Symptoms of a Bad Control Arm

symptoms of bad control arms
symptoms of bad control arms

What are the Symptoms of a Bad Control Arm?

A “bad control arm” really means there’s a bad ball joint or worn control arm bushings. When these components fail you can experience symptoms ranging from clunking noises to steering wander. This article will highlight the symptoms along with the reasons for control arm failure and what to do about it.

Ball joints and bushings on the lower control arm are especially susceptible to wear since, in most suspension setups, the lower arm is actually supporting the weight of the vehicle. Hard driving, offroading, environmental factors, or random damage can compromise these components so recognizing the symptoms early can save you from dealing with a failed part on the side of the road.


Symptoms

Here are the most common symptoms of bad control arm bushings and ball joints:

Clunking Noise

Specifically coming from the control arm and usually following a bump, braking, or a hard turn.

Steering Wander

Pulling to the left or right without input from the steering wheel.

Un-Even Tire Wear

Wear on the inside or outside edge of the tire or other unusual wear patterns.

Vibration

Excessive vibration felt mostly in the steering wheel as the insecure wheels rapidly wobble.

* Other components that can fail and display these symptoms are the wheel bearing, tie rod ends, steering linkage, or rack and pinion bushings.


Causes

reasons for control arm failure
…your first step should be checking the ball joint and bushings.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms then your first step should be checking the ball joint and bushings. Again, the components on the lower control arm are usually the culprits since that arm not only has the job of connecting the wheel assembly and frame but also carrying the weight of the vehicle.

If dirt or debris make their way into the ball joint when the joint articulates the metal-to-metal (or sometimes metal-to-plastic) surfaces grind against it and wear away, leaving you with a loose ball joint. There are several methods for checking ball joints that will alert you to a problem, most of which are just manipulating the ball joint to check for looseness. If there is any vertical play in the ball joint then the ball stud or bearing surface have been worn down. This means you need a replacement since the control arm’s connection to the wheel assembly is loose and will allow your alignment to fluctuate.

Rough terrain, driving that taxes the suspension, and environmental factors will accelerate the wear of the control arm bushings until you notice the symptoms and they require replacement. The original bushings installed in OE (Original Equipment) control arms are made of rubber and keep the arm aligned while also absorbing vibration from the road making your ride more comfortable but they are rubber and will wear down. Bushings are fairly easy to inspect visually since failure means the bushing is sagging, hollowed out, or torn.


Prevention

steps to prevent control arm failure
(a) polyurethane boot could increase the lifespan of the ball joint by itself with a very cheap part.

These components just don’t last forever. If you own a vehicle long enough you will likely need to replace the lower control arm ball joint and bushings, but you can take steps to lengthen the life of the ball joints.

Loose ball joints are generally caused by torn or missing dust boots allowing contaminates inside the joint or inferior materials like a plastic bearing surface being worn down prematurely. If you notice your dust boots are looking a little worse for wear, then replacing them with another rubber boot, or more durable polyurethane boot could increase the lifespan of the ball joint by itself with a very cheap part. If your ball joint has a grease zerk fitting then you can pump new grease into the joint every other oil change as part of your regular maintenance or if you’ve been off-road in mud or water for a long period of time or spend a lot of time driving in icy, salty slush.

Rubber bushings will wear out eventually and just need to be looked at from time to time to check for deterioration or gaps.


Solutions

Once you’ve determined that the components on your control arm are worn or damaged the only way to fix the problem is to replace them. The options for replacement can be divided by cost, ease of install, and replacement vs upgrade.

Control Arm Assemblies

can be purchased from the manufacturer or aftermarket suppliers and provide an easy bolt-on solution that will take care of all worn components with one part and installation can be accomplished in most home garages. They will likely cost more than buying the components separately but don’t require a press for exchanging the ball joints or bushings so a trip to the shop won’t be necessary. Aftermarket arms will sometimes use better than OE components which will improve handling, wheel alignment stability, and longevity. If you’re restoring a vehicle or just reviving your trusty 200k+ daily driver a control arm assembly is a quick, DIY friendly, complete solution.

