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Old 09-21-2013, 05:27 PM   #3 (permalink)
Christ
Moderate your Moderation.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Many cars have irreplaceable ball joints that are a part of the control arm now. If the ball joint is worn on one of those, you replace the entire arm.

Labor wise, it's cheaper to replace the arm than a ball joint or bushing.

I don't believe your Subaru has upper control arms, only lowers and a MacPherson strut system [the strut damper is also the upper lateral control for the wheel alignment]. That would explain why the shop said 'front' control arms rather than identifying upper or lower.
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