Sorry for all the newb questions. I have been searching and can not find the right answer. I have seen that you can replace your lower ball joint but there are a lot of aftermarket companies offering the whole control arm with a new ball joint. What way would be better?

 

It depends on how much work you want to do. Replacing the LCA with the ball joint is a little faster and a little less work. Replacing only the ball joint is a little more work but is less expensive. It all depends on how you feel about it. I like to work on my car so I would replace only the ball joint.

 

well i have all the tools necessary just didnt know if the control arms were faulty or something crazy like that.

 

yours might be, we dont know. but its best to change out the whole assembly while your at it. preventative maintenance as we call it at the dealership.

 

Considering the age of our cars,if the control arm bushings have never been changed i would buy new control arms with balljoints if you can afford to... itll tighten up the front end alot more than a balljoint alone... just my opinion....and if youre really feelin froggy...buy some energy suspension bushings and immediately swap the control arm bushings too....but thats up to you i dont know if youre modding your car or if its stock...

 

this.

 

Ok guys appreciate all the input ordering my new front end kit this week... car has 254k and i dont think anything has ever been changed in the suspension so going be swapping out the entire front end and new shocks and springs all the way around...

 

Just dont buy them from Ebay.

 

Just replace the ball joint. buy a quality one, and don't go economy. I changed out mine few weeks back and was not too difficult. I borrowed the tool from local parts store, put down a $200 deposit and they gave back the $200 when I returned it. It's essentially free to rent, If you don't they keep the money, and you keep the tool.

Good luck.
Ken

 

Yea I would do control arms and bushings. Don't buy eBay control arms to many people have had bad experiences with them. Get stock controls arms (junkyard, forums etc) and do ES bushings should be good for a while. Oh and don't forget a alignment

 

Might as well do balljoints while your at it. Like someone mentioned you can rent a tool and do it yourself.

 

Ive never had a problem from ebay control arms or balljoint...you just gotta watch the seller...best bet tho is rockauto.com imo