5 Signs That Your Control/Suspension Arm Bushing Is Failing

 Every vehicle has control arm bushings at the joints between the upper and lower control arms and the vehicle's frame, just like every skeletal system has cartilage to cushion and align bones at a joint.

These bushings are made up of a rubber or polyurethane cylinder bonded to a bigger and smaller metal cylinder on the outside and interior, respectively.

The control arms are the metal parts that join the vehicle's chassis to the steering knuckle, which is where the wheels and tyres are attached. These are essential for the vehicle's steering and suspension.

If you go online and complete a MOT history check for your car, you will realise that one of the common reasons for MOT test to fail is due to failing bushings of a car.

Majority of front-wheel-drive economy cars have only lower control arms, whereas other cars and bigger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, have both upper and lower control arms in a double-wishbone suspension assembly.

A ball joint connects the end of the control arms to the steering knuckle, allowing turning actions to be transferred to the wheels. When a control arm bushing is worn out or damaged, it can have a significant impact on how your vehicle operates.

Check MOT history of your car online to see if a faulty suspension system component was the cause of a previous failure and if the proper actions were taken to resolve the issue.

5 Indications That Your Suspension/Control Arm Bushing Is Worn

The control arm bushings, like most other elements of your car, will wear out over time. Harsh driving circumstances, such as off-roading, environmental concerns, or driving with aftermarket tyres, such as "plus-sized" tyres, can all accelerate tyre wear.

Because they feature a short sidewall to fit over a rim with a wider diameter, these tyres carry more vibrations to the bushings.

When bushings start to wear out, you should expect a slew of issues when driving. If you see any of the symptoms listed below, look for car garages in Reading online and make an appointment to get your car repaired with immediate effect to avoid further suspension components failing. The following are some of the most prevalent indications:

1.      Increased Vibrations in the Steering Wheel - When a control arm bushing on your car starts to fail, the first symptom you'll notice is likely increased vibrations in the steering wheel. When you accelerate, the vibrations usually intensify, which can rapidly become annoying. This is due to the system's extra play, which causes unsteady wheels.

2.      Clunking/Banging Sounds - When the control arm bushings become too loose or worn, a clunking sound will be heard from underneath your automobile, produced by the bushing being banged between the frame and the control arm. If you're travelling over rocky or rugged terrain, this sound will get louder, but even little bumps or heavy braking might generate the pounding noise.

3.      Steering Wander - Misalignment caused by worn bushings can cause a steering wheel to pull to the left or right while driving. Because bushings keep the car frame and control arm in place, defective bushings allow for abnormal and excessive motion in the system, causing the wheels to misalign. Even if worn bushings create suspension misalignment, an alignment will not work if worn bushings are the cause since the components will not retain position. When you are next online looking for garages in Reading to perform a routine service for your car, request the mechanic to check the bushings for damage or abnormal movement while the car is on the lift or jacks.

4.      Uneven Tyre Wear – Check your vehicle's tyre tread on a regular basis for uneven tread wear. This problem usually implies a problem with the alignment, which, as previously stated, might be influenced by worn bushings. When a car is professionally aligned, it can show "normal" or "within range" parameters but still have uneven tyre wear.

5.      Unstable Braking - Suspension arm bushings aren't involved directly in the braking system, but any weakness in the suspension and steering components can cause braking issues. When braking abruptly, the car's front end may continue to vibrate back and forth as it slows.