Ball Joints

can vary in cost depending on quality, but they can be affordable as stand-alone replacements. To uninstall and press in a new ball joint you will need special tools that are not found in the common garage making a trip to your local shop or a tool rental necessary. If you’re to the point where you need to replace the ball joint, investing in a more durable aftermarket option made with better quality materials could save you time and money down the road, especially if you drive hard or over rough terrain.

Control Arm Bushings

are fairly inexpensive but pressing the old ones out can be a tough job. Removing the old bushings can be done DIY and even without a press. Installing an OE style bushing without a press can be tricky, while aftermarket options can be installed in a few minutes. Control arm bushing replacements offer a choice between maximum comfort or enhanced handling performance. Rubber replacements will restore factory ride quality and reduce vibration but provide no improvement over the originals; fine for a commuter.

The materials used in aftermarket bushings vary from Delrin to Polyurethane or Heim-style joints to Kevlar infused poly. Compared to rubber they are a harder material which will increase “road feel” or harshness, but they also provide superior handling, improved traction through quick hard turns, and consistent wheel alignment over the life of the vehicle; more geared toward “spirited” driving, off-roading, or weekend track junkies.


Conclusion

There are several possible causes for noises, vibration, and steering wander but it’s always a good idea to check the lower control arms since they have a reputation for wearing out. Replacing the arm, or just the worn or damaged ball joint or control arm bushings, can resolve the issues that are causing your symptoms and some aftermarket component options will actually increase handling performance over the originals.

Replacing the arm, or just the worn or damaged ball joint or control arm bushings, can resolve the issues that are causing your symptoms…

Need To Replace a Part?

If you’ve discovered the cause of your vehicle’s symptoms is a busted bushing or a loose ball joint then you will probably be looking for a replacement soon. Please check out these replacement options as a way to relieve these sypmtoms and get your vehicle back in shape.

26 comments
  1. Brit
    Brit
    January 15, 2019 at 2:36 pm

    How would we know if your ball joint is supposed to have vertical movement?

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      February 15, 2019 at 3:45 pm

      Hey Brit,

      For that information, you could call the manufacturer or the folks at Moog would probably be able to tell you.

      Reply
  2. Tammy
    Tammy
    January 17, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    So if I have a Moog control arm, can I use the polyurethane control arm bushings or do I have to still use Moog’s rubber ones?

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      February 15, 2019 at 3:45 pm

      Hey Tammy,

      If you have a press, or want to try and DIY one, you can put whatever kind of bushings you want into a control arm. There are exceptions of course and you may or may not need to reuse the metal bushing sleeve.

      Moog’s bushings are going to give you a comfort level and ride similar to the originals, so you may want to consider what balance between comfort and performance you want to achieve before you change out the bushings.

      Thanks for the question.

      Reply
  3. Michael Steder
    Michael Steder
    July 22, 2019 at 9:59 pm

    Midas told me the clunking noise in my 2006 chevy hhr is due to bad control arms. However I also hear a vibration noise, this noise is a rotational noise that is reduced when braking, since nothing rotates on the control arm could that be the cause of the noise?

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      July 29, 2019 at 9:09 am

      Hey Michael,

      I talked with Edwin, our on staff ASE certified mechanic, and first off he said that he can’t give a 100% diagnosis without driving the car. But his deduction from hearing the symptoms is that you brake pads or hub assemblies are the most likely culprits for that kind of noise. If you’d like more elaboration feel free to contact him and talk parts.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  4. Tina
    Tina
    January 20, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    Is it possible to still experience the steering and the uneven tire wear symptoms if a lower control arm had been installed, but installed incorrectly?

    Vehicle is terribly “squirrelly” since repair and ate up two front tires. Both rear Tires are still great, with adequate tread.

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      January 22, 2020 at 12:59 pm

      Hey Tina,

      I confirmed with our on-staff mechanic that mis-installation of ANY steering or suspension parts in the front could cause those symptoms.

