Front control arm replacement

[Xist]

When I had my mom's shop replace my hoses and charge my AC, they told me that I need to replace the front control arms. The estimate was $635, with labor at $75 an hour.

I do not have any idea where to get labor for $75 an hour down here.

I think that my service plan should cover this, minus my $100 deductible, although I expect them to have me pay for more.

Sometimes I hear clicking when I brake or steer, but not constant clicking, like with CV joints.

My service plan specifies:

Steering: Power steering pump; steering box; rack and pinion; pitman arm; idler arm; tie rods; tie rod ends and drag link.
Front and Rear Suspension: Upper and lower control arms, shafts and bearings or bushings; upper and lower ball joints; king pins and bushings; spindle and spindle support; torsion bars and bushings; leaf springs, shackles and bushings; coil springs; stabilizer bar, linkage and bushings. MacPherson strut housing, strut bar and bushing; wheel bearings

The plan covers upper and lower control arms, while the shop said that the front control arms need replacing. Should those refer to the same thing, or might the company use a different name for the same thing?

Thank you so much! I hope that you are having a great weekend!

[cbaber]

Unless the control arm is cracked or bent, it does not need replaced. What needs replaced are the bushings/ball joints that are pressed into the control arms, that connect the various suspension components.

Either way, your service plan should cover it. Either under the control arm name, or bushings. Ask them specifically why you need the control arm, and not the bushings/ball joints?

[Christ]

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.

[Xist]

Thanks, guys! I am trying to think of all of the maintenance that I have had on this car since I bought it May 7th, 2,013.

All four tires
Locking mechanism on the driver's door
Knock sensor
Timing belt
Spark plugs and wires
Power steering and AC hoses
AC recharge

I am not sure that is everything. I did not mention replacing the battery or oil changes.

I had not realized that my plan is for twenty-four months or 24,000 miles, although that seems standard. I am at 16.47 months and 12,758 miles, about 9,297 a year.

Had I driven more, I would probably have more maintenance!