Control Arm Replacement Cost

The control arm assembly, a part which connects to your car’s suspension to the wheels via the ball joint and to the car’s frame via the bushings, one for every wheel, is responsible for synchronizing all four wheels, while, at the same time, keeps the car going steady.  If this part were to become damaged or bent, the wheels will no longer be in “sync,” creating a rocky ride.

Today, most vehicles will have two control arms in the front suspension, often referred to as lower control arms, but some cars, such as the Honda Accord, for example, have four control arms — two lower arms and two upper arms.

“E30 control arm bushings installed and r” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by mathrock

How much does it cost to replace a control arm?

The cost of a control arm replacement, as with any car repair, will greatly depend on the car you drive, the parts used, your mechanic or choice and your geographic location.  From our research, the average professional repair costs, including parts, will be in the $175 to $425 range.   Keep in mind that this is the price for the control arm only and will not include additional parts if needed.

See our table below to see what the most popular car makes and models may cost you:

NOTE:  These were quotes we received when talking with mechanics across the United States.  We only called and asked what it would cost to replace the control arm assembly.

BuyAutoParts.com notes the part alone if the arm needs to be replaced; however, if you were to purchase an entire control arm kit, then the costs could be closer to $100 to $250+.

On this Acurazine.com forum thread, a member was quoted $360 to $450 to replace to two lower control arm bushings and an alignment.

A member on this BlazerForum.com thread said he was quoted $387 for the parts and another $625 for the labor.  For this price, this included the control arms, ball joints and alignment.  If we took just the quote for the control arm, his total would have been $50 per control arm

The extra costs to think about

In most cases, a mechanic, if performing this repair, will often want to replace the bushings and ball joints as these parts will often be part of a kit while swapping out a new control arm assembly.  If you do decide to follow through with this type of repair, it can cost an additional $225.

Other costs, often associated with the control arm assembly, as per RepairPal.com, can include the following:

What exactly is the control arm assembly?

Inside a car, the control arm set, which consists of the lower and upper arm, will connect the car’s front suspension to the frame of the car.  This part, connects via the wheels through to the ball joints, eventually to the frame through the bushings.  In most cars, especially those found on a car lot today, will have the control arm assembly located on the front side of the car, but in some cases, it can be found in the back, albeit rare.

The control arm repair process

In order to check the control arm to confirm it’s faulty, the car must first be lifted in order to look beneath the car with ease.  To confirm a faulty part, a mechanic will push down at one corner of the vehicle to see how the suspension reacts.  During this time, a faulty or damaged control arm may show up since it determines the position of the wheel.

Once lifted and it’s confirmed the part is, indeed, faulty, then the front wheels will be removed, followed by disconnecting the control arm where the bushes join the sway bar.  Next, the lower ball joint is removed from the wheel and steering knuckle, and the control arm is then removed via bolts from the frame.  At this time, the mechanic will also inspect the related components, such as the ball joints, tie rod ends and sway bar links, to see if they need to be replaced.  The new control arm will be fitted and the wheels will be re-installed, followed by a realignment.  Lastly, the mechanic will take the car for a short test drive to ensure the car rides smoothly.

The labor time, depending on the vehicle classification, can take anywhere from one to three labor hours.

Common symptoms of a faulty control arm

A loud banging-like noise when either driving over a bump and/or turning the car.

The wheel assembly will shake, vibrate or move while driving.

The steering wheel feels as if it isn’t attached to the console correctly.

The tires look worn and/or are wearing out faster than they should be.

An annoying-like squeak each time the car goes over a bump in the road.

What happens if control arm breaks while driving?

If a control arm were to break while driving, it could lead to a catastrophic accident as you are no longer able to control the car because, as mentioned, the balljoint, which would pop out due to the broken control arm, wouldn’t allow you to control the wheels.  In other words, imagine if the wheels were pointing in the opposite direction as you intended or in a worst-case scenario, coming off the car entirely.  If going 70+ miles per hour on the highway, this would create quite the scene.

Tips to know

As there is not “set” timeframe as to when this part should be replaced, mechanics recommend checking your owner’s manual as all cars vary.  Since the bushings can wear out at about 100,000 miles, this is the time you should plan on replacing the part, especially if the car rides on rougher-than-average roads.  The control arm, in a lot of cases, can last the lifetime of the vehicle unless it was heavily damaged due to a pothole or car accident.

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