Nissan Control Arm

If you have noticed a change in the way your vehicle handles, perhaps the rough roads and winter potholes have taken their toll on the Nissan control arm. The Nissan control arm is an important component in the complex suspension system that protects your vehicle from the bumps and vibrations of the road. Along with the many other suspension parts, the Nissan control arm helps to absorb the impact and vibration before it reaches the body of the vehicle to cause damage. The Nissan control arm helps to keep the front-end tight and well aligned, which assists in keeping the steering and handling of the vehicle stable and agile, and helps to avoid uneven wear of the front tires. There is both an upper and lower Nissan control arm at each wheel of the vehicle. The Nissan control arm is equipped with a rubber bushing at each pivot point, helping its ability to cushion the vehicle from road vibration, as well as preventing friction and wear as the Nissan control arm moves against other suspension parts. These bushings are prone to wear over time, the miles and elements taking their toll, damaging or wearing away the rubber to cause the occasional need for replacement. A hard jolt from a particularly large pothole can bend the Nissan control arm, or simple wear and tear can cause damage, making your vehicle handle poorly. We have a selection of quality Nissan control arm replacements in our online catalog, all at great prices. Our expert customer service makes it fast and easy to order your Nissan control arm, whether using our secure site or our toll-free phone line.

The control arm is that part of the suspension system that forms the letter A. Your Nissan car has several of which, and the main purpose is to connect the top and bottom parts of the wheel spindles so that changing directions can be done without the fuss. Apart from providing support to the wheels, the Nissan control arm also makes your ride smoother. And since this part commonly endures whatever weight is loaded onto the vehicle, it is likely to suffer from wear and tear. It is high time you inspect the control arm once you hear some clunking or popping noise as you go over bumps, or even as you accelerate or slow down. If such is the case, here is a comprehensive guide to help you inspect and fix your Nissan's defective control arm.

Difficulty level: Moderate

Things you'll need:

• Ball joint separator and press
• Ball peen hammer
• Pry bar
• Torque wrench
• Tire iron or breaker bar
• Jack

Step 1: Securely park your vehicle on flat surface and ensure the parking brake is on. Loosen all lug nuts on the wheels with a tire iron or breaker bar. Just loosen but don't remove yet. Then, lift the vehicle using a floor jack, making sure all sides are secured by the jack stands in place.

Step 2: Once all jack stands are securely in place, it is time you remove all lug nuts and the four wheels. As soon as you have removed the cotton pins and pinch bolts, detach the ball joint from its knuckle using the ball joint separator. By this time, removing the Nissan control arm mounting bolts and the control arm itself would be easy.

Step 3: Inspect the condition of the control arm. Does it appear bent? If so, do you recall any instance when either the front or rear wheels collided on something solid with such great impact? Look at the ball point. Is it permanently pressed into the entirety of the control arm? This could be the cause of the thumping noise as well as sloppy steering. You may use the torque wrench to put it back in place. How about the bushings? Does it appear corroded, worn out or dislocated? If dislocated, you can fix its position so that it allows the wheel to smoothly move up and down as the vehicle goes over bumps and dips on the road. You may likewise lubricate said part to make sure it functions smoothly.

Step 4: Make crucial decisions. Not all control arm problems can be quickly fixed. There may be cases of worn-out and bent control arms that could go beyond repair. If replacement is essential, don't hesitate to do so. You can always consult a professional Nissan mechanic and shop for affordable but reliable replacement parts.

Step 5: Depending on the actual condition of the control arm, make sure you put everything back in place to avoid causing untoward incident whether to yourself or to other people.

Whether you simply need to inspect or apply some quick fix on your Nissan control arm, you need to be knowledgeable and at the same time patient when taking on the task. Replacement needs should also be addressed accordingly to avoid compromising driving safety.