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Dealer says need lower control arms $1040

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by goldfinger, Dec 19, 2014.

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  1. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    I just got off the phone with the dealer. I had my car in for a wheel bearing, actually it's second one. The passenger side went at 94k, and now the drivers side at 138k. Anyway, he called to tell me I need new lower control arm assemblies. The technician said that the control arms are resting on the frame. I pressed for a little more detail and it seems the bushings are worn out, but you can't replace those. He wants $1040 for both sides plus I'll need an alignmant.

    I need to seek a second opinion and a better price. Can anyone tell me a realistic price using after market parts?

    Also, what's up with this car? I've had two Civics over 170k and never replaced a wheeling bearing or a bushing. Is this normal for the Prius?
     
    #1 goldfinger, Dec 19, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    at 138k, it's reasonable to think the suspension parts are worn. There have been numerous reports of wheel bearings going out. Maybe the cold weather/snow has something to do with it.

    It may be time to invest into replacement suspension parts....shop around for the best prices.
     
    #2 JC91006, Dec 19, 2014
  3. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Most indépendant mechanics can do this job, and I imagine most of them will be cheaper than the dealership, plus in never hurts to get a second opinion.
     
    #3 Munpot42, Dec 19, 2014
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I suggest you ask to be shown the issue and take good photos of the bushings. I had not heard about this as a problem before.

    If you are going to be in there, I suggest replacing the front struts.

    The price sounds high, it certainly would be advisable to seek another opinion and a quote if the issue is confirmed.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Dec 19, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    any drivability issues? tyre wear? i would ignore it if not.
     
    #5 bisco, Dec 19, 2014
  6. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    Thanks everyone. I'm a few hours out from the phone call and have had a little time to process. Some internet searching shows I could buy aftermarket control arms for $40 - $50 each. Amazon even sells them. Finding a reputable garage to put them in shouldn't be too difficult.

    Good idea on the struts Patrick.

    Bisco, I have no driveability issues besides the screaming bearing sound for the last two weeks. Hopfully this is now fixed. The tire wear looks even, we looked at it today at the dealer. The dealer says its dangerous and I'll fail inspection which is due in February.

    I suspect this video shows my problem if in fact I do have one. You gotta love a good Scotty Kilmer video. He makes it look easy. Too bad I don't have a screw driver that big and its really cold where I am.
    Replacing A Lower Control Arm:
     
    #6 goldfinger, Dec 19, 2014
    audiodave likes this.
  7. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    If they say its dangerous their talking
    About the lower ball joint which if bad
    Is very dangerous. If it fails the tire
    Collapses in the wheel well.

    The lower ball joint is part of the control arm.
    It can be replaced separately on the lower control
    Arm on a Prius.

    If the bushings are bad it will make a loud
    Clunk when u hit a bump but really not a safety issue.
    Not seen much discussion about lower arm bushing
    Failure on this
    Forum

    Be aware riding on worn out original struts in a city
    With really bad roads will accelerate suspension wear.
    Which infers the suspension front and
    Back is probably wupped....
    The car must ride pretty bad hits holes really hard?

    That and at your mileage probably needs brakes soon
    Also. The car could become a money pit
     
    #7 edthefox5, Dec 20, 2014
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    If you don't mind, what tire inflations do you typically run. Also, are there a lotta speed bumps in your area.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Dec 20, 2014
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i like scotty, i would give it the wiggle test.:p
     
    #9 bisco, Dec 20, 2014
  10. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    edthefox5, The dealer specifically said the ball joints were OK. Your right about Buffalo, its the pothole capital of the world. Your also right about the clunk. I guess this could have been detected sooner.

    I had the front brakes replaced last year. The rear coils and shocks were replaced two years ago as I had a broken coil.

    Mendel, I run my tires 2 psi over recommend.

    I'll question the dealer more when I pick it this afternoon. I think its pretty obvious that the diagnoses is correct. I just want a cheaper surgeon.
     
    #10 goldfinger, Dec 20, 2014
  11. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    In the UK the bushes are available as a separate items. The usual bush to fail is the larger one to the rear of the arm with the vertical fixing bolt. However the aftermarket complete arms at $50 probably makes the extra work not worth the effort to change the bushes.
    Here if a pothole damages your car the local authority responsible for the road can be made to pay for the repairs

    John (Britprius)
     
    #11 Britprius, Dec 20, 2014
  12. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    I vote for edthefox5 to be Poet Laureate of PriusChat :p
     
    #12 ftl, Dec 20, 2014
    SB6 and SageBrush like this.
  13. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    But it don't rhyme!
     
    #13 Yakoma, Dec 20, 2014
    SB6 likes this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, our government is not only not responsible, it's irresponsible.:cool:
     
    #14 bisco, Dec 20, 2014
  15. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    OK, got my car back, bearing noise is no more. Spoke to the service manager. He showed me on his computer the Toyota control arms are $240 each and the book says 3.6 hours labor. He padded the labor to 4 hours since everything is rusty. I showed him the Amazon part. He said if I brought it in he would use it, so there's a $400 saving right there. He also took the picture below. Awesome, thanks, I hadn't even asked.
    FullSizeRender.jpg
    You can see the big dounut bushing has dropped out. Here's what the new part looks like. This seems like a screwy design to me. The smaller bushing is oriented in the correct plane for suspension travel, but the big one is in torsion. No wonder it wears out.
    61dItpuynML._SL1500_.jpg
    I'm not sure on the 4 hour part. I'm going to price one repair shop and if they say 4 hours I'll go with the dealer. Also, the service manager didn't think I needed struts and there wouldn't be any labor savings by combing the jobs.

    Oh, and if you come to Buffalo here's what main st looks like. The wings are good though.
    IMG_20141220_145217.jpg
     
    #15 goldfinger, Dec 20, 2014
  16. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    Per that video you posted, that job looks easy enough. Find someone with a garage and a heater, DIY and save several hundred more bucks. And go buy one of those screwdrivers. Even if it costs $50 (probably not), it'll save you several hundred.
     
    #16 Yakoma, Dec 20, 2014
  17. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Free verse!
    (You get what you pay for).
     
    #17 ftl, Dec 20, 2014
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Oh man the LCA's
    Are so corroded the mount rotted out.
    That's a first

    Have not seen that yet here. the whole front end
    Must be rotted.
     
    #18 edthefox5, Dec 20, 2014
  19. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    The bushing that's twisted in the photo is mostly twisted because the car's on a lift and the arms are hanging down at their maximum extent. When the car's sitting on the ground it's a different situation.

    This looks like a legitimate assessment on the part of the service dept and it sounds as if they're willing to work with you (and provide a useful photo!).
     
    #19 css28, Dec 20, 2014
  20. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    With all due respect, 9 years service in Buffalo does result in chassis rust--but that just looks like the bushing has dis-bonded from the ring it's molded to. I replaced both lower control arms on one of my other cars at 9 years for the same issue.

    It's what I call a "comfort bushing" and absorbs impacts when the front wheel hits bumps.
    In my case I'd hear a crank or screech on bumps when mine went.
     
    #20 css28, Dec 20, 2014
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