longer lasting lower control arm

[funky technician]

Hay guys, I was wondering where to buy a GOOD set of lower control arms for my festiva, I ordered a new set off e-bay 2 years ago and installed them, but after only two years the rubber is all dry rotted and split ont he ball joint and after this winter(when the salt water washes the greese out) I'll be needing new ones again, I'm not ordering the same ones, they came from somewhere in columbia, off ebay, I forget who the exact seller was, but I see them all the time on e-bay, and it looks like there all coming from the same place in columbia somewhere, has anyone else had any luck finding a good set that will last as long as OEM?

[DuritzCrows17]

Yeah mine already dry rotted and I only drove my car in excellent weather for maybe a month this summer and I put them on last winter in my garage where the car stays.

[Pu241]

Re: longer lasting lower control arm

... I'm not ordering the same ones, they came from somewhere in columbia, off ebay, I forget who the exact seller was, but I see them all the time on e-bay, and it looks like there all coming from the same place in columbia somewhere ...

Columbia as in the country?

Columbia, South America?

Could you be more specific?

[funky technician]

Re: longer lasting lower control arm

... I'm not ordering the same ones, they came from somewhere in columbia, off ebay, I forget who the exact seller was, but I see them all the time on e-bay, and it looks like there all coming from the same place in columbia somewhere ...

Columbia as in the country?

Columbia, South America?

Could you be more specific?

I'll check with my cousin, I had him order them on his ebay account, so he'll know for sure

[worfdog]

had the same problem also. i have started every time i change the oil to put some type of rubber lubricant on all rubber boots such as cv boots steering boots,tie rod end boots. it has helped. my tie rod ends i bought of of e-bay wore out completely after 2 years. went to o reillys auto parts and bought new outer tie rod ends with grease fittings for 19.95 apiece. maybe their lower control arms also come with grease fittings and better rubber boots.

[FB71]

they probably came from FestivaMotorSport in Columbia, MD. Most of the LCA's I've found are the same 'TreadSaver' brand that FMS sells, often in private labelled boxes. They're all made in China by the same manufacturer. There may be other sources, but I have yet to find them. I bought urethane tie rod boots at my local PepBoys and put them overtop the rubber boots when I installed the LCAs. 3 years, no problems.

[kzbill]

Columbia as in D.C. yes, festiva motorsports. I know moog still sell the control arms, more money of course.

[roycehof]

I put a moog control arm on 2 years ago and it is still fine. The control arm was $50 at the time with my discount (Moog comes with a lifetime warranty and the Quality was excellent). The other thing you might want to consider is replacing the boot. Energy suspension makes replacement boots that are urethane and last almost forever (Advance Auto Parts sell these). I think I paid about $7 for boots to fit the Tie Rods ( I remember that they did have a size to fit the LCR's).

[Dave G]

Last time I replaced those I got them at NAPA

[skeeters_keeper]

yea i've got the red energy suspension boots, i have the part # at home, i think i got mine on e-bay for like $7. Previously i bought a pair of black rubber ones from NAPA and they didn't even last a year before they split and came off! the energy suspension ones have held up really well though so far.

I wish there were LCA's with grease fittings but i haven't been able to find any.

[FB71]

Columbia as in D.C. yes, festiva motorsports. I know moog still sell the control arms, more money of course.

Columbia isn't in or near DC (more than 20 miles). Its close to Baltimore (15 miles or so). The nation's first city planned entirely by one private contractor, The Rouse Co.

[Fordverde]

Tip: buy a pair, new ones, then take them to a machine shop, have them install a grease nipple at the base of the joint. Then take them home and fill them up with this: http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...ic_Grease.aspx.
If you keep them well lubricated they will last longer. Another tip: When winter starts, lift your Festi and remove the bolt from the joint, then fill them up until all dirty grease has come out from one side of the dust cover, assemble them again, and your good to go all winter.

[funky technician]

ya, when I noticed that torn boot, I removed the ball joint stut from the hub and re-greased the joint, and slathered the outside of the whole boot/joint with grease to help protect from water ingress

[skeeters_keeper]

The ball joint boot is energy suspension part#9.13101


i have some old aspire LCA's, i think i'm going to drill into the back of one of them and see if i can install a grease fitting myself. Then i can just by a few grease nipples and be able to grease whatever i want! Anyone tried doing this their self before?

[kzbill]

yup! I did it but they dont' need grease they are UHMW plastic the only grease that works with that that I know of is food grade grese or maybe silicone based. I am not sure if synthetics work but if the are compatible with UHMW i want to know so I can start to grease them.