Somehow the wheels have to carry the car, but they also have to have suspension, steering, and drive. One of these links between the car body and the wheels is the control arm – also known as the suspension arm. Without this part, the car would not be on the road. It is responsible for the car's stability and wheel alignment. If this component is faulty, you will feel the effect immediately.
What is a suspension/control arm?
A control arm is fitted to the wheels of a vehicle. It is the connecting piece between the chassis and the basic structure. In general, it compensates for high loads. In addition, it not only compensates for these but also reduces them and passes them on. When driving a vehicle, the wheels and suspension are the most stressed area on the vehicle. Vibrations and bumps are reduced by a vehicle's shock absorbers, but the control arm is more concerned with the lateral movements of the wheels. Particularly when starting and braking, there are strong tensile and compressive forces that are also absorbed by the suspension arm.
Defective control arm causes and symptoms
There can be a number of reasons for a control arm failure. As a stabilising element between the wheels, body, and steering wheel, control arms have to withstand a lot. After all, they ensure that you always have a smooth and pleasant driving experience. If your control arm is defective, the following may be the cause:
Poor road surfaces (such as cobblestones, but also numerous bumps and potholes). Driving too fast on bad roads, therefore putting too much stress on the axle links. Excessively high or freezing temperatures (combined with road salt or similar on the roads).
Wear and tear. No part lasts forever – over the years, control arms also get old. An incorrectly performed control arms change leads to premature wear. Any kind of force can lead to a control arm defect.
If something is wrong with your rear and front suspension arm, you will notice it quite quickly. A control arm defect can cause various symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore but take seriously. Your vehicle can no longer be steered properly, and changes in direction are delayed or imprecise. Although you use the steering wheel as you usually do, you find it difficult to steer the vehicle precisely. Such indirect steering can indicate that the connection between the steering wheel and the wheels is faulty.
Broken or corroded control arms usually also come with a typical noise such as squeaking, creaking or rumbling in the chassis area. If these acoustic signals become more frequent and louder, you should definitely visit a workshop as soon as possible. We don’t recommend driving with a broken control arm as this could possibly cause an accident.
MOT Failures
When booking your next MOT appointment, you should also keep in mind that both a broken suspension arm and a defective suspension ball joint for car can cause you to fail your MOT. Therefore, it is critical that you have these checked or replaced beforehand. The average suspension arm replacement cost in the UK will run you approximately £160. If you are a do-it-yourself mechanic, you may decide to save some money on labour costs and do it yourself, just make sure you have a ball joint separator tool, as this will make your job much easier.
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