5 Causes of Lower Control Arm Bushing Noise

The lower control arm bushing is located in the suspension system of your vehicle. It is a rubber component which has two metal sleeves inside of it. It is responsible for allowing the control arm to connect to the frame of the vehicle and the wheel hub. That way, every time you turn the steering wheel, your vehicle will move smoothly in that direction. In normal situations, you will not hear any noises coming from the lower control arm bushing. It will be silent and with no vibrations or issues. On the other hand, if there is a problem with the bushing, then noises can arise.

Top 5 Causes of Lower Control Arm Bushing Noises
Someone who is unfamiliar with cars might not understand what is happening when they hear strange clunking noises. Although there are many reasons for why abnormal noises might occur in a vehicle, a problem with the lower control arm bushing will create very distinct noises. These noises almost resemble a knocking sound from around the control arm area.

Below are the Top 5 Causes of Lower Control Arm Bushing Noises:

Worn Bushings – Bushings do not last forever. The more mileage that is put on your vehicle, the more excessively worn your lower control arm bushing gets. You will first start to hear a light clunking sound but as the bushing gets more worn, the clunking sound will get louder and more consistent.

Loose Bushings – If you have a loose lower control arm bushing, then it will get knocked around between the metal components that surround it. This might not necessarily mean the bushing is worn. Perhaps you drove over a bump which loosened it. Either that or a mechanic may have accidentally loosened it while working on another area of your vehicle. Whatever the reason, loose bushings will consistently make the same knocking sounds.

Broken Bushings – A lower control arm bushing could break from being too worn out. It could also have been damaged accidentally by a mechanic who was working on something else. A broken bushing will create very loud clunking noises, which won’t be gradually louder like the worn bushings.

Uneven Terrain – If you drive over uneven terrains, such as gravel or a rocky road, then the knocking or clunking sounds that you hear will be amplified. A bushing in good condition would not get loosened or rattle around from driving over this kind of terrain. But if the bushing is not secured in its place, the erratic motion of the vehicle as it drives over this terrain could make the bushings loosen more.

Taking Off – If you have loose bushings, then you will hear the knocking noises the loudest as you’re taking off in your vehicle. For example, when your vehicle is parked somewhere, and you switch the gear to drive and then step on the gas pedal, then the knocking will be the loudest at this point.
Read also: What Happens if you Put Gasoline in a Diesel Engine

How to Fix
If the bushing is just loose, then it was either knocked loose or not installed correctly. Chances are, you will be able to save this bushing by just tightening it. However, in most situations, your bushing will be worn out and you will have to replace it. Either way, you should take the vehicle to an auto body professional, so they can perform this repair or replacement job for you.

It is not a good idea to ignore the clunking or knocking noises because this could lead up to a steering malfunction where you won’t be able to control your vehicle’s direction anymore. It is best to get the problem solved at your earliest convenience.

Symptoms of a bad lower control arm bushing

The suspension system of every vehicle has something called a control arm bushing. The bushing is comprised of two sleeves of metal that are encased in rubber. It is positioned between the vehicle’s frame and the control arm. As you may know, the control arm is what connects the frame to the wheel hub. This is how you’re able to steer the vehicle. If there are any issues with any of these parts, such as the lower control arm bushing, then your driving experience will be impacted.

The basic function of lower control arm bushing
The purpose of a bushing is to reduce the amount of vibration created between the frame and the wheels underneath it. That way, you have a nice pleasant drive without any unpleasant or inconvenient disturbances. Without these bushings, you would have metal making contact with other metal and that would cause all kinds of negative symptoms. These symptoms will be recognizable right away as they occur.

If you’re driving a standard front-wheel drive car, then it will only contain a lower control arm and a lower control arm bushing. It is the 4-wheel drive cars like SUVs and trucks which have both a lower control arm and upper control arm with bushings for each. Chances are, if you’re driving an economy class car, then it just has a lower control arm.

Top 3 Common Symptoms
Like most parts of your vehicle, the lower control arm bushings are going to wear out after a while. Once this happens, you can expect a lot of problems to arise while you’re driving as a result. Assuming you’re driving a front-wheel drive car, below are the top 3 common symptoms that you can expect to see if your lower control arm bushing starts to go bad.

