Lower front control arms - how long should they last?

[Stephen120173]

Just had an MoT fail (major defect) due to the lower front control arms and the associated 3 bushings having excessive play.

The car os a 2.0 on 18s and is 12 years old and has 55k miles on the clock

Is this a normal period for them to last?

 

[colb]

Thats not bad, rubber in the bushes will never last on a car and the metal componant of them will of course be subject of wear, 55k miles and 12 years is good.

 

[Stephen120173]

Thanks - seems like the rear bushes on the front arms were replaced November 2018 and are marginal now after 12k miles.

 

[colb]

If that was the case it still seems reasonable rate of wear and tear

 

[Jakg]

Thanks - seems like the rear bushes on the front arms were replaced November 2018 and are marginal now after 12k miles.

That's a poor life, but not necessarily unexpected depending on the brand. What was fitted?

 

[Stephen120173]

Thanks - seems like the rear bushes on the front arms were replaced November 2018 and are marginal now after 12k miles.

That's a poor life, but not necessarily unexpected depending on the brand. What was fitted?

I don’t know as that was before I bought the car. If the rest of the lower control arm was shot replacing the rear bushes may have been a way for the previous owner to get it good enough to sell on.

I suppose if the other 2 bushings in the lower control arms were gone that would transfer all the load to the rear bushes and may result in accelerated wear.

 

[Stephen120173]

If that was the case it still seems reasonable rate of wear and tear

Thanks for your feedback. Good to know and feel a bit better about it now.

 

[yg54sg]

In the 16 years I’ve had mine I went through quite a few control arms up until I put Meyle hd on in 2012 , I’ve just replaced one in November that had a slight amount of play in the ball joint , would def recommend these. I think it largely depends on the roads you drive on , I’m sure our US friends could get 100k out of a pair , in sheffield I used to replace every couple of years until meyle HD as roads are shocking and run flats ( which I had early on ) prob accelerate it even more