Control arm bearing troubles... - Honda Prelude Forum

SLICK96 · 04-22-2003, 07:29 PM

Whatup, guys?! Well, in the three years I've owned my 96, I've replaced both control arms once, due to control arm bearing/bushing failure. It's been a year since I replaced the right control arm, and the bearing/bushing has failed onced again. Does anybody out there go through these bearings or bushings once a year, like I do? I've talked w/ Ronnie (Sik96prelude) about this, but he can't figure out why.

I have koni yellows, and neuspeed sports, along w/ the old Neuspeed THICK swaybars. My first known problem is that, after three years of driving on the same suspension setup, my left side sits lower than the right side, and I'm sure it's just b/c I'm mostly the only person ever in the car, unless I'm cruising w/ somebody, so the driver's side is just naturally more compressed. Anybody have this situation? I'm thinking that, after three years of hard driving and having an EXTREMELY stiff car, I need to buy new struts and/or springs. What are your thoughts? My second known problem is that I bottom out ALL OF THE TIME, and I'm not even on the bottom perches of my Konis (2nd from bottom all around).

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated--I already know I'm going to have to put some money and time into making my suspension nice again.

Thanks,
J

j_t_heilbrun · 04-22-2003, 08:04 PM

I'm guessing your talking about the lower control arm bushing that mounts to the subframe. If so have you tried urethane bushings?

SLICK96 · 04-22-2003, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by j_t_heilbrun
I'm guessing your talking about the lower control arm bushing that mounts to the subframe. If so have you tried urethane bushings?

Nah, this is the upper control arm I'm talking about. The rubber boot around the bearing/bushing is torn, and it's greasy as hell, so I guess it is a bearing. Is it safe to drive around w/ one of these blown? As I've said, I've had blown upper control arm bearings blown before, and one time, I drove around for months, before I could afford to fix it. I know it'll cost about 300 bones to do...

J

dublued · 04-22-2003, 08:11 PM

i have a similar problem... the right front of my car sits lower than the other side. i've come to the realization that the previous owner had gotten in some sort of accident on the front passenger side and screwed up the frame. this is also what the alignment guy has told me today. look into the history of your car if u aren't the original owner.

j_t_heilbrun · 04-22-2003, 08:35 PM

are you talking about the ball joint???

something similar to this??

that is my adjustable ball joint (aka camber kit)

SLICK96 · 04-22-2003, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by j_t_heilbrun
are you talking about the ball joint???

something similar to this??

that is my adjustable ball joint (aka camber kit)

Yup, that's it--the frontmost joint. ON my car, the progress camber kit is composed of the two parts in the back of the picture (two red prongs). But yeah, that part in the dead center of the screen is what has blown on my car. The popping noise it makes is horrible. How long can I go on this, as I can't afford 300 bones right now? I might just buy the part and attempt to do it myself. Any ideas on parts cost for just the bearing or the whole control arm?

J

j_t_heilbrun · 04-22-2003, 10:28 PM

I didn't think you would have to replace the whole arm but I just check my NAPA book and saw that's the only way it's available. The NAPA number is a 1014617 for the left and 1014618 for the right (Beck Arnley). Or you can get adjustable ball joints for around $60-70.

dublued · 04-22-2003, 10:37 PM

i paid 30 bucks at local junkyard for control arm.

SLICK96 · 04-23-2003, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dublued
i paid 30 bucks at local junkyard for control arm.

I just moved back down to SoCal... Any good recommendations for honda-friendly junkyards near Torrance?

Thanks,
J

dublued · 04-23-2003, 12:38 PM

yea, it's called Honda-Acura Palace... it is in Los Angeles, maybe 20 mins or less from torrance. when i went to get mine, they gave me one for the accord, so make sure you take your old one and see if it is the same.

www.honda-acura.com
go to the contact page and get their address from there... they have decent pricing... and all the parts are already pulled, so no need to bring tools or anything.

SLICK96 · 04-23-2003, 01:14 PM

Nice! I'll have to check them for other parts, b/c J_T is helping price a new control arm.

What about the other questions, guys? Does anybody tear through these things as often as I do? What could I be doing wrong? Why do I bottom out all the time w/ Konis that aren't blown?

J

93si4ws · 04-23-2003, 01:45 PM

never been in an accident? possibly bent some suspension components from bottoming out so much. in turn changing the geometry of the original suspensions design. the balljoint might not be sitting directly on to of the knuckle as it should. maybe the lower control arm or subframe is bent making hte knuckle out of center having the balljoint bang on an angle all the time. maybe you have extreme caster.

if you have the old arm look at the balljoint. is the opening ovaled in anyway? some forensics might be able to tell you if the knuckle is off on an undesirable angle

SLICK96 · 04-23-2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 93si4ws
never been in an accident? possibly bent some suspension components from bottoming out so much. in turn changing the geometry of the original suspensions design. the balljoint might not be sitting directly on to of the knuckle as it should. maybe the lower control arm or subframe is bent making hte knuckle out of center having the balljoint bang on an angle all the time. maybe you have extreme caster.

if you have the old arm look at the balljoint. is the opening ovaled in anyway? some forensics might be able to tell you if the knuckle is off on an undesirable angle

Whenever I've had Honda look at it, or alignment shops, to align the wheels or replace the control arm(s), they've always told me that everything else looked just fine (and Honda is ALWAYS trying to tell us that things are wrong to make more money on unnecessary repairs).

J