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Lower control arm differences

2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  gbhs72 
#1 · (Edited)
While the paint on my frame was drying I thought I would start installing bushings in my front lower control arms. I lubed the holes and started with the front bushing. I beat on it with a large ballpein and then went to a 3# sledge. I couldn't get the bushing to seat all the way. I tried several times removing it between tries. It just wasn't going to seat. I got online and started checking part numbers and research showed that there is a heavy duty front. Of course it figures I have that one. Rock Auto lists a lot of bushings for the front lowers. The Moog set K6109 shows that the outside diameter is 2.24 inch. The K3113 bushing shows to be 1.65 inch and is listed for the HD suspension. I guess the diameter of the hole is less to give more "meat" in the control arm around the bushing. Has anyone had or heard of this difference? Yes, I have been spending over an hour searching posts & stickies. Am I doing something wrong here?
Thoughts??? Thanks.

Mark: Snowman-33

Edit: I just measured the holes and bushings. I must be doing something wrong. It's a tight fit and I'm sure I will get it to cooperate and too, I was working on the rear bushing not the front. Sorry to trouble all Y'all.
 
#3 ·
Tayto, I really felt dumb after I went back out and looked at what I had. I have a 20 ton press but the arm doesn't have enough clearance to center the bushing. I may be able to come up with something to get it in. I have been using the you tube videos on the front end rebuild. He sure makes it look a lot easier. With all that. I am learning a lot thanks to being here and lots of searching the WWW. Time to dig into my barrel of metal to do this.
Thanks Bud,

Mark: Snowman-33
 
#4 ·
#5 ·
I've got issues with rubbing after installing 18s and oversize tires on my FWB. I checked their site just on a whim to gauge whether better just replace the lowers new v. messing around with the stops. But I automatically skipped past all the unfamiliar cheaper brands til getting to the ACD for that special - ["at least used to be better quality even if it isn't anymore"] feeling. And they just happen to be over 2X the cheapest offerings.



Question: Is there any personal experience comparing the brands for overall quality of balljoints used, gauge of stampings, bushing-to frame fit and finish etc?
 
#6 ·
Have you used those cheap "china" control arms before? I used mevotech in my Honda civic. In 6 months the rubber was worse than the 186k original arms I removed. Replaced the bushings in the original arms with stock Honda. More expensive? Yes. Will I have to touch them for the remainder of the vehicles life? Nope. I rebuilt the struts in my cousins Subaru Legacy, he bought the cheap strut mounts. the rears broke within 2-3 months and 1 of the fronts broke in 6 months. I don't have a fixture to make replacing steuts easy, I use spring compressors. I essentially had to do the job TWICE because my cousin wanted to save $100. Replaced all with Moog, 2 years later and 40k no issues.
 
#7 ·
More to add: I have not done automotive repairs as my full time job for almost 10 years now. I do all my own maintenance on my own vehicles and do repairs/maintenance (mostly) for family and friends (and have been doing so for over 15 years). The alignment/suspension shop I use, uses Moog specifically and sometimes Ac Delco if the customer does not want to buy or supply OEM. Absolutely no mevotech/cheapo ****. If customer supplies they will not install, full stop.
 
#8 ·
A learned lesson

I tried to install the bushings with my press today. It was a no-go. I have to confess something. All of my front end parts are Moog, except the front upper & lower bushings and the adjusters. I had read on the RA site at one time the Mevotech Supreme version was some kind of rubber/poly mix. I bought the hype and am now paying. One of the bushings isn't even centered. I have corrected my bad decision. Rock Auto order is in and Moog is on the way. The Mevotech lowers were made in China and the uppers(I haven't even opened them) were made in the USA. Nab, I've had lots of frustrations on this and I'm sure there are more in store for me. But no way am I going to put a complete less then $40 part like that on my car. Appreciate the thought though. If Maryland roads are still maintained like they were when I left I might understand good comments about them from you. Here sometimes the roads are a little untamed.

Mark: Snowman-33
 
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