Common Causes of Lower Control Arm Bushing Noise
Someone who is unfamiliar with cars might not understand what is happening when they hear strange clunking noises. Although there are many reasons for why abnormal noises might occur in a vehicle, a problem with the lower control arm bushing will create very distinct noises.
These noises almost resemble a knocking sound from around the control arm area. Here are five of the most common causes of lower control arm bushing noise:
1) Worn Bushing
Bushings do not last forever. The more mileage that is put on your vehicle, the more excessively worn your lower control arm bushing gets. You will first start to hear a light clunking sound but as the bushing gets more worn, the clunking sound will get louder and more consistent.
2) Loose Bushing
If you have a loose lower control arm bushing, then it will get knocked around between the metal components that surround it. This might not necessarily mean the bushing is worn.
Perhaps you drove over a bump which loosened it. Either that or a mechanic may have accidentally loosened it while working on another area of your vehicle. Whatever the reason, loose bushings will consistently make the same knocking sounds.
3) Broken Bushing
A lower control arm bushing could break from being too worn out. It could also have been damaged accidentally by a mechanic who was working on something else. A broken control arm bushing will create very loud clunking noises, which won’t be gradually louder like the worn bushings.
4) Driving on Uneven Terrain
If you drive over uneven terrain, such as gravel or a rocky road, then the knocking or clunking sounds that you hear will be amplified. A bushing in good condition would not get loosened or rattle around from driving over this kind of terrain. But if the bushing is not secured in its place, the erratic motion of the vehicle as it drives over this terrain could make the bushings loosen more.
5) Hard Acceleration
If you have loose bushings, then you will hear the knocking noises the loudest as you’re taking off from a standstill. For example, when your vehicle is parked somewhere, and you switch the gear to drive and then floor the gas pedal, then the knocking will be the loudest at this point.
Can You Fix a Noisy Control Arm Bushing Without Replacing It?
If the bushing is just loose, then it was either knocked loose or not installed correctly. Chances are, you’ll be able to save this bushing by just tightening it.
However, in most situations, your bushing will be worn out and you will have to replace it. Either way, you should take your vehicle to your mechanic, so they can perform this repair or replacement job for you.
It is not a good idea to ignore the clunking or knocking noises because this could lead up to a steering malfunction where you won’t be able to control your vehicle’s direction anymore. It is best to get the problem solved at your earliest convenience.
Replacing Control Arm Bushings
It is best to replace all of the control arm bushings at once as when one is worn, it’s likely that the others will soon follow. Check the bushings visually for visible damage such as tears or hollowing of the rubber. This can be disastrous as the front wheel can completely detach if the ball joint breaks while driving.
Which control arm bushings you use to replace the worn ones depend on how you intend to use your car. OE (original equipment) bushings are made of rubber and provide the most comfortable driving experience.
Aftermarket performance bushings are usually made of polyurethane and increase precision in handling but also make for a firmer ride. These need regular (every two years or so) lubrication for optimal function as the lubricant is lost over time.