Everything You Need to Know About Control Arms - Blog

A car's control arms play a significant role in how it rides and handles. If you've been told you need to replace the control arms on your vehicle, you're aware this is one of the more expensive suspension repairs, but it's an important one. Control arms play a key role in vehicle safety. In addition, control arms that aren't up to par may result in increased wear on your tires and other parts of your vehicle.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website mechanical suspension.

Today, let's take a closer look at control arms and the common (or uncommon) questions you may have about these suspension system parts.

1. What Do Control Arms Do?

Front Control Arms: The front control arms connect the front wheels to the car chassis. They're responsible for controlling the up-and-down movement of the wheels. When you hit a bump or a pothole, the front control arms help absorb the shock, creating a smoother ride while keeping your steering in check.

Rear Control Arms: The rear control arms perform the same function as the front control arms, except they are located in the back and connect the rear wheels to the car's frame. Rear control arms keep your rear wheels steady, whether you're driving on a straight road or taking a turn. In addition, they help your car's stability—especially during sudden stops or sharp turns.

Both the front and rear control arms keep the wheels in line, play a part in ride comfort, and help you steer.

2. How Many Control Arms Does My Car Have?

Modern vehicles tend to have between two to four control arms, depending on the make and model.

3. What are Control Arms Made of?

Control arms are usually made of aluminum or steel.

4. How are Control Arms Connected to My Car?

The control arms are attached to the car via bushings that allow them to move up and down.

5. When Do I Need to Replace My Car's Control Arms?

Often, control arms are replaced when the bushings or ball joints are changed.

6. Why Should I Replace the Control Arms with the Bushings?

Control arm bushings tend to be made of rubber because it is a soft material that's good at reducing road noise and vibrations. However, their rubber construction means the bushings are susceptible to dry rot, tears, and cracks. Bad control arm bushings make noise and have visible wear or damage that indicates it's time to replace them. You may also notice abnormal tire wear or an off-center steering wheel.

Why do motorists replace the control arms at the same time as the bushings? It's because it isn't that much more expensive to replace the entire assembly. Another reason is that it's actually easier to replace the entire assembly, saving you on labor. It makes sense to pay a little more now to have new control arms, bushings, and ball joints vs paying again if another part reaches failure.

7. Can I Replace the Ball Joints and not the Control Arm?

On some vehicles, the ball joints cannot be replaced separately from the control arms. On vehicles where it is possible, the ball joints (whether they are press-in or bolt-in ball joints), require special tools for replacement. This typically involves extra steps vs replacing the entire assembly. A new assembly would include a new control arm, new ball joints, and new bushings. Similar to bushing replacement, it makes sense to do everything at one time vs paying again in the future due to worn bushings or control arms.

Want more information on slack adjuster types? Feel free to contact us.

8. Should I Replace the Control Arms in Pairs (Why or Why Not)?

Yes. It's recommended that the control arms be replaced in pairs. Why? It's because it would be odd for one control arm, such as the right control arm, to be worn out without the left control arm being at, or near, the same level of wear. Remember: the control arm that is okay has travelled the same distance as the worn one, so it's likely that you'll need to replace it soon regardless. This being the case, it'll cost more time and money to have another control arm replacement service performed in the future vs replacing the pair at the same time.

9. Is the Control Arm the Same as the "A-Arm"?

In the automotive service industry, terminology can vary, and different names might pop up for the same part. A control arm is a good example of this, because it's also known as the "a-arm" to some people. Typically, control arms have a triangular or "A" shape when viewed from the side, hence the nickname. Whether you call it a control arm or the a-arm, it's still the same, crucial suspension component.

Need a suspension repair in EHT? If you're having issues with how your vehicle steers or you notice your commutes are less comfortable than they once were, contact Deltona Discount Tires. We're familiar with suspension problems and how to repair them, especially when these issues have a negative effect on the life of your tires. We repair and replace suspension control arms, as well as perform a variety of other suspension repairs to keep your vehicle driving like it should.

Deltona Discount Tires is proud to serve EHT and surrounding areas, such as Ocean City and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

When it comes to car design, how effectively your vehicle absorbs the shocks of the road is more than simply a matter of comfort — it’s a question of safety too. Without your car suspension helping to stabilize your vehicle while it’s in motion, driving would be a far more dangerous pursuit.

What is suspension on a car?

No road is perfectly flat, meaning that bumps are inevitable. Your vehicle’s suspension system disperses the energy from these jostles in such a way as to improve car safety and comfort.

At the mechanical level, your auto suspension system helps improve steering and braking. It is designed to optimize traction between your car tires and the road, for a smoother ride. Since it handles shocks that might otherwise weaken crucial components, a car’s suspension also helps extend the lifespan of your vehicle.

Parts of a suspension system

A car suspension system is part of your vehicle’s chassis, which comprises its load-bearing elements. This includes the wheels, parts of the steering and braking systems and the all-important suspension system. While setups may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, suspension systems tend to share certain elements in common.

