1996 Ford Windstar Control Arm Replacement Cost

If the control arm on a vehicle is damaged in a crash or impact with a pothole or parking block, the suspension will be out of alignment and cause uneven tire wear and poor vehicle handling. The control arm should be replaced as soon as possible. If the control arm bushings are worn, the result will be an annoying squeak when the car goes over bumps. In this case, the car can be driven. But if the bushings wear out considerably, metal-on-metal contact may happen between the control arm and the bushing bracket. This can cause further suspension damage and the control arm or bushing should be replaced.

While there is no prescribed frequency for replacement of a control arm, the bushings may wear out and need to be replaced as a vehicle approaches 100k miles. Driving aggressively or over rough roads can decrease the lifespan of the control arm bushings.

A technician may diagnose a worn lower control arm during a test drive of the vehicle. The condition may also present itself during a bounce test, where the technician will press down firmly on one corner of the vehicle to bounce the suspension and pivot the control arms. A damaged or bent control arm may show up during a four wheel suspension alignment since the control arm determines the position and angle of the wheel.

A technician will replace a lower control arm by first lifting and supporting the vehicle in the air on a hoist and removing the wheel and tire. A lower control arm must be disconnected from the lower ball joint (attached to the steering knuckle) and from the vehicle frame or body. An upper control arm is disconnected from the strut tower on the body and from the top of the steering knuckle. Some control arms come with bushings permanently installed in them, while others require the bushings to be installed. It is common to replace related components - ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links - at the same time that a control arm is replaced.

RepairPal recommends inspecting (and replacing if necessary) the ball joint at the same time that the control arm is being replaced. Since the control arm determines the position of the wheel and tire, a four wheel alignment is also recommended after a control arm is replaced.

If a control arm is damaged, the suspension alignment will be compromised. In addition, rubber bushings are adversely affected by heat and by petroleum products (grease and oil). It is important to periodically inspect the control arm bushings to make sure they are free from grease or oil. Also, in order to replace a control arm, the vehicle needs to be safely raised and supported on a hoist or a jack and jack stands.

The wheel alignment should be checked after this repair which may be at additional cost and not included in the estimate.