When you drive over uneven terrain, the wheels move up and down to compensate for the shifting ground surface. This movement is the handiwork of control arms—suspension parts that connect the steering knuckles and wheel hubs to the vehicle’s frame.
Control arms allow the wheels to move vertically and keep them from moving horizontally. They must keep friction, noise, and vibration to a minimum to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride.
That’s why control arms usually have bushings between them and the car’s frame side. Control arm bushings are metal sleeves wrapped in materials, such as rubber, that absorb vibrations and reduce friction. They make it possible for the control arms to pivot smoothly in the right direction depending on the road condition and the driver’s steering.
Control arm bushings are metal sleeves wrapped in materials, such as rubber, that absorb vibrations and reduce friction.
Need high-quality replacement control arm bushings for your vehicle? Check out TrueDrive® control arm bushings. Designed with longevity and consumer safety in mind, TrueDrive® parts promise an uncompromised fit, finish, and level of quality. TrueDrive® is the true choice for aftermarket suspension and ride control, keeping your vehicle strong and steady on the road so you can drive with confidence, no matter where the road takes you.
Best Control Arm Bushing Brands
Selecting the right control arm bushings is important for vehicle handling and ride quality. There are a lot of bushing replacements to choose from, and not all of them are made equal.
In no particular order, the best brands (or brand series) for control arm bushings are:
TrueDrive is one of the most popular choices because it offers a full lineup of premium products at a great value. The brand provides customers with a high-quality, low-cost option by eliminating the costly supply chain. All parts are made in the same top-tier factories as other name brands to ensure reliability.
Many professionals and DIYers choose TrueDrive control arm bushings. Each of the brand’s bushings meets manufacturing standards to ensure reliability and safety. All parts are install-ready and made from premium-grade rubber for long service life.
What’s more, all TrueDrive control arm bushings come with a 1-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for peace of mind.
TrueDrive is one of the most popular choices for aftermarket parts because it offers a full lineup of premium products at a great value.
Key features:
Install-ready
Made from premium-grade rubber
Manufactured to strict ISO 9001 / TS 16949 / OEM / OES production standards
Dorman control arm bushings are reliable replacements for the original bushings on your vehicle. Dorman employs precision engineering and stringent tests to ensure that their products can deliver on performance and service life.
Dorman control arm bushings are reliable replacements for the original bushings on your vehicle.
Key Features:
Designed to work like your vehicle’s stock bushings
Guaranteed fit and easy to install
Made from quality elastomer and steel for maximum durability
There’s a good reason why Jeep owners usually turn to Crown Automotive when they need a quality replacement part. Crown carries a wide range of products, such as control arm bushings, for every Jeep model dating back to the original Willys MB.
If it’s a Jeep, there’s a Crown replacement part for it. The brand also has a growing line of products for Chrysler and Dodge.
If it’s a Jeep, there’s a Crown replacement part for it.
Key Features:
Designed to match stock parts and provide a guaranteed fit
Made from high-quality rubber and steel for optimum performance and durability
Over the years, MOOG has earned a well-deserved reputation for making products that can outlast stock parts. Designed for ease of installation and compatibility with stock control arms, MOOG control arm bushings ensure a smooth ride and eliminate any play in the steering. It’s no wonder NASCAR chose MOOG as its official supplier of steering and suspension components.
MOOG control arm bushings ensure a smooth ride and eliminate any play in the steering.
Key Features:
Made to match original equipment in terms of performance
Made from the highest quality materials for the best performance
Energy Suspension control arm bushings keep the vehicle’s wheels properly aligned, no matter the road conditions. Made from proprietary Hyper-Flex performance polyurethane, these bushings improve controllability, cornering, and handling.
Be it a passenger vehicle in urban environments or a serious off-road vehicle; there’s an Energy HYPER-FLEX product for it.
Energy Suspension control arm bushings keep the vehicle’s wheels properly aligned, no matter the road conditions.
Key Features:
Compatible with stock control arms on cars, trucks, and SUVs
Comes in full floating and non-binding bushing designs
Made from HYPER-FLEX polyurethane that absorbs vibrations better than rubber and conventional polyurethane
Swap out old or damaged control arm bushings with durable Mevotech replacement parts. To help narrow down your choices, we recommend their Supreme series.
Manufactured with the finest rubber and steel, Supreme series bushings can withstand extreme conditions like harsh weather and rough terrain.
Supreme series bushings can withstand extreme conditions like harsh weather and rough terrain.
Key Features:
Features enhanced design that extends service life and increases performance
Made from high-quality rubber and steel for better corrosion-resistance
Lifetime limited warranty
Our Score: 9/10
Our Recommendation
We recommend TrueDrive® control arm bushings because they deliver the same performance as name-brand parts, minus the high markup. TrueDrive® utilizes the same supply chains as major brands and cuts out brick-and-mortar costs to pass on savings to you. These control arm bushings are manufactured to strict OEM standards by industry experts, so each part delivers a perfect fit right out of the box.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Control Arm Bushing
Like other suspension parts, control arm bushings have finite lifespans. They will wear out faster if subjected to heavy use, such as regular drives across rough terrain. The bushings also wear out due to exposure to the elements.
Once bushings get too old or worn out, they will lose their effectiveness at reducing friction.
Like other suspension parts, control arm bushings wear out over time.
The common symptoms of a faulty control arm bushing are:
Knocking or thumping sounds
A control arm with a bad bushing will move in directions it’s not supposed to go. When the arm hits other parts of the car, it will make knocking or thumping sounds. Understandably, driving the vehicle over rough terrain will increase the chances of hearing the knocks or thumps.
Excessive wear on one or both sides of a tire’s tread
When a control arm bushing wears out, it can throw off the vehicle’s wheel alignment, eventually resulting in abnormal tire tread wear.
Steering problems like wandering and vaguely pulling to one side
A worn control arm bushing can disrupt the suspension’s alignment, making the vehicle more difficult to handle.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
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