FAQ: Lower Control Arms & Bushings 1995/1996/1997/1998/1999

MPOL = monster parts online
GMPD = GM parts direct

Stuart, are you switching to '98 control arms, too?

duckstu wrote:

Mr.Riviera wrote:

they are 177+20shipping at MPOL
they are 160+30shipping at GMPD

hopefully i will save some weight too by switching from the hollow steel to cast aluminum parts

What is "MPOL" and "GMPD" ? GMPD sounds like GM parts direct or something,...but I couldn't find MPOL on the net,..and it doesn't come up on a search of this site either.

If i could find the Amcast alum control arms for a '97 for $170,...I'd be all over it. I could even drive the Riv again. As it is,...it's just ,...collects leaves and bird poop.

Thanks.

I'm a bit confused, isn't the 1997 available as a replacement control arm assembly from GM.?

I thought you had solved this problem quite a while ago. I didn't know you were parked due to control arms.

Never mind, I think I know what is happening, they want about $300.00 each for the 97's. I just looked it up on MPOL. Shit, that sucks, cause the 98 's are still $177.-

It did list the other models it fit's and i think I saw Bonneville, which is much more plentiful in the junkyards than is the Riv. Good used is always an option.
You never know what you'll find. We had to junk my G/F car due to an accident that had one week old front struts, springs, brakes, etc.

Mathew - so the Moog bushings fit the '98 control arms. Did you replace the lower ball joint, too?

Anyone have a pair of old control arms they want to sell me?

The set of bushing i ordered from rockauto (MOOG #K6575) fit my 96 steel control arm. I do not know if they will fit your 98.
In hindsight i should have just ordered a new arm. (one of the 98 replacement aluminum ones)
I spent hours hammering, prying, and pounding out the vertical bushings.
I said screw it when it came to the horizontal ones b/c those are even harder to get out with manual tools. (plus mine were not in that bad of shape.

By getting a new arm i would have had all top quality delco parts in a ready to install piece.
VS saving a few buck, spend way more time and only getting 1 set of bushings replaced.

If i had an aluminum arm (97+) i would most definitely have broken it to pieced trying to get the bushing out.

So you're still using '96 control arms?

Do you think the Moog bushings are made of a harder material than AC Delco?

Yes i still have the 96 arms, but everything else on my front end suspension is 98.

The MOOG parts seem to be just a hard rubber. doubt its any better than the delco ones. I can send you the 2 horizontal bushings if you want to give them a try.

I just found a fully assembled control arm for '98 at RockAuto for $76. Is Dorman a very reputable brand?

Yes, Dorman is very reputable.
They make stuff for the OEM's.

This must be a recent listing, because I looked at them about 6 months ago for someone and Rock Auto didn't have anything.

I think from now on we have to start checking all the other sources again because it appears the game is changing on us.
The only control arms available were from GM.
I guess some of the Aftermarket companies are finally stepping up to the plate.
These cars are at the age were they are willing to make parts and things like the Control Arms, especially because they fit other model cars.

WTF? i know that was not listed back when i was looking. I would have jumped all over that

I do notice they only have the right side listed so far. might want to check and see if they can get the left yet or not.
Never tried dorman parts, but i have heard of them.


On a completely different note, rockauto seems to have a TON more brake stuff for rivs that they did a year ago.

Stuart,
You need to check Rock Auto for a Dorman replacement for your 97.
AA just found a Dorman replacement for the 98 for less than half the price.

Dorman Lower Control Arms for '98-99

Part number 520169 for left (driver side)
Part number 520170 for right (pass side)

I've found the left for as low as $100.

Where did you find the left one listed.?
The right one on Rock Auto is only $75.79.

Since it's a recent listing we could give them a little more time and see what they do about the left side.
Or if you are in need for the left side right away, it would be worth a call to them and see how long before they inventory the part, now that you know Dorman is in fact making them.

This is great news, I hope more Dealer Only or Obsolete stuff keeps showing up in the aftermarket. Will certainly save us all a bunch of money trying to keep these cars going.

I called RockAuto and spoke to a rep. He said they more than 5 in stock, but no idea if/when the left will become available.

Found the same right side arm from Autoparts123.com, through Amazon for $78.34 shipped. I found the left side at Auto Parts Nerd for $90.29 out the door. Both were ordered, should arrive by the weekend.

Not a bad deal for a few minutes of hunting and some help from the Riviera Performance crew!

