Lower control arm bushes. Am I being fleeced?

[99superduty Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 99superduty]

Glad I saw this thread....Just took my GX470 to an indy shop here (toyota/lexus EXPERTS so they say) and I got the same, "have to replace the whole LCA" Well I balked at it and they said they would "inspect" it and let me know what they find. Well lucky me it was just grease coming out of the joint from being overfilled and not cleaned up, joint was fine. I'm going to file this away for when I need it in the future. Thanks!

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Bit late now but I just found a complete front end bush kit in amongst my "miscellaneous" stock (forgotten and lost stuff!) Could have done you a great "Dusty Box" deal!

Mick

I might be interested in that. Something to stash ready, when the time comes.

Any more details?

[OziOffroad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OziOffroad]

Hi,

I actually have two sets. I thought it was a box per side but it's in fact two complete kits. I chucked them up on Ebay and on my website. Not something I normally sell or keep in stock, I would have got them for someone when they were buying other items.

Take a look and let me know, I'll do a better price for PP members (besides; I like a haggle)

Can't comment on the brand as I've never used them myself but they are made in the USA which is better than China I guess.


Mick

I might be interested in that. Something to stash ready, when the time comes.

Any more details?

[kevdebbi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kevdebbi]

I have recently replaced the bushes in my lower control arms with Whiteline bushes and found them to give a great ride. Below are some pictures of how I removed my bushes, I did have to use the press to put the new bushes in. I think the kit was around $220. I also changed the upper control arms to SPC arms. Now I have heaps of wheel alignment adjustment and Highly recommend them.

[Vk3zgw Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vk3zgw]

2010 GXL Prado lower arms replaced

I just been told that my lower control arm bushes are worn and that both arms are to be replaced as the bushes can't be changed out by themselves. I note from the thread that a 2010 model isn't mentioned.

Price for both $700 plus labour!!!!! This is after 150km, no off road other than some occasional dirt road work. Previous owner (Brother inlaw) did city only no 4WD.

All sounds a bit sus to me. Anyone know if the 2010 model has to have the arms changed?

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

I just been told that my lower control arm bushes are worn and that both arms are to be replaced as the bushes can't be changed out by themselves. I note from the thread that a 2010 model isn't mentioned.

Price for both $700 plus labour!!!!! This is after 150km, no off road other than some occasional dirt road work. Previous owner (Brother inlaw) did city only no 4WD.

All sounds a bit sus to me. Anyone know if the 2010 model has to have the arms changed?

Hey,

That is nonsense, the bushes can be changed out. See here for what I did recently on my 120;

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...r-control-arms

I replaced my siezed up gear with genuine Toyota rubber bushes, so was on the spenno side, around $700 in cams and bushes. Aside from pressing in the new bushes, I did everything in my tiny garage at home, you can save yourself a lot of bucks!

Aside from a bit of grunting to get the big bushes out, this is a big but straight forward job. If your cam sleeves aren't siezed, the job will be much easier as you won't have to cut the arms out.

The 150 lower arm is the same as the 120 arm except it has a wider strut bush cradle to accommodate a longer 150 sized crush tube.

Bush removal and re-installation will be the same.

Good luck with getting it sorted!

Best

Mark

[sunny120 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sunny120]

150 bushes are also bigger than 120.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

150 bushes are also bigger than 120.

Hey,

Do you mean the lower arm 150 bushes are bigger?

Best

Mark

[Vk3zgw Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vk3zgw]

OK...the word from the Pedders people to my service people is that the 150 series lower bushes are not available. Uppers are eg Whiteline. Hence the complete arm change for lower arm bush replacements.

If anyone has a part number for lower 150 series control arm bushes I'd loved to know.

I still think 150K is too low for a bush to flog out, except of course if you drive up gutters or something.


Geoff

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

OK...the word from the Pedders people to my service people is that the 150 series lower bushes are not available. Uppers are eg Whiteline. Hence the complete arm change for lower arm bush replacements.

If anyone has a part number for lower 150 series control arm bushes I'd loved to know.

I still think 150K is too low for a bush to flog out, except of course if you drive up gutters or something.


Geoff

Hey Geoff,

I would bypass Pedders and call Toyota parts about rubber bushes. Fulcrum have standard and caster offset urethane Superpro bushes if you're happy to try urethane.

Best

Mark

[turtlewa Member Find all posts View Profile Close turtlewa]

Get a second opinion from another mechanic before committing $$

[Guest Close Guest]

If they are that pricey, get the whole assembly (genuine) from UAE.

[Vk3zgw Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vk3zgw]

Superpro have the bushes kit for the 150 series lower control arms, complete with fitting instructions on their web site. Bursons sell them for $280 and Superpro estimate 4 hours to fit all four bushes.

This will be the conversation I will have with my service people tomorrow.

I rang another service centre that services 4WD's and got a quote to fit Toyota part number bushes for just over $1100. Includes labour. I said that's dearer than replacing the arms.

Hard to have confidence in motor servicing organisations with such wide differences in doing the same job.

Geoff

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Superpro have the bushes kit for the 150 series lower control arms, complete with fitting instructions on their web site. Bursons sell them for $280 and Superpro estimate 4 hours to fit all four bushes.

This will be the conversation I will have with my service people tomorrow.

I rang another service centre that services 4WD's and got a quote to fit Toyota part number bushes for just over $1100. Includes labour. I said that's dearer than replacing the arms.

Hard to have confidence in motor servicing organisations with such wide differences in doing the same job.

Geoff

Hey Geoff,

I paid around $760 for all genuine Toyota bushes, cams, bolts and nuts. 4 hours to remove and re-fit lower arms with new bushes is a conservative estimate and assumes a lot doesn't go wrong!

When I enquired, genuine Toyota OEM brand spanking new lower 120 arms (which come with the bushes) were $1150+GST each, so $2530 in total!

$1100 fitted with genuine Toyota bushes is actually a pretty decent price, and looks to have around a standard $85/hour fitting fee attached to it.

Best

Mark

[Vk3zgw Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vk3zgw]

Thanks Mark. Something doesn't sound right with what I've been told by the company doing my service. Anyway, all will be revealed tomorrow.

I see on this thread that others have had the bushes change at 130k. Mine is at 150k which still seems low to have these flog out, but hey maybe that's reality with Toyotas.

Geoff