Sup, i got a question regarding control arms, i took my car to a local shop for an alignment and he said my front control arm (MR162804 / MR162803) were "dry" and needs replaced, and apparently alignment is pointless without fixing them first, do i need the straight or curve ones..thanks for all your help..im trying to get them online cus at the shop they'r selling it for $350 way too much i.m.o

Sounds like your alignment shop is trying to make some dollars off you by telling you you need to buy the entire control arm assembly, when all you really need is the ball joints. I would try to source the ball joints online or somewhere else and then see what they can do for you.

Ball joints will run you about 30 a piece if you can find them. you need to have a machine shop press them into your existing control arms. Other than that, the entire assembly can be had for about 150 a piece on ebay.

yeah.. is there a way to that i can check myself if its the actual arms or just the ball joints,, cus he said i had to changed everything cus the "computer" showed him. but he nver showed me anything.. the car does shake when i above 50, but wanted to check at home first.. thanks again

Unless the arms are bent you can replace the ball joints. I replaced my entire upper control arms because it was easy. Two bolts and it was done.

Advanced auto tried to scam me out of $350 per side too.


"we can't sell you the ball joints"

"why not?"

"you have to buy the entire control arm"

"why?"

"i dont know"

"how much is it"

"$350"

"cough. What?"

"how much are your tie rod ends then?"

I still haven't replaced my ball joints or tie rods......

Well some of those prices are outrageous for the suspension stuff. I have replaced all 8 ball joints on my car this year. For those who are interested the prices are as follows:

Upper Control Arms: $175/side at AutoZone
Adjustable Upper Control Arms: $458 shipped from RRE
Lower Later Control Arms: $75/side at O'Reilly's
Lower Compression Arms: $178/side shipped from autopartswarehouse.com or $200/side at Advance Auto Parts
Rear Toe Control Arm: $26/side at Satan

That is not a typo on the rear toe control arms. They are $26 for the arms and balljoints at Satan. I was completely blown away by how cheap they were.

nice refrence table there freelance!

You can replace your own upper ball joints if you have tools and a press. I made a write up awhile ago but no one looked at it.

I'll bump it.