Thread: LCA diagnosis????

03 GTP, 127k mi.

Been working on front end. New KYB Excel G struts w/ HTM Coilover kit, zzp motor & tran spacer, dea solid rubber motor & tran mount, dorman sway bar & end links, & temkin Lt hub, raybestos camber bolts.

I have mild vibration on accelloration, smooths out above 4,000-4,500 rpm, and a knock sometimes when lvg Park or entering Reverse. Seems to be on both sides. Everything is tight, no play in any parts, bushing appear to be OE, but do not appear to be bad & do not have any visible tears or leaks.

I have all but decided to replace both half-axles. I'm over my budget.

Peaople have said "LCA", but I don't really get it. SO I wondering about LCA. How do I know if I should replace LCA? How to diagnos ball jt--for me, bad ball jt=new LCA? Entire LCA w/ ball joint or just bushings?

Appreciate your insite. Thanks

I'm sitting here saying, I just put up a thread saying try and stump me. You saying LAC, I'm thinking is LAC. You mean LCA, Lower Control Arm.

I very much doubt LCA is causing what you're describing but...

The only way I know how to check a lower control arm is with a lift/jack stands and pry-bar.

My car was all over the road - had just replaced the struts. Put the car up and used the pry-bar between the knuckle and LCA. There wasn't any movement at all in the LJB (there's another stumper for ya Bill LBJ). For the bushings, pried between the cradle and LCA. The front bushings were dry rotted but the rears were heavily worn. I didn't bother with pressing new bushings in...just replaced entire LCA's with Autozone parts. IIRC they were Dorman ~$100/side. 30K miles later and still good.

This is how I diagnosed it but you can also remove the strut and grab LCA with both hands pushing and pulling from front to back to see if there is any play in the bushings. There should be a little play but no clunking.

While prying on the LBJ - if there's any movement at all then they need replaced.

Hope this helps

if you need new lca's buy them off the net, i paid 98 for the pair shipped to my door in 7 days or less. they were dorman. ordered from partsgeek.

when i needed a new axle i got one from napa, about the same price 80 ish.

you can get a 2 gallon jugs of trans fluid at walmart for about 30 bucks,(get the walmart brand) the filter about 15. from a parts store.

if you need lca's your at 240 maybe, not that dreaded 400 dollar mark. ouch.

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

if you need new lca's buy them off the net, i paid 98 for the pair shipped to my door in 7 days or less. they were dorman. ordered from partsgeek.

when i needed a new axle i got one from napa, about the same price 80 ish.

you can get a 2 gallon jugs of trans fluid at walmart for about 30 bucks,(get the walmart brand) the filter about 15. from a parts store.

if you need lca's your at 240 maybe, not that dreaded 400 dollar mark. ouch.

Wow, PartsGeek is my new friend. Thanks scottydoggs

Originally Posted by Rico

Wow, PartsGeek is my new friend. Thanks scottydoggs

i did notice the prices do go up and down over a weeks time, seems odd, one guy here went there and they wanted 60 a side, still better than 100 a side any day. i was happy when mine came in at 98 shipped for the pair.

and they are good with emails and letting you know where your order/package is. 2 thumbs up from this guy.

Rockauto guys. 42 a side for Dorman

the truth is you get what you pay for, napa parts are of higher quality most of the time, its money well spent in the long run.

im using a napa reman axle. thats what cost me about 80. been in there almost a year, and so far so good.

and i hate to even ask, but have you tried rotating your tires yet? or had them balanced lately?, im to lazy to re read it all lol

i'd fix known front end parts then align it. rotate the tires if the rears are in better shape, maybe even balance them.

good chance your tires or the front end being out has something to do with your vibration.

my axle was vibrating like a rwd drive shaft with a bad U joint, if you know what that feels like, it was only at light throttle.

others here have had them vibrate only under throttle, and some hear a clicking when turning. i guess it all depends on how soon you feel somethings not right, and how far you let it go.

i had a bunch of clunking when i hit bumps and while turning, that noise was all gone after i changed my lca's

and all my vibrations went away after i changed a bad inner tie rod got 2 new front tires, balanced, and then got it aligned. nice and smooth now. i'd been running used tires and they sucked.

and you really need to use the same tires/brand/size in pairs on the front or the car will pull to one side or the other when getting on it. aint fwd fun?.....