Front lower control arm bushes

2004 HONDA CRV
325,000 MILES • 2.4L • 6 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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BOA69
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Can driving with worn front lower control arm bushes cause damage to other parts of the vehicle?
It is all over the place and steering wheel shakes pretty bad when going 110km/h, it feels like there is flat spots on my front wheels or something.
I am still waiting on my new Control Arms to be delivered but i need to use my car to drive to work daily which is about 70km round trip.
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Nov 14, 2019 at 2:21 AM
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STEVE W.
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Well on that design it cannot break free and totally fail but it can cause damage to the CV joints, struts and tires. That is because they all are able to move in ways they shouldn't because the bushing is shot. The tire damage will happen because the bad bushing allows the tire to shift, causing the toe and caster to change as it moves. The strut can be damaged at the mount because normally it only moves a small amount as the suspension travels. Now it can flex in areas it isn't intended to. The CV joints are the ones to really worry about. Because they are designed to allow the normal motion of the suspension they can slide in and out at the tri-pot joint on the transmission end. Normally that joint is designed for the minor motion the intact bushing needs. With the failed bushing it is possible that you could hit a bump that would allow the joint to extend enough that it pulls apart. That would be a very bad thing at anything over a walking pace. At the speeds you are driving it could easily be deadly, not just to you but to anyone who is around you if it fails.
Personally I'd get a rental to drive until you can get yours repaired, but that is your decision.
Nov 14, 2019 at 4:47 AM