      If the control arm and it’s components are all new then it could be an installation problem or the part could be faulty. Irregular tire wear and steering wander is often a sign of mis-alignment of the wheel which can be caused by problems with either the control arm bushings or ball joint, among other factors. But if these problems arose after having the lower control arm replaced then it’s likely that’s where you’ll find your tire-eating culprit.

      I would get whatever work was done looked over by a mechanic you trust.

      Hope this was helpful and good luck with finding the problem!

      Reply
  5. Jay Mclaughlin
    Jay Mclaughlin
    February 27, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    What could cause vibration after lower arm replaced it’s never done this before

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      March 2, 2020 at 9:33 am

      Hey Jay,

      It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint a cause over the internet but there are a couple of things you could check for.

      First off, did you get an alignment done after your new parts were installed? An alignment could possibly fix your problem but not guaranteed.

      Second, are you positive about the fitment of the part? If you had the part put on at a shop this is unlikely, but there can be differences between control arms for different years of the same model.

      Lastly, any looseness in the ball joint or bushings can cause vibration, but again, with a new arm this one is unlikely unless you won the lemon lottery with your control arm.

      Again, without seeing the vehicle or more information it’s hard to say, but if you haven’t had an alignment done that would be a good first step. If you have any other questions or developments let us know and here’s hoping you get the vibration sorted.

      Reply
  6. Dane
    Dane
    May 20, 2020 at 1:30 am

    can this cause my wheel to come completely off while driving

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      May 20, 2020 at 8:37 am

      Hey Dane,

      Short answer is yes, it is possible for a wheel to detach from the control arm if the ball joint fails completely.

      Most front suspension systems work something like this:
      wheel hub > steering knuckle > upper/lower control arms > frame

      If the ball joint that connects the knuckle to one of the control arm fails completely then the knuckle can separate from the control arm and this can happen while driving. This may not cause the wheel to come off completely but it will definitely require a tow truck.

      Checking the ball joints at every oil change or at least at the first sign of symptoms is recommended.

      Thanks for the question Dane.

      Reply
  7. Jason Penn
    Jason Penn
    December 23, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    Could a worn out control arm bushing cause loud squeaking when parked and pushing down on the fender to “bounce” the suspension? The noise sounds like it’s coming from that area behind the shock, and only on one side of the Jeep. I replaced the shock and that wasn’t it. Short of lifting the upper control arm off the axle bushing and retesting for the squeak, I really don’t know how else to diagnose where the noise can be coming from. The motor mount is in the general area of the noise too, I sprayed each part (bushing) individually with silicone to try and isolate it, but no luck.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      December 31, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Hey Jason,

      If you can bounce the vehicle enough to cause suspension movement then you can get some movement in the control arms, as you say though, it’s going to be hard to zero in on the problem that way. A worn control arm bushing generally presents as a ‘clunk’ as the arm moves in the bracket.

      Best low-key option would be getting someone to do the bouncing while you watch/listen to the area, assuming there is plenty of clearance (safety first). Squeaking could be different things so catching it in the act is going to be your best bet.

      Good luck tracking down that squeak.

      Reply
  8. Matt
    Matt
    April 13, 2021 at 7:18 am

    what about a bumpy ride at lower speeds and an annoying vibration at high speeds accelerating/coasting and BOTH felt in driver seat? All wheels and tires have been deemed good and balanced too.

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      April 15, 2021 at 10:58 am

      Hey Matt,

      Without more info about the vehicle we can’t really say definitively what the problem might be, but what you’re describing could be control arms, ball joints, or control arm bushings. There are absolutely other components that could cause those symptoms, but if you can’t find visual or manual evidence of wear or damage then you probably need to have a mechanic look at the vehicle.

      Hope you find the culprit.

      Reply
  9. Ben
    Ben
    July 2, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    When my passenger side tires go over uneven road and bumps, it feels like the rear of the car is sliding outward thus wanting to steer me into oncoming traffic

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      July 9, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Sheesh Ben, get that vehicle to a mechanic. Sounds like some control arm or wheel issues that definitely needs to be checked out.

