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Hi,

My front lower control arm bushings are shot on my 2002 ex.

Repair shop just gave an estimate of $900 dollars to replace both of the lower control arms, with $90 tacked on for an alignment.

Said they may be able to just replace the bushings but can't say over the phone.

Is that outrageously high or what? I see prices for new control arms around the $100 range, but this is a shop that I've heard lots of good things about (e.g. not cheap but honest and do good work).

 
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fawk that. id look that guy dead in the eye and say, "are stoned?". do it yourself and save money.

 
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It seemed pretty high to me. Maybe it was him that was high.

In terms of doing it myself, I've never done much on a car. Change oil, transmission fluid, brake pads, etc...

Do think an idjit could do it?

 
Rep Power: 230

you can have them just replace the bushings, cheap too!

 
Rep Power: 238

You can't really replace them yourself, it takes a press to do it. Energy Suspension sells a set of polyurethane bushings for $50. It's way cheaper than the oem replacement ones, or at least the prices I've found. What you can do is take the LCA out and take it to the shop to swap the bushings.

 
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To simply replace the LCAs is easy and often much easier than trying to replace the bushings. From what you would pay to get new bushings, get them pressed out and back in, you're about 85% of the way to a new set of LCAs. About the only special tool you need is big hammer to knock the ball joint loose.

 
Rep Power: 256

was it a dealer or a random shop either way your going to get bent over.

 
Rep Power: 812

i thought $150 that sears charged me to replace the front bushings with ES parts was high lol.

 
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I will be doing mine soon as well, but I'm going to put Energy Suspension bushings in so it does not happen again. As much as I agree with what speedfoos says, I'd rather have the better bushings in. But, I know someone with a press!

 
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cheers!

 
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Lol I got both control arms on ebay for $120 and my mechanic charged me $90 for labor on both. 10 times less than your mechanic. That seems reasonable.