Lower Control Arms

[Foggy]

SO I'm thinkin it's getting time for a front susp refresh. I've got 140K on the clock. I have
zero issues now, so it's just a preventative maintenance thing... Going to do struts, springs,
UCA's, Tie Rods, Etc
But what do you think about the LCA's...???? Should I just get new assemblies??? Or reuse
my OE and put in new ball joints and bushings?
And how hard is it going to be doing the bushings Or even necessary ???
Thanks

 

[swathdiver]

If you replace the ball joints only you still have old bushings unless you replace them too. All that work and tools and aggravation is more than a new OE control arm.

I did save my old ones, thinking I'd replace the wear items and have them ready in ten years but now they're getting closer and closer to the garbage. Same with my old calipers, springs, front diff mounts, etc.!

 

[strutaeng]

Ditto on the bushings or just a new LCA with everything.

Although I would say 140k is kinda low for a complete rebuild, no? My 99 Silverado got a front end rebuild at 260k. Everything was original except for shocks. I would jack up the front and do the "shake" test first before starting to replace things.

And also ditto on a lot of aftermarket parts not being as good as what comes originally with your truck, sometimes even the better brands that are supposed to be OEM.

 

[B-train]

I say OEM on the components. Aftermarket has become such chit over the past few years. If the LCA ball joint doesn't have any play, let it be. They last a long time, but depending on the roads and environment, 140k is about the time that play starts to show up. I ran mine with minimal play overlanding for thousands of miles - no change upon return with an additional 15k of road miles. They are durable.

However, I opted to replace the aluminum ones on my 2008 yukon when it had about 175k on them - a small amount of play in the ball joint but nothing serious. I spent the $800 to get OE ones from rock auto. I kept the OG ones in case I wanted to do as @swathdiver did, but who knows if they will be used again. My 2017 has almost 170k on the original ones with just a slight amount of play noticed on the last alignment - gonna run these to over 200k I'm sure.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Purchase the entire control arm, complete with ball joint and bushings. The cost differential is NOT worth the PAI involved with changing out sub-components. I would recommend OEM control arms, as well.

Go to GMPartsDirect.com, enter your VIN, go to the Suspension section, and look for the exploded diagram of the suspension co0mponents. You should find what you are looking for along with the correct part numbers. And, the cost will be significantly cheaper than the local dealer.

 

[Foggy]

Ditto on the bushings or just a new LCA with everything.

Although I would say 140k is kinda low for a complete rebuild, no? My 99 Silverado got a front end rebuild at 260k. Everything was original except for shocks. I would jack up the front and do the "shake" test first before starting to replace things.

And also ditto on a lot of aftermarket parts not being as good as what comes originally with your truck, sometimes even the better brands that are supposed to be OEM.

I was thinking it's about time for struts.. So usually I'll do the whole darn thing
at once. But maybe in this case I'll do just the struts and maybe tie rods??
If I do the whole thing, I'm thinking about going to the all aluminum route and
Petethepug did with his suspension thread...
If I just stay with my 2014 OE design, I'll prob do the Mevotech TTX line of
control arms & Tie rods......
I found a decent deal on my Z55 front struts, so that's what has me "thinking"
it out so much...
Maybe I'll just pick up the struts and put em on the shelf for a bit.... But they
have only 30 day warranty so it's like rolling the dice !!