Suspension
Control Arms
Control arms locate the wheel and connect it to the chassis through bushes and ball joints.
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What it does
- Hold the wheel in the correct position
- Carry braking and cornering loads
- Use rubber or fluid-filled bushes to absorb vibration
When it fails
- Clunking over bumps
- Steering wander
- Wandering under braking
- Uneven tire wear
How to diagnose
- Pry the arm to feel for bush play
- Inspect the bushes for cracks
- Check the ball joint for play
- Check alignment after replacement
Maintenance
- Replace worn bushes and arms
- Torque with the suspension loaded
- Align the wheels afterwards
Use the diagnosis order. When a part fails, confirm each hypothesis with measurements before replacing anything — codes and symptoms overlap.
Related part
Ball Joints
Ball joints connect the control arms to the steering knuckle so the wheel can steer and move.