• Rods: A car’s suspension system contains multiple rods that connect its different parts. In “dependent systems,” wheels are rigidly connected to axles and turn at the same time, while in “independent systems,” the wheels can turn independently. Spanning the axles are sway bars, which, true to their name, reduce vehicle sway and help minimize roll as a car turns corners. Control arms connect the wheels to the car’s frame and enable vertical movement, while ball joints allow the control arms to pivot and move freely.
• Springs: Suspension systems have springs, which support the car’s weight. Importantly, springs also help absorb energy from road impact, reducing its transmission into the frame and passenger compartment. Coil springs are commonly used in passenger cars, while some heavy-duty vehicles rely on “leaf springs,” which consist of bound layers of metal that spring back after bending.
• Dampers: Springs, by definition, are bouncy. When energy moves into them, they’re designed to spring back out. This is where dampers come in. Dampers, or shock absorbers, use hydraulic fluid to create resistance against the motion of the spring. The fluid resistance converts kinetic energy into heat, which is dissipated into the air. Struts, which are often associated with dampers, are a combination of your shocks and another component, typically a coil spring that goes around the shock.

How does car suspension work?

The workings of a car suspension system rest on the first law of thermodynamics: Energy is neither created nor destroyed. This means that energy generated from driving over a bump or dip in a road needs to go somewhere.

Your car suspension works by performing the following functions:

• Distributing energy: The auto suspension system helps to manage the energy that travels into your car through the tires. Dampers, such as shocks and struts, help convert some of this energy into heat.
• Maintaining tire contact: If upward kinetic energy from a bump lifts your car, that reduces friction between your tires and the road as less of the surface area of the tire’s rubber is in contact with the pavement. It can even lift your vehicle off the ground, potentially damaging it as the wheels drop back to earth. Suspension systems are designed to help maintain contact between your tires and the road by helping absorb the energy associated with bumps and reducing the risk of bouncing.
• Stabilizing the vehicle: Car suspension systems play an important role in stabilizing your vehicle. While you want to avoid bumps and jostles, you also want to avoid the car “diving,” “squatting” or swaying. “Diving” is when your car dips forward when braking, and “squatting” is when your car tips backward when accelerating. Suspension systems help reduce the dive and squat to safe levels. They also minimize “roll” while the vehicle turns corners, preventing it from overly swaying to one side. Sway bars, also known as anti-roll bars, help keep your car level and your tires in contact with the road when cornering.
• Increasing comfort: If your car didn’t have a suspension system, more energy would travel into the vehicle frame and passenger compartment every time you drive over a stone or crack in the road. The jostling would probably make your ride extremely uncomfortable. It could also damage your vehicle.

Car suspension maintenance tips

As we have seen, suspension systems are crucial for the proper functioning of your vehicle. Like any critical system, it’s generally best practice to undertake any routine maintenance that may affect its smooth operation, and that includes your tires.

Tire maintenance

Your tires’ ability to maintain steady contact with the road surface is vital to a fully functioning suspension. Types of tire maintenance to consider include:

• Inspecting tire treads: If your treads are at the appropriate depth, this will help ensure that your car maintains adequate traction and handling. Worn treads reduce your vehicle’s grip on the road, which can strain your suspension as it struggles to keep everything stabilized.
• Checking tire pressure: Keeping your tires inflated to the level specified by your manufacturer in your owner’s manual not only helps minimize tire wear but can help support your car’s suspension. This is because tire pressure affects the size of your tire's contact patch with the ground. Overinflation leads to a smaller contact area, which tends to create less traction with the road and may force your car’s suspension system to work harder. Underinflation, by contrast, leads to a larger contact area between the tire’s rubber and the road, which may increase wear on the suspension by ramping up friction. Either way, by not maintaining the correct level of inflation in your tires you run the risk of putting your suspension system under unnecessary pressure.
• Realigning tires: The way in which your wheels form an angle with the vehicle is known as tire alignment. If your wheels tilt too much in any direction, there’s the risk of insufficient contact between your tires and the road. Misalignment is not only bad for your tire tread, but it can potentially result in a loss of traction. Keeping your wheels properly aligned helps your auto suspension to do its job.

Other maintenance areas to consider include:

Power steering belt and fluid

Having a trusted mechanic examine your power steering belt to make sure it’s tight, and to replace or top off fluid levels as necessary, can help your auto suspension by keeping your power steering system in good shape.

System inspection

Much of your car’s suspension system includes complex components that you may want to have checked periodically by your mechanic. You might also consider taking your car into the shop if you have reason to believe that your auto suspension system isn’t functioning properly.

Signs of a problem may include your vehicle dipping or bouncing upon braking, feeling shakier than usual or seeming lower to the ground. Other potential signs may include fluid leaks, uneven tire tread and unusual noises as you drive.

In summary

Without a suspension system, your car would jostle, sway, dip and possibly even lose contact with the road. By managing the way in which energy from bumps, brakes and turns is distributed throughout the vehicle, your suspension system allows for improved handling and a smoother ride. Given the importance of your car suspension, it’s typically a good idea to get it regularly inspected by a professional. That way, you can ensure its proper functioning and get ahead of any potential wear and tear.

Are you interested in learning more about trailer axle manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!