The front lower control arm connects to the spindle and the frame which helps stabilize the steering assembly. Often these will get bent by hitting a bad hole or in a vehicle to vehicle accident.
A good used front lower control arm can be $25-$75 in many domestic or older vehicles and can range from $100-$200 or more for certain makes like BMW or Mercedes.
| Vehicle | Rebuilt/New | Recycled | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Land Rover Ranger Rover | $314.00 | $65.00 | $249.00 |
| 2001 Lexus LS430 | $264.00 | $75.00 | $198.00 |
| 2008 Lexus GS350 | $276.00 | $100.00 | $176.00 |
| 1999 Mercury Mountaineer | $279.00 | $25.00 | $254.00 |
| 2011 Ford Fusion | $369.00 | $25.00 | $344.00 |
Make sure the ball joint with the rubber seal is good. A good rule is to just replace the ball joint to be safe while replacing the control arm due to the additional costs to deal with this later on, which includes an alignment.
If RWD be sure to lubricate the bearings in the brake rotor before installing. If there are any rubber parts or seals that can be replaced, do so.
Not much to do here but have them inspected when tires are rotated or brakes are checked.