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For the driver side, it is about 1.5 hours of labor to change the control arm and/or bushing (since th bushing is in the control arm). For the right side, it is about 2 hours of labor. So, the cost depends directly on the hourly labor rate charged by your shop. For example, at $50 an hour (good price these days), if they were to do BOTH sides, the labor cost would be $175. The control arm bushings are about $25 each (per side). And, the Control Arm itself, if you needed to replace it (very unlikely unless the car was in a wreck), is about $80.
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Check out both operations
generally the parts plus the labor time , whether you do it or not , against the replacement arm assembly makes the new arm a better idea considering the time off the road if you do it your self as well
what make and model and year vehicle
if it is a suzuki grand vitara , $120.00 a side gets complete lower control arms complete with new bushes and 1 hour to do both sides
it is always best to get the replacement cost for the assembly as well as the bushing prices because the labor cost to remove , replace the bushes and then replace could be more that the assembly
go after market as the parts are still oem without the hefty price tag
You don't need any control arm bushings to replace your ball joints. They bolt to the end of the control arm and to the hub assembly. Generally just 4 bolts to remove them.
To access the upper control arm,
remove the shock absorber and the strut bar. Also, disconnect the sway
bar from the lower control arm, if your particular Ram model is equipped
with it. After that, you can hold the coil spring in place with a
spring compressor.
Secure the wheel hub assembly to the chassis using a wire before you
disconnect the upper ball joint. This will prevent damage to the brake
hose. When ready, release the ball joint using a ball-stud loosening
tool (see Resources).
The upper control arm mounts to the chassis with a cam bolt assembly.
Once removed, you can place the control arm on a vise and remove the
bushings using a bushing service tool (see Resources). When installing
the new bushings, do not use any lubricant but make sure the flange on
the bushing end seats properly on the arm bore. Then re-install the
upper control arm. When finished, take your Dodge vehicle to a good shop
to align the front suspension.
Lower Control Arm Bushings
Remove the shock absorber and
strut bar. If your particular model is equipped with a sway bar,
disconnect it from the lower control arm.
Secure the coil spring with a spring compressor and release the lower
ball joint from the wheel/hub assembly using a ball stud loosening tool
(see Resources).
Now you can release the lower control arm by removing the rear
mounting bolts. Remove the bushings with a bushing service tool (see
Resources). When installing the new bushings, do not use lubricant and
make sure they seat properly on the control arm bore. Then replace the
lower control arm. When finished, take your Dodge vehicle to a good shop
to align the front suspension
To properly replace control arm bushings the lower control arm has to come off the car and the bushings need to be pressed out and the new ones pressed in. If you don't have accesss to a press, it's probably best to let them do it. That sounds like a pretty reasonable price to do both sides. Hope this helps.
general repairs for the 02 c-class are thrust arm bushing and or the thrust arm itself, on the 02 e-class its the lower control arm bushings and the lower ball joints. brakes need replacing about every 12k-15k miles. c-class has a lot of problems with the battery going dead due to a voltage drain from either the seat control modules to the overhead control panel.
Here are the instruction on how to replace your control arm bushing. please not that there is a special tool needed that you will need to get from you auto parts retailer. you can usually rent these tools.
Turn the control arm over in the arbor press, then position the
arm so that it is supported by the receiver tool MB-990799 as shown.
Position the new bushing into the control arm so it is square
with the bushing hole. Position the installer tool MB-6644-1 or
equivalent on top of the bushing, with the bushing setting in the
recessed area of the installer tool. Press the bushing into the control
arm.
Press the control arm bushing
into the control arm until the installer tool squarely bottoms against
the surface of the control arm. When the installer tool squarely bottoms
on the control arm, the bushing is installed in the arm in the correct
position.
Install the tension strut into the strut bushing in the control
arm. Position the tension strut in the control arm with the word FRONT
stamped in the tension strut positioned away from the control arm. With
an open end wrench on the flat of the tension strut to stop the tension
strut from turning. Tighten the NEW tension strut-to-control arm
retaining nut to 110 ft. lbs. (150 Nm).
