Lower control arm bushings - 98 Tacoma SR5 4WD

Can lower control arm bushings be replaced? My Toyota dealer wants to charge me $1,500+, which I think they are quoting me replacing both control arms rather than just the worn out bushings. Truck has 216,000 miles on it - still in awesome condition. Please advise...thanks guys

Chuck

 

Yep.

Plenty of threads on this; shops, and dealers even, try to replace the entire LCA out of laziness.

There are a few options out there but the way I went about it was with Whiteline bushings.

Popped out the factory worn bushings using the factory bottle jack, and slid the new ones in with a ton of Superlube.

You can knock it out yourself if you're mechanically inclined.

 

Yes, they can be replaced.

Before you jump into it, you should know it's possible it will turn into a huge pain. I've done it and encountered some of what I'm describing below.

The issues is related to the OEM LCA bushing. The bushing is rubber, but the outside and inside both have metal skins. These skins are in constant contact with the LCA and the LCA adjustment bolts. This given plenty of opportunity for these parts to rust together. This isn't the end of the world, but it does turn an easy job into a bit of a nightmare.

If you're going to try and do it, make sure you have the following handy.

• Propane/MAP/OXY torch
• High quality recip saw metal cutting blades
• Air chisel

Once you've disconnected everything from the LCA except the adjusters...

• The 1st step is to see if your camber adjuster bolts move. If they do, at least one interface isn't rusted up.
• Remove the bolts. If they don't move, you'll have to get a recip saw in between the LCA and the frame and cut the bolt out on both sides.
• Removal of the rear bolt may require moving the steering rack.
• Once the bolts are out, the LCA will drop out of the vehicle.
• Once they're out, check to see if the bushing will slide out of the LCA. If not, get a bottle jack, and try and press it out. Careful not to use enough force to deform the LCA.
• If the bushing doesn't come out of the LCA, it's rusted in. This is where it can get nasty.
• 1st try heat and pressure. Try not to melt the bushing rubber yet.
• If it doesn't move, start to melt out the rubber and try pushing with the jack.
• If it doesn't move, removal all the rubber, then get the saw and chisel, and start to remove the bushing sleeve in pieces. Careful not to destroy the LCA while you're cutting/chiseling the bushing out. It's not a fun job and it'll take at least 30 minutes per sleeve.
• Eventually you'll get the bushing sleeve out. Clean things up as best you can, the grease the LCA and install a new bushing. Grease the adjuster and install. Make sure to periodically grease things down there to avoid ever having to repeat this job.

 

It comes down to labor !

Depending just where your truck has lived changing the bushings might end up more expensive then swapping in new Control arms with the bushings installed.

In more then one case I have seen the control arms damaged trying to press bushings out broken and Seized and Cam Bolts all kinds of unplanned damage .

Those in the Sunny Dry Southwest have it easy .

Myself if mine need changed no thought I would go with new ones or buy used ones and refurbish them and be ready to go.

 

There's a Timmy The Toolman youtube video showing how to do it
with a vise and a hydraulic jack... I know someone who bent their
LCA instead of popping out the bushing, but it works great in the video...

-Mike