Clunking Sounds – When your lower control arm bushing becomes too loose or worn out, then you will start to hear a clunking sound coming from underneath your car. This sound is caused by the bushing getting knocked between the frame and the control arm. You will hear this sound get even louder if you’re driving over rocky or rough terrain that is not flat. Over time, the sound will continue to get louder until the bushing eventually breaks altogether.

Vibrating Steering Wheel – When your lower control arm bushing begins to go bad, the first symptom you should notice is a vibrating steering wheel. You’ll feel the vibration in your hands as you steer the vehicle on the road. As you step on the gas pedal and increase the vehicle’s acceleration, the vibrations will become more intense. This is something that will easily get annoying so you’ll want to do something about it quickly.

Steering Wheel Pulling – Do you notice your steering wheel pulling too much to either the left or right as you’re driving? If your bushings are too worn out, then the steering alignment of your vehicle will be off center. Although this won’t put your life in immediate danger, it will require you to work harder as a driver because you’ll always have to keep the steering wheel steady so that the car continues to drive straight.

5 Causes Of Wheel Bearing Noise And How To Identify

After you use a bearing, it starts to cool off and then a vacuum is generated from the lubricant, air, and contacting metal. The seals should hold the vacuum in place.

If not, the sealed hub or the bearing will start pulling in air from the outside, which may include water and other debris. If you are in a certain location in the U.S. which has salty roads, it would be like smothering your wheel bearings with ocean water, resulting in the wheel bearing being damaged or have noise coming from it.

What causes noise from the wheel bearings?
Wheel bearings are attached to the wheel and are constantly moving. Since the wheels are touching the road while driving, there could be a variety of reasons why the wheel bearing is making these strange noises or enduring damage. The main reasons are below.

1. Poorly Installed

If your wheel bearings got replaced not too long ago, then it would be very strange if they were failing any time after that. The only conclusion is that the wheel bearings endured damage because they were installed improperly or against the manufacturer’s recommendation.

2. Driving On The Street Floods

The manufacturer of a car lubricates the wheel bearings. If they used a lubricant that is based from petroleum, it will cause pressure on the wheel bearings if they become disturbed. Wheel bearing seals are designed by engineers in a way so the pressure can leave the wheel bearings. The only bad thing is that these seals cannot stop water from getting through. This means if you were to drive your car on a street that is flooded with water, then your bearings would be subjected to moisture. Once that happens, it mixes with the lubricant and makes it ineffective, causing the bearings to endure damage. You would not be able to service or repair a modern style wheel bearing either. The only solution from water damage is to replace the wheel bearing completely.

3. Driving On The Rough Roads

The wheel bearing will receive all the pressure of the tire and wheel. If you were to drive over a bumpy curb or pothole, the wheel bearing could be subjected to damage very easily. When you hit something, the bearing’s balls will likely get forced into the race. The result will be small imperfections in the bearings. As you continue to drive the car with these imperfect bearings, it will cause more wear and heat to form. Soon the wear will cause debris to form and this will pollute the lubricant of the wheel bearing and make it fail a lot faster. However, it is possible the failure could take a few months before it is noticeable.

4. Unbalanced Tires and Bad Shock

The wheel system depends on its wheel bearing, tire, lower arm, lower joint, knuckle arm, and shock. When there are unbalanced tires on a car that you’re driving, some of those other parts could be damaged and then it will make noise come from the wheel bearing.

5. Accident On The Wheel Area

Wheel bearings are constantly in motion and they are connected to all the other parts mentioned in the last section. So, if the wheel area were to be subjected to an accident, then the wheel bearing would be 100% damaged and then cause noise to form.

How to Identify Damage or Noise of a Wheel Bearing
Take a jack and use it to lift the vehicle up until the tire is not on the ground. Now try moving the tire in a vertical direction, and then a horizontal one. If the wheel feels free play, then there might be damage to the bearing.

A video has been made to demonstrate how to perform this inspection of the wheel bearing. Just remember the noise you hear from the wheel bearing tends to vary. The noise you hear depends on how badly the wheel bearing is damaged.

