Phoenix Control Arm Repair
If you’re getting a rough ride in Phoenix it may not be the potholes, it could mean it’s time for control arms and bushings. Control arms are an important component of your vehicle’s suspension. Control arms & bushings can wear down over time & need to be replaced. Many car owners may not have even heard of control arms until your mechanic tells you that you need new ones. But despite not being too well-known, control arms are a critical component of your car’s suspension that allow your wheels to go smoothly up & down. Without them, you might have a rough time riding over the potholes of Phoenix.
Control arms as per their name control the motion of the wheels so that they stay in line with the car’s body. Control arms connect the car’s suspension to the actual vehicle frame. They are connected to the frame by bushings (that generally will also need to be replaced) & attached to the suspension through the ball joint. This allows the vehicle to turn its wheel & pivot. The control arm assembly is triangular in shape with two bushings at each end and at the ball joint.
Most vehicles typically have two to four control arms depending on whether the vehicle’s suspension system has struts or shocks. Many of today’s cars only have control arms in the front suspension. Some vehicles have upper & lower control arms, although auto experts say most cars today only come with lower ones because of the way the strut assembly is designed. Cars with upper and lower control arms are called a double wishbone suspension, in which the arms work parallel to each other.
Like any vehicular component, control arms wear down & need to be replaced over time. Many control arm assemblies wear down every 90,000 to 100,000 miles. Control arms can bend or break when driving over large potholes or bumps, while bushings can also wear out on their own. Your tires may start to wear unevenly. Another sign that a control arm assembly may need to be replaced is if the steering wheel is vibrating or there is a banging or clunking noise while driving over bumps.
If you believe your vehicle’s control arms and bushings need service or are not sure and would like to have your car diagnosed, contact Perez Auto Repair online via phone 602-269-3576 or stop into our facility located at 429 S. 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009.