Rep Power: 0

The front end of my 2001 Civic LX pops when I turn through dips and sometimes when I hit potholes. This happens on both sides. I thought initially that the popping was due to bad CV joints. I had my local Honda dealership inspect the vehicle and they told me that everything on the front end is good (including the CVs) with the exception of the Lower Control Arm Bushings, which they told me are cracked. I asked about how important and urgent it is to replace them and the guy seemed somewhat indifferent. He said that I can get away with not replacing them but my steering would suffer. My question is this: should I realistically replace them? The noise (assuming it's coming from the bushings) is not that big a deal. I just want to make sure I really need to have them replaced. I'm also afraid that I might spend several hundred dollars replacing them only to find that the popping is still there. Advice?

 
Rep Power: 518

When the lower control arm compliance bushing goes bad, the arm can make contact with the subframe. That's one source of a pop noise and it can be pretty loud.

Check it for yourself, here's a bad one:


At this point one can pry the control arm up and down and find it is able to contact the subframe. If the bushing is good it would not be able to make contact.

Of course, that's not the only possible cause of noise.

 
Rep Power: 172

also, energy suspension makes a front lower control arm bushing kit for $49.99 plus shipping, if you know someone with a press or can pay for someone to use theirs along with using the d.i.y. on here, you'll save a lot of that couple hundred that you thought would be for nothing, and gain slightly better steering, only problem I've ever heard is small squeaks when its wet or snowy out. Nothing a little grease (comes supplied) doesn't take care of, and you wont have that popping anymore, takes some work on the control arm to remove the stock bushings but well worth a 50 dollar fix (to me) if it happens in the future instead of getting the couple hundred complete replacements from honda, and not that is for everyone but you can do something similar for the front lower ball joints which makes everything on the control arm replaceable. I had popping in my front end also while navigating potholes. good luck with whatever option you choose.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm almost inclined to just let it ride (assuming that's safe/doable). I'm trying to figure whether or not I can justify spending upwards of $700 getting both of these done at the dealership when the car is getting on toward 200K miles and I'll likely trade it in for a newer one in the next year or two. I know I could do this myself, but I'm so busy at work that isn't feasible.