevenM, Thanks for the kind offer on the bushings. But ,as you did, I have decided to change the upper control arms and ball joints as those boots are also cracked. I have decided to do a complete rebuild of the rear suspension including the CV joints. I have decided to go with MOOG brand replacement parts as their website shows all parts available through Advance Auto. I am headed to the local Advance store today with a 25% off coupon in hand. Their prices all appear to be competitive except for the lower rear control arms. Why are those two items double the cost of the others? I will post again when I confirm the Advance auto data.

[edward301]

I just finished changing out all the control arms on my 2002 Bird. Upper, lower, sway bar links, and
even the steering links. Much easier this way, since you already have to disassemble every thing
anyway. Bought everything on eBay for right at $700.

Front and rear we’re about the same as far as time. Car rides and sounds like new.

need any tips let me know, still fresh on my mind.

[StevenM]

StevenM, Thanks for the kind offer on the bushings. But ,as you did, I have decided to change the upper control arms and ball joints as those boots are also cracked. I have decided to do a complete rebuild of the rear suspension including the CV joints. I have decided to go with MOOG brand replacement parts as their website shows all parts available through Advance Auto. I am headed to the local Advance store today with a 25% off coupon in hand. Their prices all appear to be competitive except for the lower rear control arms. Why are those two items double the cost of the others? I will post again when I confirm the Advance auto data.

You are welcome, Bill. I made the mistake of thinking the bushings I odered were for the lower control arms. Again, I need to read the fine and even the large print. You are doing right replacing the upper arms completely. If you are doing the job yourself, read the postings on TBN for hints and steps to make the job easier. A little aggravating getting to one or two of the upper control mounting bolts but having a good ratchet wrench will help. Good luck. The offer stands to anyone needing the upper bushings...free...better than aging away in my tool box drawer.

[ISSYRO]

You are welcome, Bill. I made the mistake of thinking the bushings I odered were for the lower control arms. Again, I need to read the fine and even the large print. You are doing right replacing the upper arms completely. If you are doing the job yourself, read the postings on TBN for hints and steps to make the job easier. A little aggravating getting to one or two of the upper control mounting bolts but having a good ratchet wrench will help. Good luck. The offer stands to anyone needing the upper bushings...free...better than aging away in my tool box drawer.

Steven; I sent you a PM

[ISSYRO]

The Lower rear control arms I received from CARID were the correct ones for cars manufactured after 11/17/02. I was getting to take all four rear ones to my mechanic till I took another look at them last night. I decided then to take a stab at replacing them myself. Started this morning after I went to Home Depot to pick up some more specific tools such as a 1/2 inch 21mm socket, a 1/2 inch breaking bar, and a 21mm open end wrench. I had everything else I needed in my tool bin. As did it in my garage and did not have the luxury of a high lift so I went with my 3 Ton floor jack. I also had a 1 inch steel pipe that is 2 feet long which was very well needed along with the breaking bar to get the bolts loose. Not that bad of a task to take on and as you see in some of the pictures the bushings were shot as well as the upper ball joint which was crap. I got the upper arms at RockAuto, and I just did the driver rear side, so I spent maybe 4 hours on it on and off.

[ISSYRO]

Last photo is the finished job.