New control arm or change bushing?

95Vert383AOD

95Vert383AOD

15 Year Member
Jun 10, 2008
1,133
34
69
New Bedford, MA
#1
I have a bad bushing (push down on the fender and squeak).

I was looking on Maximum Motorsports. They have a control arm (non tubular)....but for the price of $300 i was thinking i could get the same performance getting energy suspension replacement polyurethane bushings.

Never dealt with control arms or bushings. Anyone who's been in this situation feel free to comment.

Thanks,

Chris
 
#3
Adam95GT said:
You could just replace the bushing... or you cold use it as an excuse to replace the whole control arms.... there is someone selling a set of 03 cobra (ford racing) a arms on corral for $150:nice:
Click to expand...

I'm way ahead of ya...i almost used it as an excuse to drop $600 on a MM tubular K member :rolleyes:...But for now i want an arm with a spot for the spring so don't have to go to coil overs....because im stubborn!!!

I just can't justify shelling out $300 on Control arms that have stock looking design. If i have to ill get some steel plate and box in my stock control arms if it comes down to it.
 
#5
#7
The only differnece between the 03-04 control arms is that they remove a plate, and one stiffer rear bushing. I don't even think the ball joints are any different. And after a 2 years I am getting a clunking noise up front.:( Next time Im going tubular.
 
#11
The 03 Cobra A-Arms supposedly have stiffer rubber in the bushings and a low-friction ball joint. They also increase the front wheelbase by a total of 3/4", bringing the wheels about even with the fenders. Before the price nearly doubled, they were a nice inexpensive way to replace worn ball joints and bushings. I have them installed on my Cobra clone, and I can also say they do increase the front turning radius by a little bit. Not much, but enough to notice.

I found it easier to buy the new control arms and get new bushings and ball joints (both my ball joints were squeaking badly) already installed. The bushings are fused to the metal, you have to drill or burn them out. Less work and a minor upgrade at the same time. :nice:
 
#12
Well im not touching the control arms personally. I know a lil shop of Dominican guys that work without heat year round. They will do both ball joints for under $100 labor....and while they're in there im sure they wouldn't charge me a whole bunch for control arm bushings. I'm liked and known on a first name basis around there. :) I was gonna bring some Energy Suspension urethane bushings by for them to install.
 
#14
Adam95GT said:
it looks like you already have your answer then
Click to expand...

Yeah but i was just trying toi get an idea of what options i had. I would but the whole arm with ball joints if it was lighter and had a spot for a spring and came with Urethane Mounts....but it seems i cant get all that. :(

So i Suppose Rebuilding my existing Control arms with urethane will increase my handling capabilities. but with labor it will cost the same as just buying arms!!! Too bad they don't make those spring holding A arms with Urethane bushings.....or i would have already bought a set.
 
#15
95Vert383AOD said:
Yeah but i was just trying toi get an idea of what options i had. I would but the whole arm with ball joints if it was lighter and had a spot for a spring and came with Urethane Mounts....but it seems i cant get all that. :(

So i Suppose Rebuilding my existing Control arms with urethane will increase my handling capabilities. but with labor it will cost the same as just buying arms!!! Too bad they don't make those spring holding A arms with Urethane bushings.....or i would have already bought a set.
Click to expand...

Earlier i stated PA racing did infact make them...
PA Racing
 
#17
95Vert383AOD said:
I was reading somewhere that Springs add too much stress to tubular arms, not sure if theres any truth to this. :shrug:

Remember that the arm must take the weight of the corner of the vehicle right in the middle of the arm. So with some hard cornering i could see where this could be a concern.

Chris
Click to expand...

Considering not many people are running a "true" coilover set up on their cars and just a sleeve.... this is pushing the weight on the spring farther out... which i would assume putting more pressure on your suspension then the traditional reverse mcpherson set up... Not to mention putting the weight of you car on your strut towers instead of a more solid k member...


Atleast thats the y i see things
 
#18
well when they do the coil over setup the weight isn't being put on the A arm. The A arm is there to keep the wheel where its supposed to be but it doesn't have to support weight. I need my A arm to support weight. Not to mention i have a 351 in the front now. I can see me hitting the wrong pothole one day and bending/ snapping one of those pretty A arms. If i lived down south i would say no prob......but i need a control arm thats can seat a spring in the middle and physically be stronger than a stock one.
 
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