Speed may also contribute to the noise from the wheel bearing. Sometimes you may go 100 km/h and hear the noise, but then go 110km/h and not hear the noise anymore. This may happen only if there is a small amount of damage to the bearing. Therefore, you may not be able to notice this right away. You will only be able to tell by feeling the tire free play like mentioned above. At this point, take your car to the auto body shop and have it looked at by a professional. They can figure out if there is damage to the wheel bearing or if another part is damaged like the wheel rim or the tire.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Stabilizer Bar Bushings

Common signs include sluggish response in vehicle handling and rattling or squeaking noises from underneath the car.

One of the most under-appreciated yet incredibly important mechanical components hiding underneath our vehicles is the stabilizer bar bushings. Located on the undercarriage of your vehicle and engineered to reduce road noise, absorb bumps and cracks in roads and deliver a softer ride, the stabilizer bar is supported with rubber bushings that keep the vehicle's body from rolling as it navigates turns.

When they are properly lubricated and maintained, the stabilizer bar bushings can deliver optimal driving conditions for years. However, when they start to wear out, the warning signs can range from subtle noises to significant problems with steering and handling; potentially leading to vehicle accidents and other safety concerns.

The information below will help you self-diagnose if a potential problem with your stabilizer bar bearings exists, so you can contact a professional mechanic to inspect, diagnose and repair the problem before it causes additional issues with your vehicle.

1. Sluggish response in vehicle handling

Since you drive your car every day, it's probable that you have a clear understanding of how your car handles the road. One of the easiest ways of diagnosing a problem with the stabilizer bar bushings is when the handling seems sluggish or slow to respond; especially when you make quick turns in your vehicle. Additionally, if you turn into a corner and the vehicle seems less stable than it has been previously, this is also an indication of bushings being worn and needing to be replaced.

The important thing to remember is that when the stabilizer bar bushings begin to wear out, they do so quickly. By ignoring the warning signs, it could lead to a potentially dangerous situation, causing you to lose control of the vehicle under what would typically be a normal driving situation. Anytime you notice a difference in the way your vehicle is handling; contact a professional mechanic to inspect the stabilizer bar bushings and replace them as needed.

2. Rattling underneath the car

The stabilizer bar is located directly under your car. When the bushings become torn, worn out or completely break, the stabilizer bar itself will become unstable and cause a rattling or clunking sound while you are driving. The noise will get progressively louder when you steer the car in either direction or when you are driving on a rough road. Typically the noise will come from the front of your vehicle, near your feet on the floor board and are very noticeable.

When you hear clunking noises coming from this location, drive safely home and contact AutoFactorNG so they can inspect the stabilizer bar and if needed, replace the stabilizer bar bushings.

3. Squeaking noises from under the car

Different than a rattle or clunking sound, the squeaking noise coming from under your car is a potential warning sign that the bushings are starting to wear. This sound is noticeable while you are driving over bumps, making aggressive turns to the left or right, or if you drive into a driveway. This noise is typically caused by a stabilizer bar bushing that is not properly lubricated due to metal-on-metal contact. If caught early enough, AutoFactorNG can clean and properly lubricate the bushings with a grease gun to avoid additional damage being done. Regardless, if you hear this sound coming from the area near your feet when you drive; it's never a good thing. Have it checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible.

Always let a professional mechanic repair stabilizer bar issues

As tempting as it might be for a novice to work on their car, the stabilizer bar and specifically, the stabilizer bar bushings are delicate mechanical parts that should only be serviced by an ASE Certified mechanic. This is primarily due to the fact that in order to correctly service these parts, specialized tools are required to be used. The removal and assembly process involved with stabilizer bar replacement is also complex and must be followed precisely in order to reduce the potential of complete parts failure and potentially dangerous situations.

Take time to listen to your vehicle, as it will let you know when critical parts like the stabilizer bar bushing are starting to wear and need to be replaced by a professional mechanic

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Wheel Hub Assembly

Common signs include a roaring sound from the tires area, vibrating steering wheel, play in the tire/wheel combo, and clicking sound from the wheels.

