Okay, doing some update work on the wife's 03, and I am planning on replacing the lower control arms. I've been looking through rock auto, and they have quite a few brands on there. I'm kinda considering between Raybestos professional or Mevotech, and I am looking for some feedback.....
1- Heard Dorman is pretty much junk....or Moog's R line (value stuff) which seems to be pretty much the same way....
2- Not doing Moog either...car is already almost 11 years old...I want something decent, but I pretty sure I'm only going to have her car for another year (*maybe two) before I replace it....MI winters are killing this thing no matter how much I wash it...
3-It's the soft ride setup, and have no plans to modify it.........
Curious to see what you guys use......
http://www.autorentalandsales.com/images/2004Cavalier005.JPG
Why replace the arms?
Is it because of the ball joints? or the bushings? If so just replace those if not just get the grand am arms with j body balljoints and prothane bushings.
Schnupper wrote:Why replace the arms?
Is it because of the ball joints? or the bushings? If so just replace those if not just get the grand am arms with j body balljoints and prothane bushings.
Rust. Lots of rust......
http://www.autorentalandsales.com/images/2004Cavalier005.JPG
If you're planning on getting rid of it in a year, who cares if you get the bottom of the line?
However, I've used Mevotech stuff, and they seem decent.
Mr. Quick wrote:If you're planning on getting rid of it in a year, who cares if you get the bottom of the line?
However, I've used Mevotech stuff, and they seem decent.
I want decent, but not top of line stuff.
There is always the chance that this thing may hang around longer, or a slight chance that it could end up in the family.
That, and the roads are really bad here........
You should see just how bad the struts are beat up in just a little over a year......
http://www.autorentalandsales.com/images/2004Cavalier005.JPG
Spencer wrote:whats wrong with dorman?
Thin, and I've noticed that they don't seem to line up right/as well.
Helped a neighbor with his cobalt, and he ended up having to take the dorman back. He got raybestos ones, way better in fitment.
I was curious the see what the folks here run, as compared to the general public.....which throw on the dirt cheapest on these cars...
http://www.autorentalandsales.com/images/2004Cavalier005.JPG
why not keep the control arms and just replace the bushings? you can get prothane for $30 and they make a HUGE difference.
On the inside my car looks like a fighter jet.
Rob Dotterer wrote:why not keep the control arms and just replace the bushings? you can get prothane for $30 and they make a HUGE difference.
Dave Z wrote:Schnupper wrote:Why replace the arms?
Is it because of the ball joints? or the bushings? If so just replace those if not just get the grand am arms with j body balljoints and prothane bushings.
Rust. Lots of rust......
However, I would second the Prothane bushings. I put those on my beater just because I was rebuilding everything, and it rode great with them and the stock suspension.
I bought the duralast ones from autozone. The "soft ride" ones which are like $80 a piece. They seem like OEM quality for sure. Made the car handle nicer since the originals had 175k miles on them, lol.
Rob Dotterer wrote:why not keep the control arms and just replace the bushings? you can get prothane for $30 and they make a HUGE difference.
Hmmm...might just go with that....and I'm guessing stocking with the stock ball joints....
But, I have to ask that dumb question- Where would a good place to get them? I'm not as up to date on where to get these any more.....
http://www.autorentalandsales.com/images/2004Cavalier005.JPG
Summit Racing has them in red or black for $40