Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Front lower A-arm bushing

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 18, 2013 | 01:17 PM
  #1  
TA_Freak's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
Default Front lower A-arm bushing

I've been chasing some front end issues. Lately the steering has been feeling weird and unstable especially on the highway when changing lanes. I've also been feeling some vertical play at times when the highway roads aren't smooth.

I may have found the culprit. The front L lower A-arm bushing (horiztontal) has pulled out about a 1/4". I also noticed that the bolt wasn't even torqued all the way. Thanks alignment shop. I pressed those in maybe a year ago.

What are my options ... pull and press in new bushings ... and another alignment?
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2013 | 05:43 PM
  #2  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

Since the bolt wasn't tightened properly the first time, you really don't know what your camber setting really is, so you'd need an alignment anyway. I'd be tempted to snug it up first, and see if it helps your situation. If it does, then pop a new bushing in, and take it to a REPUTABLE front end shop.
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2013 | 09:56 PM
  #3  
TA_Freak's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
Since the bolt wasn't tightened properly the first time, you really don't know what your camber setting really is, so you'd need an alignment anyway. I'd be tempted to snug it up first, and see if it helps your situation. If it does, then pop a new bushing in, and take it to a REPUTABLE front end shop.
That's exactly what I did - torque it down. I tell ya I don't know what's going on .... but I absolutely hate my suspension. It may come down the alignment.... it also could be the firestone firehawks ... which I hate as well. Hell ... I used to have a Pinto that felt better than this.
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2013 | 02:13 PM
  #4  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

Originally Posted by TA_Freak
That's exactly what I did - torque it down. I tell ya I don't know what's going on .... but I absolutely hate my suspension. It may come down the alignment.... it also could be the firestone firehawks ... which I hate as well. Hell ... I used to have a Pinto that felt better than this.
I wouldn't be so quick to blame the tires, as an out of alignment front end can make a car all squirrelly....
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2013 | 05:41 PM
  #5  
TA_Freak's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
Default

True ... it was one of those days that I was pissed at the TA. It was windy and on the highway was real work to keep the damn thing in it's lane. I need to find a decent alignment shop in Woodstock, GA that understands that a little toe-in is a good thing; two shops had me at a slight bit of toe-out which causes me to twitch the fricken wheel back and forth when on the highway.
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2013 | 06:32 AM
  #6  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

Originally Posted by TA_Freak
True ... it was one of those days that I was pissed at the TA. It was windy and on the highway was real work to keep the damn thing in it's lane. I need to find a decent alignment shop in Woodstock, GA that understands that a little toe-in is a good thing; two shops had me at a slight bit of toe-out which causes me to twitch the fricken wheel back and forth when on the highway.
As much as I used to trust the front end shop I've been going to for the last 30+ years, I think the new alignment machines are causing part of the problem. I feel this way for 2 reasons...First, the common reply to an alignment question is now, "Well it's in the green". And secondly, the "sharpies" doing the alignment know that the increments of being "in the green" are pretty small, so they think that all they need is to simply get in the green.

A particular customer, such as myself, is still able to tell the difference between being "right on the money", and simply "in the green". And it annoys the crap out of me when I want .2* of toe-IN, for road feel, and NOT 2* of toe-OUT, simply because a little toe-out is still within the accepted range. I paid my money and didn't argue about it, so I want what I want......

If I was 20 years younger, thus being able to get my money's worth of use from it, I'd be looking at buying my own front end machine!!
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2013 | 01:29 AM
  #7  
joecar's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
Default

My tire/alignment shop dials in the settings I specify, they let me sit with the alignment technician and give him directions.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2013 | 08:16 AM
  #8  
trans_am7935's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 3
From: Glen Burnie, MD
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
As much as I used to trust the front end shop I've been going to for the last 30+ years, I think the new alignment machines are causing part of the problem. I feel this way for 2 reasons...First, the common reply to an alignment question is now, "Well it's in the green". And secondly, the "sharpies" doing the alignment know that the increments of being "in the green" are pretty small, so they think that all they need is to simply get in the green.

A particular customer, such as myself, is still able to tell the difference between being "right on the money", and simply "in the green". And it annoys the crap out of me when I want .2* of toe-IN, for road feel, and NOT 2* of toe-OUT, simply because a little toe-out is still within the accepted range. I paid my money and didn't argue about it, so I want what I want......

If I was 20 years younger, thus being able to get my money's worth of use from it, I'd be looking at buying my own front end machine!!
This is funny and sad at the same time, but 100% true. After going the the alignment shop and letting them do it, coming out with positive camber and a caster setting of 3*, i told them to stick it and went somewhere else. their reasoning was, "its with in spec". Ok, well your an idiot so i went somewhere else, did my research and gave them my own specs for alignment, and what do you know, this thing handles great.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:53 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE