Keeping Yourself in Suspension (Control Arm Assembly Replacement)
September 29, 2024
When you are pointing your vehicle straight down the street, it should go straight. That’s pretty straightforward, right? Sometimes, though, you may notice you have to keep adjusting the steering wheel to keep going straight. While that could be caused by many different issues, one possibility is that you have a failing or bent control arm.
Another sign is that when you brake, your vehicle pulls to one side or the other. Sometimes your suspension may sound noisy, especially when you’re traveling on rough surfaces. A damaged control arm may also make it almost impossible for you to get a good wheel alignment.
The control arms are part of your suspension, and some vehicles have upper control arms and lower control arms. Not all have the same number of control arms, but one thing is important: If you have worn bushings on your control arms or a worn-out ball joint, the control arm on the other side should also be replaced. The rubber bushings are susceptible to damage from age and exposure to the elements, and ball joints usually shouldn’t be replaced separately.
Any time you have a suspension issue, it’s important that a technician inspects the other parts of your suspension as well. If one part of it is showing its age, it’s not unusual for other components to show similar wear.
One other thing. If you’ve had one of your control arms bent or damaged in an accident, you must have it replaced. Your suspension is an important part of your vehicle’s safety and handling, so you should keep it in good operating condition. After all, your life is riding on it, literally.
Perfect Tune Auto Repair
5434 S. Old US Highway 23
Brighton, Michigan 48116
810.227.9903
http://www.perfecttuneautorepair.com
Need Service?
More articles from Perfect Tune Auto Repair

What's in a Number? (What Tire Numbers Mean)
June 9, 2025
You've probably never paid much attention to the writing on the sides of your tires, but they contain a wealth of information. There's a long combination of letters and numbers that can tell you a whole lot about what tires your vehicle was designed to be riding on. Let's check out this example... More

Smooth Operator (Shocks and Struts)
June 2, 2025
Few of us ever drive somewhere without encountering some pretty rough roads, and it's amazing how well our vehicles are able to smooth out the ride. Thank your shocks and struts. The two parts are similar. Some cars have shocks in the rear, and struts in the front. Others have struts all around... More

How Tired Are Your Tires? (Tire replacement)
May 26, 2025
Of the things you think about most, your tires are probably pretty far down the list. Thats understandable because todays tires are engineered to do their job without needing you to pay too much attention to them. But they DO wear out, and worn tires can contribute to skidding in bad weather, not... More