Control arms, OEM vs aftermarket

[Bottom_Feeder]

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[SC Maintenance]

Also what I'm thinking. They really should have lasted longer than this so trying something else may not really be much of a gamble.

Whatever you decide make sure to keep the old part, maybe you can scrape the gold plating off or something.

I would also love to know if there is anything special about it.

 

[nthach]

Ball joints are not part of the assembly

Weird, most of the aftermarket options for Japanese cars include them. I refuse to install them.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Weird, most of the aftermarket options for Japanese cars include them. I refuse to install them.

They are pressed into the knuckles, just bolted to the control arms. The inverse of many designs

 

[nthach]

They are pressed into the knuckles, just bolted to the control arms. The inverse of many designs

Ah. My mistake. I’m too used to the Toyota/Subaru world where a ball joint is included with the arm if it’s an aftermarket one. Exceptions if it’s OE or a truck.

 

[tblt44]

Moog are ok.
I used there premium can't for my upper control arm 4/23 y

 

[TiGeo]

I just put some NAPA LCAs on my son's Focus. Includes the BJs on those. Were v. nice looking units and were about $150 ea. Also tossed in some adjustable camber bushings "while I was there" .

 

[wlk]

I've had good luck w Mevotech Supremes control arms for my Honda and Sankia 555 ball joints.

 

[edyvw]

Also what I'm thinking. They really should have lasted longer than this so trying something else may not really be much of a gamble.

They should not.
Honda has crisper handling than competition (Toyota). It is still simple set up. So, they make bushings stiffer. That has its consequences, it doesn’t last as some others. 91k is IMO good run for Honda, that has simple set up plus is front heavy.
Price is on other hand, 2X the price of OE control arm for BMW, with ball joint.

 

[TiGeo]

I can tell you which not to get

 

[duck__dodgers]

(side note: control arms on a (owned since day 1) 2020 CRV needed replacement at 99,000 miles...but I attributed it to the roads and moonscape around me....it may also be Honda OEM penny-pinching. replaced with Moog, but it's only been 1,000 miles on the new arms)

see what is the OEM price from hondapartsguy dot com. The are a real Honda dealer in AL. Dunno their story: if they drop-ship or fulfill orders when the parts dept. is slow.

I've used them. 100% satisfied but delivery is 10 to 14 business days.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I've had great luck with Dorman on my 13' CRV AWD in the front. They've been on vehicle for 60k. No signs of dry rot from the bushings, and I'm in the salt belt. ( NY ) Yes, they are steel. I was disappointed in their paint job. Really thin and cheesy paint. Welding looked good though..... So, before installation, I re-painted them with some left over caliper paint that I over-ordered. Thankfully, it was black paint. I did the best I could getting inside the arms thru whatever holes I could find. Let it cure for 3 days. So far, so good. No rust coming from the inside, yet. OEM is the way to go, but I got sticker shock.

 

[Donald]

Have you tried to find OEM online? For Ford at least there are several dealers across the county that sell parts online at a discount. I suspect other vehicle brands have similar.

 

[willbur]

Some cars are like that. Again, owning five Volvos with the same chassis, I have around million miles experience with that particular suspension.

Generally, Volvo OEM bushings last about 80-100,000 miles. I’ve done two complete suspension rebuilds on the V70XC. It has 308,000 miles. The bushings are soft, so that the ride is compliant. The engine mounts are also equally soft, and some of them need replacement at similar mileage.

Mevotech lasts about 10,000 miles.

Can you add up the cost of an alignment that is necessary after replacing bushings, it starts to get pretty expensive to use Mevotech unless you’re dumping the car under a year, and you want to foist your problems onto someone else.

I just had this conversation with an independent garage up in Denver, where I keep one of the cars, they will only use Volvo OEM suspension parts. They’ve had terrible luck with every other aftermarket supplier. Volvo OEM wears out 100,000 miles, but that’s several times longer, and results in happier customers, than the other brands.

Thank you for the info. My understanding is that the top line Mevotech parts are pretty good, actually. Yes?

 

[Astro14]

Thank you for the info. My understanding is that the top line Mevotech parts are pretty good, actually. Yes?

I don’t have the experience to say yes or no. I would have to rely on someone who has used them.

 

[IndyIan]

I just put some NAPA LCAs on my son's Focus. Includes the BJs on those. Were v. nice looking units and were about $150 ea. Also tossed in some adjustable camber bushings "while I was there" .

Yes I've found the mid-level suspension stuff at most parts stores will last 80-90-100k miles. TBH I've never even considered OEM or bothered to get price for them, but I guess will at least call next time.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

What's the deal with Moog lately? I've used Moog on occasion and always felt they were top-notch. I just put new Moog rear swaybar links on my car and they still have nice zerk fittings installed and everything and are more more stout than OEM.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I have no problems with MOOG. Nice, beefy sway bar links,with the grease fittings, AND you can put a wrench on the back of it to get them off ! Unlike other ones that are round, then you gotta try vice grips, and propane, the whole bit. Sway bay bushings are good too. Ball joints are even better. They have ones that are called " The problem solver". They don't leak grease !!!! It's amazing !!!! And they have grease fittings on them too. Gotta watch sometimes with the fittings. Found quite a few loose. Just need to tighten them up a bit. And, the only other problem I found is that the links are not painted. So, I paint them with some caliper paint to keep them from rusting. I have no complaints about MOOG products.

 

[Gwiz]

I had a local mechanic replaced a lower control arm on my civic 10 years ago using an aftermarket brand and it's still working fine to this day. I never asked him what brand though in hindsight.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Well, that doesn't help much. But, if the shop is reputable, they put in a decent aftermarket control arm. Good shops don't like when their cuustomer's come back after a repair.