i do mostly highway driving with fair amount of towing in summer. are lower control arm upgrades even needed? i stuck a pry bar in my stock control arms and get just a wee bit of movement but of course a little is ok, afterall they are rubber bushings. they should last forever shouldnt they?is it even worth the $120 upgrade to energy bushings??anyone with input would be appreciated.besides that i need 4 bolts and they r like $50 each for the cam style. isnt that highway rape/robbery?

 

I was concerned about the factory rubber bushing in the OEM control arms, both upper and lower. My vehicle is stock height with stock wheels & tires with 95% of my driving on highway. The other 5% is either sand or snow. I looked into Thuren & Spohn and ultimately decided on the Spohn arms as they were less expensive and stock length. The Thuren control arms are 1/2" longer.

Once I removed the OEM control arms I was surprised about the good condition of the factory rubber. Yes there has to be a little give in the bushing otherwise the ride would be bone jarring with vibration in the steering wheel.

If you vehicle tracks down the road properly, you are not experiencing excessive vibration, the dreaded "Death Wobble", or the front end clunking under heavy braking I would stay with the stock control arms. Should you decide to replace the control arms replace all four not just the lower ones.

Good luck!!!!

L8r,..........dogger

 

How many miles on the truck? What is the condition of the arms themselves? Because they are hollow, water collects in there and rust takes over. Particularly on the pass side where the AC drain drips. I've seen a few threads were a CA let go on the road because it just rusted out. If I was going to be in there to change out bushings, I'd probably just throw new arms in there altogether (even if staying with factory arms).

Is the truck stock height? If it is lifted you should consider the 1/2" longer units. They will recenter the axle in the wheel well. The axle moves in an arc to the frame being attached by the CAs. Lift springs/spacers, the steering linkage and track bar pull the axle around.