Sourcing Front Lower Control Arms

[jasong_10]

When I bought my '12 the previous owner told me it needed sway links to fix the clunk in the front end and he was kind of right, the front passenger link was toast. But after putting both front links in there was/is still a clunk in the front passenger side that shouldn't be there. After further investigation I found the passenger side lower ball joint is bad, which means replacing the whole control arm assembly. However, I'm having trouble finding LCAs from a brand that I'm familiar with that won't cost me a fortune. I run a parts store so I know and trust Moog, Carquest, and Dorman as those are the lines I carry and have sold to my commercial shops and used myself. From what I have found to this point Moog only offers LCAs for the 13+ cars, Carquest doesn't offer any for the 10-12 cars either, and Dorman does, but the last time I checked there weren't any available out there anywhere. They are available through Ford, but I'd have somewhere around $300 invested by the time I bought the arm and rear bushing, and I'd prefer not to spend that much if possible. I did the search on Ebay and came across brands like Detroit Axle and Mevotech but I don't know anything about them.

After a quick search it seems like I'm not the first SHO owner to need to replace a LCA, so what route/brand is everyone going? Any input would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[FiveLeeter918]

My personal recommendation is to stick with Motorcraft personally. RockAuto has them decently priced.

2012 FORD TAURUS 3.5L V6 Turbocharged Control Arm | Shop Now at RockAuto

Suspension Parts and More for Your 2012 FORD TAURUS at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

 

[jasong_10]

I might end up going the Ford route, but I'd rather spend the extra $20 and buy from my local dealer. I just wish Moog offered something . . .

 

[SeanDev]

Personally if your going into changing the LCAs, I personally would change everything, bearings, struts, shocks, CV axles, and links too all the way around. Make it a one and done and and be good for another 100,000 miles.

 

[jasong_10]

Personally if your going into changing the LCAs, I personally would change everything, bearings, struts, shocks, CV axles, and links too all the way around. Make it a one and done and and be good for another 100,000 miles.

Solid advice, it's just not in the financial cards right now though. I don't need to do the LCA now, as in a month or so the car goes away for the winter, but I like having a plan and it surprised me that I couldn't much out there that was even available.

 

[SeanDev]

Solid advice, it's just not in the financial cards right now though. I don't need to do the LCA now, as in a month or so the car goes away for the winter, but I like having a plan and it surprised me that I couldn't much out there that was even available.

It's a bad year for parts, just this week I decided to upgrade to GH turbos, and GH doesn't even have parts to make them. In their response, it might take till next year before I can order them.

 

[DadMobile]

It's a bad year for parts, just this week I decided to upgrade to GH turbos, and GH doesn't even have parts to make them. In their response, it might take till next year before I can order them.

No kidding? That’s wild.

 

[SeanDev]

No kidding? That’s wild.

ThIs is the last paragraph of the email they sent me on the 4th.

So we could take your set and have them “upgraded” but I couldn’t assign a reasonable time line at this point as we have plenty of cores, its just a waiting game for “raw material” for the upgraded components.

 

[jasong_10]

I'm seeing it at work, brake rotors are a nightmare to get my hands on, regardless of the vehicle. My boss sent me an illustration/spray chart of colored dots representing ships sitting outside of our ports waiting to be unloaded with our parts on them, it looks like a bowl of Fruity Pebbles . . .

 

[SilvererSHO]

When I bought my '12 the previous owner told me it needed sway links to fix the clunk in the front end and he was kind of right, the front passenger link was toast. But after putting both front links in there was/is still a clunk in the front passenger side that shouldn't be there. After further investigation I found the passenger side lower ball joint is bad, which means replacing the whole control arm assembly. However, I'm having trouble finding LCAs from a brand that I'm familiar with that won't cost me a fortune. I run a parts store so I know and trust Moog, Carquest, and Dorman as those are the lines I carry and have sold to my commercial shops and used myself. From what I have found to this point Moog only offers LCAs for the 13+ cars, Carquest doesn't offer any for the 10-12 cars either, and Dorman does, but the last time I checked there weren't any available out there anywhere. They are available through Ford, but I'd have somewhere around $300 invested by the time I bought the arm and rear bushing, and I'd prefer not to spend that much if possible. I did the search on Ebay and came across brands like Detroit Axle and Mevotech but I don't know anything about them.

After a quick search it seems like I'm not the first SHO owner to need to replace a LCA, so what route/brand is everyone going? Any input would be appreciated, thank you.

I just replaced mine in my '12 with Motorcraft from Rock Auto. The "clunk" on mine was from the rear bushing on one side. The balljoints were still fine at around 120,000 miles. I'm sick of buying unknown junk and it only seems worse due to the times we're living in so just spent the extra because they should last the rest of the life of the car.

 

[SilvererSHO]

Personally if your going into changing the LCAs, I personally would change everything, bearings, struts, shocks, CV axles, and links too all the way around. Make it a one and done and and be good for another 100,000 miles.

Well, not everyone's last name is Rockefeller now is it....

 

[Angrymongoose]

I just finished replacing both front LCAs on my 17 recently. A shop had done them with Moogs about 8K miles ago and they were already bad. Moog aint what it used to be.

 

[SeanDev]

Well, not everyone's last name is Rockefeller now is it....

Lol, yes but I look at this way, pay now, pay later, either way, were going to pay.

 

[jasong_10]

I just replaced mine in my '12 with Motorcraft from Rock Auto. The "clunk" on mine was from the rear bushing on one side. The balljoints were still fine at around 120,000 miles. I'm sick of buying unknown junk and it only seems worse due to the times we're living in so just spent the extra because they should last the rest of the life of the car.

That's probably the route I'll end up going in the Spring. I plan on replacing the bushing as well as it's not in the best condition, no play in it ironically but pretty rough looking, lol. The ball joint is the culprit in my case, has a bunch of vertical play.

 

[jasong_10]

I just finished replacing both front LCAs on my 17 recently. A shop had done them with Moogs about 8K miles ago and they were already bad. Moog aint what it used to be.

Agreed, nothing is what it used to be. I'd still rather run a current Moog than one of the obscure brands though . . .

 

[SilvererSHO]

That's probably the route I'll end up going in the Spring. I plan on replacing the bushing as well as it's not in the best condition, no play in it ironically but pretty rough looking, lol. The ball joint is the culprit in my case, has a bunch of vertical play.

I've heard nothing good about Moog lately either. One of the mechanics I take our cars to basically refuses to use anything other than OEM. He's been around a long time though and can afford to turn away plenty of work. Saves him a lot of dealing with pizzed off customers too I suppose.

 

[luigisho]

Agree with the anti moog. I used to trust Moog years ago and they went to **** back then. If you can afford or obtain oem that's usualy a better choice.

 

[802SHO]

Great I’m pretty sure I just bought moog front lower control arms…..

 

[jasong_10]

Yeah, that's the part number I came across for the 13+ cars . . .

 

[jasong_10]

Well I pulled the trigger on a 13+ Moog LCA as there was actually one available, haha, and from what I've heard and researched it should work. I spoke with Moog tech on Monday, all he could compare for me were the differences between the rear bushings as they don't make an arm for the 10-12 cars. There were only a couple of minor differences that seem irrelevant as it comes as a kit (arm and bushing assembled).

Put it in this afternoon. Compared them side by side once I got the old one out and took/compared some measurements, everything seemed to match up. I haven't had time to drive it yet but visually everything looks right, guess I'll find out if I scrub the front right tire off, lol.