Install the lower control arm and tension strut back onto the
vehicle. Refer to the Lower Control Arm procedure earlier in this
section.
Control Arm-to-Tension Strut Bushing
To replace the control arm tension strut bushing,
the control arm and tension strut assembly must be removed. The removal
of the bushing requires the use of an arbor press.
Thoroughly lubricate the replacement tension strut bushing,
control arm and installer tool 6644-3 or equivalent with a silicone
lubricant.
By hand, install the tension strut bushing into the large end of
the installer tool. Press the bushing into the installer tool as far as
it will go by hand.
Position the control arm in the arbor press so that the tension
strut hole in the control arm is centered on the receiver tool MB-990799
or equivalent. Position the installer tool with the previously
installed bushing, inside of the tension strut bushing hole in the
control arm. Position the installer tool on top of the tension strut
bushing. Using the arbor press, press the tension strut bushing into the
control arm. As the bushing is being pressed into the arm, a pop will
be heard. When the pop is heard, the installer tool will slightly move
up off the control arm. At this time remove the control arm assembly
from the press and pull the tool MB-6644-3 off of the tension strut
bushing in the control arm.
Do not disassemble the upper arm. If the ball joint or bushings are faulty, or the upper arm is damaged, the entire upper arm must be replaced.
Raise and support the vehicle safely.
Remove the front wheels. Support the lower control arm assembly with a floor jack.
Separate the upper ball joint from the steering knuckle using a ball joint separator tool.
Remove the self-locking nuts from the upper arm anchor bolts. Remove the upper arm from the vehicle.
Do not disassemble the upper arm. If the ball joint or bushings are faulty, or the upper arm is damaged, the entire upper arm must be replaced. To install: Use new self-locking nuts when installing the upper arm and strut.
Install the upper control arm assembly into the strut tower.
Connect the upper ball joint.
Install the front wheels and lower the vehicle.
With all four of the vehicle's wheels on the ground, torque the upper control arm nuts to 47 ft. lbs. (65 Nm). Torque the castle nut to 32 ft. lbs. (44 Nm); then, only tighten it enough to install a new cotter pin.
Tighten the wheel nuts to 80 ft. lbs. (110 Nm).
Check and adjust the vehicle's front end alignment.
The bushings on the front lower control arms are replaceable on most models. This procedure requires the use of a press and may be above the skill range of the average driveway enthusiast. It is recommended that this procedure be done by a qualified machine shop if you are not skilled in the proper use of a press.
Remove the lower control arm that is in need of new bushings.
It is recommended that both the left and right lower control arm bushings be replaced at the same time. The vehicles handling may become unstable if there are new bushings on one side of the car and worn ones on the other.
Set up the control arm in a press.
Using a impact socket of the correct length and size, press out the old bushing.
Install the new bushing by slowly using the press to push it into the control arm.
WARNINGExcessive force could cause the bushing to bend or tear so be careful.
Once the bushing is properly seated in the control arm, remove the arm from the press and install it on the vehicle.
Yes, you DO need a special tool to properly install the bushings, but you might be able to improvise a bushing screw-press with some allthread, nuts, fat washers, and some appropriately sized pipe section or sockets, one wide enough to accept the bushing for engaging the control arm, the other small enough to fully engage the bushing head.
Lubricate the bushing with silicone grease, run the allthread (double nutted securely in place at the end) through (in this order) a large washer, the larger diameter pipe section, the control arm bushing mounting hole, the new bushing center hole, the smaller diameter pipe section, washers large enough to fully engage the smaller pipe section, and finally attach another nut to hold the whole thing together. Holding the double nutted end, tighten the other nut to slowly compress the new bushing into the control arm.
Some guys do it with sockets and big hammers, but they generally end up with damaged bushings and smashed fingers!
Hope this helps and good luck!
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