How long should lower control arms last?

[Summers22]

Truck is an 01 Ranger RWD with 101k. How long are the bushings in the lca's good for generally speaking? I replaced ball joints in the lower control arms, both upper control arms, sway bar links and sway bar bushings, front shocks and seem to still have a little bit of a rattle/clunk when I am over 45mph. Got an alignment 2 days ago and they didn't say anything about worn components, it went into alignment just fine. I will be doing new rotors with new inner and outer wheel bearings, but my experience is they make noise when they are bad, this is just a loose clunky/rattle feeling. It's not horrible and maybe I am just use to the much nicer ride of vehicles that are 20 years newer. My tires are at 33psi, I thought about dropping them slightly to see if there is a change in what I am feeling. Stock tire size of 225/70/15.

 

[sgtsandman]

You are going to need someone with more miles than me to answer that. As far as I know, the 1998 I had still has the original LCAs. It had about 200,000 miles on it when I sold it to a friend. He has a handyman business and still uses it. So, I imagine it has about double that in miles now, maybe more.

 

[Summers22]

Thanks, I didn't figure these should be wore out. I double checked all the torque values yesterday on what I replaced, all good there. I did not replace the tie rods, but I figured that would be felt in the steering, not suspension on less than ideal roads. Drives like a dream on the better paved roads though. Maybe its the nature of the beast?

 

[Jazzer]

It might be helpful to yank on your tie rod ends (inner and outer) and check your sway bar bushings.

 

[Summers22]

Sway bar bushings are new. Would tie rod ends cause a clunk/rattle?

 

[Uncle Gump]

They will...

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hard to believe they would do an alignment with a bad tie rod though.

 

[Summers22]

Honestly, the tech AFTER the alignment said it "all looked good, but your tie rods are a little tight". I did get a before and after printout, this was Discount Tire.

 

[Summers22]

So with what I have said, if this was your truck (any of you that are helping) what would you test for and what would you replace? The tie rods are simple, the lca's, not simple, but easy enough for me. Or should I just do both and get another alignment? I possibly would just do lca bushings since I already did the lower ball joints.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I like to leave the weight on the vehicle... then have someone turn the steering back and fourth while I'm under looking for movement in the suspension/steering components. If anything is loose... it will typically show itself.

I would also get yourself in a place where this noise is repeatable. Then I would apply a slight pressure to the brake pedal and see if the noise still happens. If it doesnt... likely in the brakes/wheel bearings.

Just remember... these were just affordable small utilitarian vehicles... they weren't ever designed to be smooth comfortable rides. A little NVH could be acceptable.

 

[Summers22]

Thanks Gump. I'll test the movement tonight and I have tried to feel for the noise with brakes applied vs normal driving, seems to occur no matter what on the poorly paved uneven roads. The newer roads are fine. Regardless, brake rotors and pads, inner and outer wheel bearings as well as shoes (possibly drums), drum spring kit are all getting replaced. That was my last step for repairs as far as general maintenance goes.

 

[Summers22]

Also its not really a "noise" its more of a clunky feeling rattle in the floorboard that is definitely coming through the suspension as I dont feel it much in the steering wheel except a small shimmy when slowing down (obviously worn rotors). Its felt more at cruising speeds as far as the clunk/rattle.

 

[sgtsandman]

Also its not really a "noise" its more of a clunky feeling rattle in the floorboard that is definitely coming through the suspension as I dont feel it much in the steering wheel except a small shimmy when slowing down (obviously worn rotors). Its felt more at cruising speeds as far as the clunk/rattle.

Take a look at your sway bar bushings. The ones on the frame have been known to either shrink or wear out, allowing the sway bar to move and cause a clunk. Just grab the sway bar and push up and down on it. Messed up sway bar end links can make some nasty noises too.

 

[Summers22]

As stated in my 1st post, they are new.

 

[Summers22]

I did call Discount Tire (I have a great relationship with the 2 managers) explained to them what their tech said and what I am feeling in the suspension and they said get the parts replaced within a couple weeks and they will do another alignment free.