Rear Suspension/Control arms

[GtariSSt]

I've got a 95 Camry sedan with a "rear steer" issue. Turns out I've got bad control arms in rear suspension allowing rear wheels to toe in and out at will. Makes for a very freaky ride, with the rear end wandering all over the road, lemme tell ya. It's getting worse with noticeable noise and wobble from passenger side. There are 4 of these arms, 2 in front of rear "axle" and two behind, all running along axle toward center of car. I have wobble on both sides so I need all 4, I'm thinking. Trouble is, the parts alone are close to $600 at autopartsplace.com. That may be more than this car is worth at 220k miles and rust showing up around wheel wells. I just had timing belt and water pump replaced before I found this out. Grrr. I will also need a set of tires to get me through the winter, so we're talking about $1000 into a car that may be worth less than that next spring.

Any words of wisdom? Cheaper idea on parts? Scrap it for a couple hundred and start over with something else? Looking for a little help here.

Thanks

[asushi]

There is no reason those parts should cost that much. Try:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,10401

i'd fix this common issue sooner rather than later

[Mike Gerber]

Are you sure it's both arms on both sides that are bad? Usually it's the rear-most one on each side that goes bad. Toyota refers to them as "rear lateral control rods"; number 1 is the one closest to the front of the car and number 2 is the rear-most one. The rear-most one has the alignment adjustment. You will also need a 4 wheel alignment after replacing the rods.

I have found these are dealer only items. If you do find a cheaper aftermarket source for these, let us know here on this forum.

Mike

[GtariSSt]

Originally Posted by asushi

There is no reason those parts should cost that much. Try:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,10401

i'd fix this common issue sooner rather than later

Dude - you are the MAN! Assuming, of course, that you are a guy.

Anyway, I was looking at OEM parts at 2 other sites, like I said close to $600 bucks, which would double what I figure the car is worth. Rock Auto (good ol' cheeseheads) had aftermarket Beck Arnley parts for $280 and some change shipped. Thanks!

Mike Gerber - Rock had limited supply of the adjustable rears, but try other Beck Arnley distributors.

[asushi]

post pics when you get em, i'd like to see how they are adjustable.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by asushi

post pics when you get em, i'd like to see how they are adjustable.

There is a sleeve on the rear-most one on each side, like a tie rod end.

Mike

[GtariSSt]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

There is a sleeve on the rear-most one on each side, like a tie rod end.

Mike

exactly

Easy to see by poking your head underneath from behind wheel.

[plbill]

Too bad you don't live in Quebec. I have a set of new control arm sleeping in my garage and I want to get rid of them.

[GtariSSt]

Got the parts yesterday, will get them put on this weekend. Looking forward to this! Starting to shake my fillings loose.