Today's modern cars, and those manufactured after 1997 are equipped with a single bearing and hub assembly that is attached to each wheel and tire on a vehicle. The wheel hub assembly includes wheel studs that attach the wheels of the vehicle to the car and is mounted to the steering and suspension system on the front end and the rear axle on the rear end. In theory, this single wheel hub assembly should last the lifespan of the vehicle, however, like any other mechanical device, it is subject to wear and tear and can break or wear out prematurely.

The wheel hub assembly is prone to damage caused by multiple driving situations such as:

- Hitting pot holes
- Striking cubs
- Being involved in vehicle collisions

Although this part takes a tremendous amount of abuse, it's commonly overlooked when repairs are done to other mechanical components such as tires and wheels, suspension parts, coils, shocks and struts and other front end and rear end housing parts. When the part is damaged or is beginning to show signs of premature wear, it will commonly show some warning signs or symptoms that can be easily recognized by most car owners.

Listed below are a few of the symptoms that car owners should be aware, that will alert them to a bad or failing wheel hub assembly.

1. Roaring sound coming from the tire / wheel area

Typically when a wheel hub assembly goes bad it's actually the wheel bearing inside the single assembly that is damaged. This part will make a roaring sound, similar to a metal-to-metal grinding sound when the bearing is wearing out. This sound is caused by lack of lubrication inside the bearing, a misaligned bearing or one that has cracked due to impact with another object. It's very difficult to determine by sound which wheel bearing is going bad as the sound can be very misleading. However, if one side wheel hub assembly is broken, both sides on the same axle need to be replaced at the same time.

If you notice any roaring or grinding sound coming from the front end of your vehicle, safely drive home and contact AUTOFACTORNG as soon as possible.

2. Steering wheel vibrates or feels loose

Another indication of a damaged wheel hub assembly is when the steering wheel vibrates at lower speeds and progressively gets worse as the car accelerates. A damaged wheel hub assembly can also cause the steering wheel to feel loose when you're driving down the road, making turns or negotiating dips in the road. The reason for this is commonly due to a worn out wheel bearing inside the hub assembly. If you notice this symptom, it's recommended to contact a certified mechanic as soon as possible so they can road test your vehicle. This is often the best way to properly diagnose what is actually causing the vibration in the steering wheel, and can save you a lot of time and money on replacing the wheel hub assembly.

3. Tire / wheel combination has a lot of play when in the air

Most of the time this symptom will be noticed by a certified tire mechanic, brakes replacement service, or oil change center that is rotating your tires. When the vehicle is on a hydraulic lift or on jack stands, and the tire / wheel combo is tightly attached to the wheel hub assembly, but wiggles from left to right or up and down when pulled, this is an indication of a broken wheel hub assembly and should be replaced immediately. Once again, broken wheel hub assemblies should be replaced in pairs on the same axle.

4. Clicking sound from the wheels

Finally, if you hear a clicking sound that increases in speed as the vehicle accelerates, this could be a problem with the wheel hub assembly as well. In this case, the brake caliper will move up and down and hit the top of the wheels as the vehicle drives down the street. This is due to the wheel hub assembly bearing being broken.

If you notice any of the above warning signs, please contact AUTOFACTORNG as quickly as possible so they can diagnose the precise problem and fix your vehicle as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Wheel Bearing

Common signs include abnormal tire wear, grinding or roaring noise from the tire area, vibration in the steering wheel, and play in the wheels.

One of the most overlooked yet highly critical parts of the drive-axle and steering assembly are the wheel bearings. Every wheel on your car is attached to a hub and inside this hub is a set of lubricated wheel bearings that allows your tires and wheels to spin freely without building up too much heat. They are engineered to last a very long time, however, eventually they will lose their lubricity, wear out, and need to be replaced. If they break entirely, it can cause a wheel/tire combination to fall off the car while at speed, leading to a very unsafe driving situation.

Prior to 1997, most cars, trucks and SUV's manufactured and sold in the US had an inner and outer bearing on each wheel that is recommended to be serviced every 30,000 miles. As technology improved, newer vehicle were equipped with a "maintenance free" single wheel bearing that was designed to extend the life of wheel bearings without having to be serviced. From time to time, these "indestructible" wheel bearings will wear out and need to be replaced before they break.