EDIT: Auto Parts Nerd sent me notification on June 3rd they did not actually have the part in stock, refunded my credit card. Now have to search for #520169 left (driver side) arm.

UPDATE: found left direct through Autoparts123.com (not through Amazon)! Ohio residents pay tax, but free shipping on $50+ orders.

Excellent.
All new stuff for both sides for about the price of one side just a little while ago.

As I mentioned earlier, I think this is a wake up call to all of us to start searching all the places we had stopped looking because they never stocked it before.

Hopefully this represents a trend of more aftermarket parts to come that were previously GM Only.

Rickw wrote:

Stuart,
You need to check Rock Auto for a Dorman replacement for your 97.
AA just found a Dorman replacement for the 98 for less than half the price.

Rock Auto doesn't have a listing for control arms. And their listings for the bushings are wrong. I let them know this (after receiving the bushings from them and them being the wrong ones), but they won't correct their listings.

The ones they list for the '97 are really the bushings for the steel control arms of earlier models.

I had priced new control arms,..but most places that listed them found they couldn't really get any. The one place that thought they could still order them was GM,...and the price was $580 for the pair.

At that price it's a toss-up as to whether to scrap the car or replace the arms. For sure I'd loose money if I replaced them.

I have considered converting them to '98 arms. I have a welder,..so it would be easy enough to weld on some pieces of angle-iron to make the '98 style front brackets.

Hell, I'd like to know what happened between '97 and '98...

Eldo wrote:

Hell, I'd like to know what happened between '97 and '98...

They finally figured out their design sucked,...so they changed the front bushing to a longitudinal style like the one at the rear of the control arm (so they're both the same,...and both replaceable).

Which leaves us unfortunate '97 owners even more in the lurch. Not much market for a one year part with no specs on record.

I now have inquiries in to the company that bought out Amcast,..and am inquiring to Dorman.

duckstu wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Hell, I'd like to know what happened between '97 and '98...

hey finally figured out their design sucked,...so they changed the front bushing to a longitudinal style like the one at the rear of the control arm (so they're both the same,...and both replaceable).

Which leaves us unfortunate '97 owners even more in the lurch. Not much market for a one year part with no specs on record.

I now have inquiries in to the company that bought out Amcast,..and am inquiring to Dorman.

Oh terrific... they designed a non-serviceable arm and then only made it for one year?!?
I always thought those vertical bushings were funky, but I also thought that they were the same through '99.


Thanks for the clarification, Stu.

After reading through this, I'm tempted to get hold of a 98-99 subframe from a yard or something and buy new control arms...
If I knew of a decent source that I could pick it up from, I would but I don't see it happening. Any ideas on that?

turtleman wrote:

After reading through this, I'm tempted to get hold of a 98-99 subframe from a yard or something and buy new control arms...
If I knew of a decent source that I could pick it up from, I would but I don't see it happening. Any ideas on that?

Ed Morad, would be a long day drive there though.

Suggest telling auto recyclers in your area you're looking for one. It'll turn up.

Albertj

turtleman wrote:

After reading through this, I'm tempted to get hold of a 98-99 subframe from a yard or something and buy new control arms...
If I knew of a decent source that I could pick it up from, I would but I don't see it happening. Any ideas on that?

I was thinking of just getting a used set of '98 - '99 arms. The inner bushings are like $9.00 each,..and are replacable.

Then cutting off the stock front bracket on the subframe and welding on some angle-iron. You just use 2" sections of angle iron,....drill a bolt sized hole in one side of each,....assemble the angles and bolts onto the front bushing and then weld the angle-iron bits onto the subframe where they make contact.

Simple deal really. Then gusset them up a bit and paint them with appliance epoxy or under-coating.

Used arms $15 each?
Four new bushings $40.
Angle iron from Home Depot $8.

Should be $80 if you know someone with a welder. I have one myself.


New '98 - '99 arms are still like $550. Then pulling a subframe out of a junk car,...then out of your car,...then installing it.

can i use 98 control arms on my 95?

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-520-170-Solutions-Control-Arm/dp/B00279FFZ2/ref=pd_ts_auto_10?ie=UTF8&s=automotive


if the 98s look like these they wont work is what im thinking... that price is unbeatable though..

AA wrote:

Dorman Lower Control Arms for '98-99

Part number 520169 for left (driver side)
Part number 520170 for right (pass side)

I've found the left for as low as $100.

There is no listing for Lower Control Arms for a '96. Can you use the Control Arms for 98-99 on a '96?