{"id":5854,"date":"2019-11-26T02:59:27","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T10:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=5854"},"modified":"2025-08-26T17:32:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T00:32:21","slug":"how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Diagnose a Faulty Control Arm"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5854_43d0d7-62 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-736f1a  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-051d6b\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading5854_280a72-a7\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You&rsquo;ll need to raise and support the vehicle safely to do control arm inspections. Don&rsquo;t forget to put on your safety glasses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect your control arm, bushings, and ball joints for any signs of damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also check your control arm bushing and ball joint for play.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On some cars, the bushings and joints are non-serviceable, meaning the entire control arm must be replaced when these items go bad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Control arms are basically just big hunks of metal. Unless they suffer impact damage from, say, a collision, they rarely fail. Instead, what usually require replacement are the bushings and ball joints that are built into the control arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On some cars, the bushings and joints are non-serviceable, meaning the entire control arm must be replaced when these items go bad. Other times, it&rsquo;s just more efficient to replace the entire control arm instead of the individual joints and bushings, which are often press-fit and difficult to remove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Front Control Arm Inspection Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a variety of ways you can check the control arms, control arm bushings, and ball joints for wear. Obviously, you&rsquo;ll need to raise and support the vehicle safely to perform most of these inspections. And don&rsquo;t forget to put on your safety glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> The following are general guidelines for educational and entertainment purposes only. Consult your vehicle&rsquo;s factory information for specific repair instructions and recommended safety procedures.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perform a Visual Inspection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to perform a visual inspection. Check the control arm itself for issues, such as cracks, distortion, and major rust damage. You&rsquo;ll also want to inspect the control arm bushings for tears and major cracks (minor weather checking is normal). Finally, check the ball joints for torn grease boots and other damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check the Control Arm Bushings for Play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Checking the control arm bushings is pretty easy. Place a pry bar on the control arm near the bushing. Then attempt to move the control arm back and forth (you may also want to try moving it downward, depending on the bushing design). Don&rsquo;t use a lot of force while doing this&mdash;be gentle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A slight amount of movement from a control arm with rubber bushings is normal. If, however, there&rsquo;s a significant amount of movement from the control arm, that&rsquo;s a good indication the bushing is worn and needs to be replaced. As a general rule of thumb, some experts say 1\/8&rdquo; of movement or more indicates a rubber control arm bushing is worn and should be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"rsi-card\">\n  <div class=\"rsi-thumb\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/d_noimage.jpg\/b_white\/e_sharpen,e_auto_brightness,e_auto_contrast\/f_auto\/q_auto:eco,dpr_auto\/w_873,h_873,c_pad\/images\/set-repc281511-4_1\">\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"rsi-info\">\n    <span class=\"rsi-title\">Best Brands for Control Arms<\/span>\n    <span class=\"rsi-desc\">See which brands carry the best control arms. Compare material, weigh pros and cons, check for warranty coverage, and select control arms that work best for you.<\/span>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/best-brands-for-control-arms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Discover Your Options\">Discover Your Options<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Also, in some instances, you may be able to spot bad control arm bushings with the vehicle on the ground. Have a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the control arm. If the bushings are worn enough, you may be able to see the arm and\/or bushings moving back and forth excessively.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-5856 size-large\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/control-arm-bushing.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">If there&rsquo;s a significant amount of movement from the control arm, that&rsquo;s a good indication the bushing is worn and needs to be replaced.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check the Ball Joints for Play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you&rsquo;ll want to check the ball joints for play. The formal method for this inspection varies a great deal, depending on the type of suspension your car has. Generally, the procedure involves checking the joint for radial (horizontal) and axial (vertical) play by pushing and prying on the wheel\/tire assembly. However, some automakers suggest you pull on the control arm itself. Consult your vehicle&rsquo;s factory repair information to determine what type of suspension your car has and how to properly check the ball joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a couple of other less formal methods you can use to check for ball joint play as well. The first technique requires the vehicle to be parked with all four wheels on the ground. Have a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the ball joint. In some cases, you&rsquo;ll be able to see excess radial play if the joint is worn enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another method I often use, which is, admittedly, somewhat unorthodox, requires a large set of slip-joint pliers. Carefully place the ball joint vertically between the jaws of the pliers and squeeze. You will see visible axial movement if the joint is worn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, some ball joints have built-in wear indicators. Measuring wear with this design is simple. With the vehicle on the ground, peek under the car. Check whether the wear indicator (the raised area around the grease fitting) is receded into the joint. If it is, the joint is worn and should be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Reliable Control Arms Shipped to Your Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Control arms are tough parts, but even they can wear out and fail if you push them hard enough. If you have a bad control arm on your hands, it&rsquo;s best to stop driving your car until you&rsquo;ve replaced the faulty part. Fortunately, CarParts.com makes it easy to find a suitable control arm, and we deliver your order straight to your doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> offers a wide selection of high-grade replacement parts and accessories, such as control arms. We operate several distribution centers in strategic locations, and the facility nearest you will process your order to save time. Furthermore, we streamline the search process for the control arm that fits your requirements and budget. Simply enter your car&rsquo;s details into our website&rsquo;s vehicle selector, and you&rsquo;ll find the most suitable products in our extensive catalog. If you have questions about our products, such as their price and fit, our customer service team is available 24\/7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what are you waiting for? Make CarParts.com your one-stop shop for dependable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/control-arm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"control arms\">control arms<\/a>, and enjoy great savings today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Products Mentioned in this Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"reusable-productlink\">\n\n<!-- start of editable content -->\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/ball-joint\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ball joint\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/repn282321_1\">\n<strong>Ball Joint<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/control-arm\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"control arm\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/rl28150010_1\">\n<strong>Control Arm<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/control-arm-bushing\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"control arm bushing\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/rm50510006_1\">\n<strong>Control Arm Bushing<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<!-- end of editable content -->\n\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Control arms are basically just big hunks of metal. Unless they suffer impact damage from, say, a collision, they rarely&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1643,"featured_media":5855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[993],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-5854","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"tag-control-arm","9":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Diagnose a Faulty Control Arm - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What usually require replacement in a control arm are the bushings and ball joints that are built into it. Here&#039;s how to diagnose a bad control arm.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Diagnose a Faulty Control Arm - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What usually require replacement in a control arm are the bushings and ball joints that are built into it. Here&#039;s how to diagnose a bad control arm.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-11-26T10:59:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-27T00:32:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-diagnose-bad-control-arm.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"733\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-control-arm\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1643\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. 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