There are a few warning signs that are rather simple to recognize indicating a wheel bearing is wearing out and needs to be replaced.

1. Abnormal tire wear

There are many individual mechanical problems that can lead to abnormal tire wear including:

• Under or over inflated tires
• CV Joints
• Struts and Shocks
• Misaligned Suspension

However, one of the most common sources of uneven tire wear is worn out wheel bearings. It's very rare for wheel bearings to wear evenly. As such, if the left tire is showing more wear, it might indicate a problem with the left wheel bearing. However, wheel bearings need to be replaced together; if there is a problem with one side, you need to replace the other wheel bearing on the same axle. If you or a tire technician notice that one side of your vehicle's tires are wearing out quicker than the other, contact a certified mechanic so they can road test and diagnose the cause of this tire wear. In many cases it can be something different or minor, but you don't want to risk having a wheel bearing break.

2. Grinding or roaring noise coming from the tire area

It's very difficult to detect a failing wheel bearing as it does not happen very often and when they do wear out, it can happen rather quickly. However, one warning sign of a wearing out wheel bearing is a loud grinding or roaring sound that comes from the tire area of your car. This is caused by excess heat that has built up inside the wheel bearing and losing a lot of its lubricity. Essentially it's a metal-to-metal sound that you're hearing. It's also common that you'll hear this from one, specific wheel and not both sides at the same time. Like the above issue, if you notice this warning sign, contact a certified mechanic as soon as possible so they can diagnose the source of this sound and fix it before it becomes a safety issue.

3. Vibration in the steering wheel

Another common symptom with other mechanical problems in the drive and steering assembly, a vibration in the steering wheel can be caused by worn out wheel bearings. Unlike a tire balance problem that typically shows up at higher speeds, a vibration in the steering wheel thanks to a worn out wheel bearing will be noticed at slower speeds and progressively get worse as the vehicle accelerates.

4. Additional play in the wheels

This is not very common for normal car owners to diagnose. However, if you have the tire jacked up or the vehicle is on a hydraulic lift, you can check this one out yourself. Grab the wheel on opposite sides and attempt to rock it back and forth. If the wheel bearings are good, the wheel won't "wobble". However, if the tire/wheel assembly moves back and forth, this is most likely due to worn out wheel bearings that need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Additionally, if you notice that the vehicle has a hard time rolling while the clutch is depressed or the vehicle is in neutral gear, it can be caused by wheel bearings that are worn out, creating friction and could be failing.

Anytime you notice any of the above symptoms of a worn out or failing wheel bearing, contact a dependable and local certified mechanic who will road test, diagnose and replace the wheel bearings if needed.

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Tie Rod End

Common signs include a front end alignment that is off, a shaky or loose steering wheel, and uneven or excessive tire wear.

The job of keeping your wheels and tires driving straight down the road is completed by several components in the suspension system. Whether you have a truck, SUV, or commuter car, they all have tie rod ends that attach to the wheel housing and ensure your vehicle has a smooth and efficient ride every day. However, this component is subject to extreme wear and tear due to the fact that it's used every time the vehicle is in motion. When it wear out or fails, you'll notice a few warning signs that should be inspected by a certified mechanic and replaced if needed.

As the name implies, the tie rod end is attached at the tip of the tie rod and connects the wheels of the vehicle with the steering and suspension components that permit the vehicle to steer. When the tie rod end begins to wear out, it's usually due to impact, constant use on bumpy roads or simple age. Frequently, the part that wears out in the tie rod end is actually the bushing. However, it's advised that you replace the tie rod end completely as metal fatigue can also cause the part to fail. If you have the tie rod ends replaced, it's critical that you remind the mechanic to complete a front end alignment, which will set your wheels to point straight.

Like any other mechanical part, a worn out tie rod end will display a few warning signs or indicators that the part is failing and needs to be replaced. Listed below are a few of these symptoms. If you notice any of these, please contact a mechanic as soon as possible so they may properly diagnose the problem and take corrective action to replace what might be broken.