Lower Control Arm Bushings and Alignment, how do they relate?

[Times]

This Saturday, I had new tires put on my car.

The whole experience SUCKED.

Not only did the shop tell me I couldn't put the tires I reserved to put on my car but their mechanic seemed like a total money grubbing idiot. I ended up with a set of Falken tires.

They told me that they couldn't couldn't do an alignment because my control arm was bad. I informed the mechanic that I had just replaced the control arm, and then he changed his story and told me the bushings were bad, and that I had to get special parts ordered from Tischers and that this shop would install them and then I could have the alignment done....

He had the car up on a full lift, tires chocked, and was pushing on the car showing me how the front tires moved when he pushed it...which to me, if the car is level and you push it, it'll move. Yes, I know I'm a chick but, WTF man---I know what I did, and I know that this situation wasn't making sense. I then had a salesman in my face between me the mechanic and my car---about five seconds from ripping the guys face off. Am I a total noob missing something, from control arm to bushings? How do the bushings effect the alignment. Today, I checked for rips and tears in the bushing, general wear, it doesn't look like it, checked for play in the tire when I had it up on a jackstand. The mechanics story changed, and really it would have been a hella lot easier to say the tire rods were FUBAR.

Needless to say I need an alignment---yes Andy I'd love to see your mech but my schedule doesn't work with the shops.

So tomorrow I'm going to go see if the shop down the street from work can help me out---I was hoping someone might be able to shine some light on this though.

Sadly, the flippin' mech also managed to bust one of the new rocker molding clips that I JUST replaced.

[Xenocide]

control arm bushings don't affect alignment really, they just help locate the arm properly during suspension movement. If they are destroyed yes your alignment could be effected, but you would have noticed steering issues way before that. Your tie rod COULD be bad, but sounds like you need another opinion, these guys were not honest if they are changing their story.

You very well may need control arm bushings though, they are a common maintenance item but even if you change them after your alignment you will not need to get your car re-aligned.

[tiFreak]

I think the bushings are pressed into the control arm, when you get a new control it would come with new bushings

I think, so someone correct me if I'm wrong

[Xenocide]

no the control arm bushing is not part of the control arm, the arm sits inside the bushing and helps locate the arm during suspension movement.

Control Arm Bushing is #5, Control Arm is #3.

The Bushing is pressed inside inside the Lollipop (#4) which is bolted to the body. The end of the arm is then pushed into the bushing

[tiFreak]

ok, I wasn't sure but I've gotten control arms for other cars with the bushings already in, never mind then

[Times]

Nah, the tire rods aren't bad, I was just trying to use that as an example of things that make more sense to say ARE bad to get people to panic and get "fixed".

The car just passed state inspection and I think the mech would have told me if something else were wrong as he told me that the lower control arm was bad and I had to replace that already. They were just trying to get me to spend more money...which makes me SO MAD...OMG...I just really don't want to slack on the alignment.

[adamud]

I was told that before I got my alignment at Baron BMW the LCAB needed to be replaced. This was coming from my closest family friend that has only owned BMW's and has worked at Baron BMW for 10+ years as the head service tech. I know he wouldn't get false advice to me or anyone.
It may not affect the alignment drastically, but personally I wouldn't take the chance of having to get a second alignment. And if you haven't replaced your LCAB, it may be a good time to do it anyways. Rubber doesn't get better as time goes on...

I would highly recommend getting a new mechanic to

[Xenocide]

Yes it is a good thing to replace before you do your alignment, mainly because the car is up in the air and your working in that area. But you can replace it without changing the alignment.

[marleymon]

the CAB will also need to be pressed onto the end of the arm as well.
the cab effects the castor measurement so I'd stay with a solid, centered bushing.

don't feel bad times, I have 4 sisters...one in DC, and it burns me how often shops try to rip them off.

[Bluebimma]

I work on cars all day and bmws for the past 4 years, the control arm bushing is a factor of your alignment. MOST shops refuse alignment on excessively worn or broken front suspension parts because it doesnt gaurantee an alignment once you take it off the rack. Youre also supposed to have 150lbs in every seat and in the trunk for proper alignment but i HIGHLY doubt anyone actually does it the correct way. If your control arm bushings are original, change them out to solid centered m3 bushings. Dont upgrade to solid offset because you dont have m3 struts, sway bars, strut hats, nor uhubs to create the correct geometry to run an m3 setup and have it aligned to spec.

If theyre old, torn, or starting to crack, replace them. If you dont want to nor have the money, go to another shop. This is only a bushing, not an arm. Order two bushings or new control arm bushing mounts with new bushings already installed.

Also, control arm bushings regulate Caster, camber, and toe, they ARE a vital piece.

[mohaughn]

It doesn't sound like anything fishy to me. If your control arms were worn out and needed to be replaced, the bushings should have been replaced at the same time.

If the mechanic didn't know that the control arms were new, a problem in the CAB, could easily look like a control arm problem. It is either play in the ball joint, or play in the bushing.

The inspection mechanic was just telling you that you had play/movement in your control arm, obviously, replacing just the control arm hasn't fixed the problem yet.

[Times]

The truth----

So I just got the car back from the mechanic that works on our fleet vehicles...he was really nice, and basically said that the car is over 10 years old...so there are lots of things that need work. Eh, already knew that was going to happen.

He told me I need to look into replacing the rack...

He also told me NEVER LET THOSE OTHER MECHANICS EVER TOUCH MY CAR AGAIN. No problem. EVERY tire was inflated to a different pressure, and that the rear two were over inflated by 20psi. Additionally, he said that the car NEVER went in for an alignment...the tire rods were locked in place, and they had to take a torch to them...which is probably why the other shop didn't want to do the alignment...

So, I told him, I'd see him in about 2 months for another alignment. Looks like I'm going to be doing some more work in the near future on the car after all...

[Bluebimma]

Whats wrong with your rack? There is a lot of misdiagnostics on our racks when "play" is involved. Unless its leaking, check the Ujoints in the steering assembly, they wear out and cause a lot of sloppiness.

Also, taking a torch to tie rods and any other adjustment factors on a car is very easy to do and most shop love busting out the torches. Make sure youre looking at this car yourself to see whats going on. I dont think your mechanic is dumb nor lower than me, but misdiagnosis on these cars isnt out of the ordinary.

[Times]

I haven't had time to check the rack yet. It's just what was mentioned to me yesterday when I picked up the car. I plan on taking another look---probably not until later this week when thing settle down a bit.

I don't think that they really minded using the torch, it's just something he mentioned. Plus the $3 shop charge for having to use the torch (no biggie.) The other shop had a bunch of twits working the lifts.

If I had the sort of money to just throw the car into the shop every time someone told me something was wrong...I would have replaced the control arm about 3 times by now...the same, new one.

He wasn't intent on doing the repairs---which is part of the reason I sort of trust more what he says. He knows I'm a DIY with mechanic supervision---it's more strenuous suggestion.

Thanks for the heads up on the seals and joints.

[MPWR]

I said he was good, but I didn't say he was convenient.

Out of curiosity, how is it that the bushings weren't replaced when the control arms were replaced?

Come out to the next CCA DIY. We can take a good look at the rack, and anything else that must/should/can be done.