Do I need new control arms?
 

A while ago, I took my 2005 G35 coupe to get an alignment at a small shop. They said I needed new control arms and struts and wouldn't do the alignment. The car shakes at highway speeds, and around 75-80 it gets pretty intense.

A guy contacted me yesterday wanting to trade a truck for the G35 and when I told him about the shaking issue and that a shop said it needs new control arms and such, he said it would have to be fixed before the trade happens.

Anyways, the wife took the car by a shop today to see what it would run cost wise, and they said the control arms and everything we're fine and that all it needs is an alignment. Wtf?

So I went up to her work and picked up her car and brought it home myself to look at it. The control arm bushings are clearly bad IMO, but what do I know? I'm just a normal guy, trying to live a normal life, in normal America. So I figured I'd hop on here and have you guys make an educated decision.

I took these pictures with the driver's side of the car jacked up. So what do you guys think?


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...5a66b94d1.jpeg

Drivers side forward lower control arm

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...cd7768d95.jpeg

Drivers side rearward lower control arm (chassis side)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...aa572bbb8.jpeg

Passenger side rearward lower control arm (chassis side)

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...47f4da7e9.jpeg

Passenger side forward lower control arm

If you search for the fsm online for reference, it has instructions on how to change out the control arm and how to test other suspension parts. If you decide to replace the bushings only, that'll require special tools tho. you'll be able to borrow them for free at your local auto parts store but it's just another added step in the process. Probably easier and cheaper to replace the whole control arm. That's just my cheap lazy opinion tho. I'm just a normal squirrel looking for a normal nut in normal America. : )

Yea, you need new control arms or bushings. You can press them out yourself, but I think the recommended minimum size press was 20 tons. I just bought new Dorman's for 50 bucks a piece and swapped them out instead.

20ton? A 12ton is plenty..hell, a 6ton is fine, but the frame isn't big enough on the 6ton to fit the comp rod in.

Anyway, OP, you need new inner and outer LCA bushings, new comp rod bushings and most likely new shocks if the first guy suggested that. A shop would probably charge you between $1500 and $2000 to do everything.

If you can do work yourself you could do it for around $400.

I just replaced my control arm today. Bought a new one for $34 from eb$#. That impact gun from hf and fsm were my best friends. Just make sure you torque your nuts back to spec and use a new cotter pin on the ball joint. Oh yeah, and pb blast those nuts! $34? Not too bad.