      Reply
  10. Autrey
    Autrey
    August 1, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    What could cause a 2002 cavalier 2.2 automatic the steering just want to lead off no noise or anything just tries to lead off I’ve replaced the strut on it recently due to the strut got bent in a vehicle accident

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      August 5, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Hey Autrey,

      That sounds like an alignment issue that’s affecting the angles of the wheels. Having an alignment done is a good first step, but if you’ve done that and the problem persists there’s likely something wrong. Going off what you’re describing it could be the control arms or the steering components, but you won’t know for sure without a mechanic taking a look at it.

      Hope you can get it sorted out.

      Reply
  11. shawn patton
    shawn patton
    August 6, 2021 at 2:03 am

    What could cause my passenger side wheel to stick out a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch more from the front fender than my drivers side?

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      August 11, 2021 at 9:45 am

      Hey Shawn,

      Could be several things and without seeing the vehicle it’s impossible to say for sure but a good first step would be getting an alignment. If the problem persists checking the tie rods and control arms is a good next move but if the alignment doesn’t do the trick having a trusted mechanic look it over is going to be the best bet.

      Reply
  12. Ionut Pandea Dobrin
    Ionut Pandea Dobrin
    January 27, 2022 at 3:38 pm

    I have a Suzuki Swift 2006. I changed the top mount struts and the track control arms on both sides.
    Because I heard a strange noise I also changed: Tie rod and track rod end; anti roll bar links
    After that it happens something strange and still I can’t find the issue.
    When I turn right the car, the left wheel is moving and shacking all the car. The same when I turn left for the right wheel.
    Please tell me if is possible that the suspension arm to be different and to not fit 100% to my car even if on the site they said it fits mycar.
    Could be the position of the ball joint to be different?
    Regards,
    John

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      January 31, 2022 at 8:35 am

      Hey John,

      First off, that sounds really dangerous so getting that vehicle to a mechanic you trust is priority one!

      As to your question: If you could let us know a brand and part number for the control arm we could find out if the fitment is correct or not. You can ask here or give us a call or message us. Is it a ‘Swift’ or a ‘Swift+’?

      If this is happening after you had the tie rod ends changed that could be the issue, but it could just as easily be an issue with the control arms. Without seeing the vehicle first-hand it’s really impossible to say.

      Manually checking the components for looseness or unusual wear is a good first step, but in the end I wouldn’t drive it further than a good mechanic. Here is some more information on bad tie rod ends that you might find useful.

      Hope this is helpful and feel free to reach out for more information.

      Reply
  13. Ana
    Ana
    January 30, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    i took my car to the dealership for an oil change [2010 prius] & was told i had a front lower control arm torn. The car has not made any noises, no vibrations, nothing that is different in the handling of the car at all. Is it possible that it could be torn without any noises/vibrations/or anything else that is indicative of bad lower control arm? or are they just trying to dupe me into work??

    Reply
    • Josh Daniels
      Josh Daniels • Post Author •
      February 1, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      Hey Ana,

      If there were control arm component damage to the extent that you could see it you would very likely notice some difference in the way the vehicle handles. That said, without looking at the arm we can’t say one way or the other. Getting a second opinion from a trusted mechanic is going to be your best bet.

      If they said “torn” in relation to a control arm that likely means the bushings or possibly the dust boot on the ball joint. A torn bushing should be replaced but if the ball joint is fine then you don’t need to replace the whole arm. A torn dust boot on the ball joint could mean you need to replace the ball joint entirely if the tear allowed debris or dirt into the ball and socket portion of the joint, especially for a sealed ball joint. If it is a small puncture that would not let debris in then you could replace the dust boot and see if any ball joint problems develop later.

      Bottom line: there could be a problem at the earliest stages that might not cause handling symptoms, but we would suggest having another mechanic take a look if you don’t notice any difference in vehicle handling.

      Hope you get it squared away.

      Reply

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