3rd Gen Dakota 2005 - 2011 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 3rd Gen Dakota.

Replace lower control arm bushings or whole control arm?

  #1  
Old 02-18-2011, 07:48 AM
motodeficient's Avatar
motodeficient
motodeficient is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Replace lower control arm bushings or whole control arm?

When I replaced the front shocks on my 05 last spring, the lower control arm bushings that the shock goes through were completly junk. I have put it off long enough and its time to get it fixed. Do I definitely need to replace the whole control arm or is there a chance that the shop might be able to replace just the bushings? I can get both lower control arms complete with upper ball joints from Rockauto for $300 shipped.
 
  #2  
Old 02-18-2011, 07:59 AM
Eimer123's Avatar
Eimer123
Eimer123 is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Noblesville Indiana
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I have only found the lower control arm with the bushing, I think they might be pressed in
 
  #3  
Old 02-18-2011, 08:04 AM
motodeficient's Avatar
motodeficient
motodeficient is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Ok, thanks. Placing order now. I wonder how much the shop will charge me to get these things installed?
 
  #4  
Old 02-18-2011, 10:34 AM
Eimer123's Avatar
Eimer123
Eimer123 is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Noblesville Indiana
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Well its will probably cost a pretty penny, since they are going to have to pull the entire front end back apart. This would be a good time to switch to greasable joints, since you might want to realign the truck afterwords anyways.
 
  #5  
Old 02-18-2011, 01:38 PM
donkeypunch's Avatar
donkeypunch
donkeypunch is offline
King Jackass
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Eimer123
Well its will probably cost a pretty penny, since they are going to have to pull the entire front end back apart. This would be a good time to switch to greasable joints, since you might want to realign the truck afterwords anyways.
Who sells these greasable joints?
 
  #6  
Old 02-18-2011, 02:25 PM
rengnath's Avatar
rengnath
rengnath is offline
Champion
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Greenfield, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, the shop I went to for my struts said if the bushings woulve been bad, they wouldve had to buy a whole new control arm.

I thought Moogs were greasable, but mine arent. Maybe you need to get a more expensive one?
 
  #7  
Old 02-18-2011, 02:54 PM
jkeaton's Avatar
jkeaton
jkeaton is offline
DF Admin
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Posts: 27,729
Received 334 Likes on 298 Posts
Default

Is this the bushings where the control arm attaches to the frame or where the strut bolt goes through?
 
  #8  
Old 02-18-2011, 02:55 PM
motodeficient's Avatar
motodeficient
motodeficient is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Where the lower strut bolt goes through.
 
  #9  
Old 02-18-2011, 03:02 PM
jkeaton's Avatar
jkeaton
jkeaton is offline
DF Admin
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Posts: 27,729
Received 334 Likes on 298 Posts
Default

seems a shame to have to replace an entire control arm just for a bushing, but I cant find lower ones anywhere.
 
  #10  
Old 02-18-2011, 03:11 PM
motodeficient's Avatar
motodeficient
motodeficient is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I don't think the bushing would every come out of the control arm anyway.
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Replace lower control arm bushings or whole control arm?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:04 PM.