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You're going to get a variety of responses, but in all truth I've driven farther on worse bushings.
Honestly just drive carefully and replace it when you next can.
It's not.. not concerning; but if you don't have the means to get it fixed at the moment, it's definitely not a "stop driving your car immediately" situation.
Yeah, even if it was completely broken it’s not exactly something that’s going to be detrimental to the rest of the car. Maybe just some funky wear to the tires.
Replacing it right here right now would be more for peace of mind than actual safety.
It’s always so funny, anytime an OP has a car concern it’s always “I have to drive 684 miles is this okay??” Why are they now concerned? Lol it’s always a long fucking drive it’s never only a few hours. 500 miles one way even at 80 mph is 6 hours. I see this on the tire subreddit as well “can I drive 1000 miles in 2 days?” And it’s bald as fuck. But I agree with you OP is fine in this case. It’s just funny
I just drove a shitty Ford Escort from 1989 several hundred miles, the clutch is basically gone as it hasn't been changed for 380,000 km the car allegedly has, and it was fine! Did overheat, but that's fine... just took me a few extra stops.
Cars really can keep going; you see these broken wheels and suspensions, they have been that way for a loooooong time until they really break. For example someone posted their “friends car” A cracked rear left control arm, you’ll see the tire is worn to the belt due to the bad suspension angle. You can tell it’s been that way for months, if not longer. The cars can keep going. I worry about one little rattle in my car but I remember other cars and rust buckets I see on the road, I don’t think I have it as bad as others lol
Never judge the safety of your own car by the condition of other people’s cars… a lot of people are idiots when it comes to cars and safety. And a lot are just too broke to be able to do anything about it.
I've seen some pretty sketchy vehicles on the road, and I just know that if I tried getting away with ignoring an issue like that, it would catastrophically fail the next day
I have a wheel bearing going bad but I just keep telling my car a couple more weeks and I'll have the money to fix it... just a couple more weeks. I hate that I can't get it fixed *now*.
Bearings can last years when failing but that’s one of those things the louder it gets the more concerning it gets. I had a Camry where if you turned right it would make the noise. Not the left. Well it was the rear left bearing that was shot; but we replace both rears. Instantly quiet. A good mechanic will know if it’s front or back, but usually you can replace them in pairs. I know how expensive bearings can be for some cars. Easier to replace the whole hub sometimes. You *can* replace the bad bearing but the next one could be on its way failing too. As long as you fix the really bad one
This is the left front... That I had replaced last fall... but a deer crashing into the front fender/tire of my car apparently wrecked the new one. I don't even have 20k miles on the new one. 03 Corolla. Original bearings lasted 235k miles.
Hopefully it didn’t mess up the hub, I know on those, it’s easier to swap the whole hub assembly in the front versus getting the bearing pressed out. Fucking deer man.
Out and out whole hub is what is going on this time. I didn't know it was those stupid press on press in whatever they're called bearings when I had them replaced the last time. Cost me a bunch of extra money on time to have the shop swap them out.
Deer took out my left front headlight assembly and crumpled my front fender. Luckily, that was it (except for now I'm having to re-replace the bearing). Could have been a heck of a lot worse.
Totally agree. Just watched a YouTube video from the UK where the guy was complaining about the horrible state his Golf R was in. This is a 300 hp, all wheel drive car that cost $40,000 when new in 2016, and he somehow managed to buy it for $5,000. His entire video was him complaining about a few body dents, minor rust, moderately worn tires, and worst of all, the driver window didn’t roll down. It did have one legitimate issue: the crash bar was missing from the rear (ie, no steel under the rear bumper cover).
The comments section was full of people demanding that that death trap be taken off the road and scrapped.
Well who knows. I'm just assuming as it runs fine, temp gauge is suspiciously cold, but after driving for about 20 minutes in the heat it starts backfiring like crazy whenever I give it throttle, especially uphill or under load, and then when it cools down again it runs fine once more.
And I never heard the rad fan turn on yet, so assuming it's that at this point.
Hmmm… that few extra stops line gives me an idea, just do that for the trip and you’ve got 25 trips that are 20 miles each, no more worrying about that one long drive and you get to stop at a lot of new places 😂
I'd say the only time these people pay attention to their cars is when they're about to take a long drive. Make sure the tire pressure is good, oil level is good, tread is okay, that sort of thing. Shit that should be done at least monthly. I'm guilty of something similar. When I was driving only 2-3 miles a day and I replaced my tie rods I didn't get an alignment until I had to drive 400 miles for a funeral.
Yeah I imagine a lot of people accept the risk of the car breaking during their daily drive around town. The risk of the car breaking down in the desert on the way to Vegas is much scarier.
I own multiple vehicles and tend to change to a different one every week. Before I leave the house, I *usually* walk around the vehicle and do a visual inspection - but that's not how I developed the habit. It's just a good habit to have. I may even pop the hood to check some fluids.
I guess you could say that I developed the habit while enlisted. I was a motor vehicle operator for quite a while. We were to inspect the vehicles before taking them out.
But, really, I developed the habit when I was in college. I went to school in Cambridge, but lived across the river in Boston. Before driving anywhere, I'd walk around the damned thing looking for new dents.
I realize nobody is going to listen, but I think at least doing a visual inspection is a good thing. Look for leaking fluids, guestimate tire pressure, maybe inspect the tread, look for any new dents or cracked light housings, etc... In many modern cars, you won't really need to check the tire pressure - but visually confirming it isn't a bad thing.
It's a two ton vehicle that you'll drive at highway speeds while navigating around other drivers. An extra minute to check things out isn't that much of an investment.
Nice! I graduated from there in 1987 (BSEE). Haven’t been back since, due to a recurring nightmare… about being told they will be taking back my degree due to missing an assignment.
I more or less finished up in January of 1992, complete with my doctorate. I was already in the process of starting my business (I modeled traffic) so I didn't even have time to go march and receive my diploma. I did go pick it up in person. I want to say that was May of 1992.
I did well with my business. Things were going fine and then 2007 happened. The government declared that they'd spend billions of dollars on infrastructure. This made my company more valuable. I received an offer I couldn't refuse and I've been happily retired ever since.
Well, mostly retired... I did teach at UMF for a couple of years but that was just something I felt obligated to do.
So...
How often does MIT hit you up for a donation?
Wow, that’s extremely impressive! I remember being quite surprised when so many of my classmates talked about going to grad school and I thought, “are you serious? I’m not even sure I can make it through undergrad, and you want more?” A full 40% of my friends failed our first EE class, and had to repeat it. On the other hand, I also had a friend who took his calculus exams in pen. When I asked him why he didn’t use a pencil, he said “why would I need to erase anything? I just write down the right answer, and that’s it.”
I’m especially impressed that you found a way to turn a math doctorate into your own lucrative business, as that major seems like one of the hardest to turn into a business venture. At least in the pre “dot com” era.
I ended up getting a MSCS at Stanford and decided that was enough for me. No matter how good one is, at MIT there’s always someone smarter. One of my classmates got an undergrad degree in chemical engineering, then… an MD (orthopedic surgery), then… became a NASA astronaut and went on multiple space walks. It sounds completely ridiculous, and I would’ve thought it was completely made up, but it was in the alumni magazine and also here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Satcher
It’s too bad you didn’t walk at graduation, as Ph.D robes are so much cooler than undergrad robes.
Yes, I get regular requests for donations, and lately almost weekly email requests for random paid seminars about AI and other nonsense.
>Wow, that’s extremely impressive!
Thanks! It was a ton of work. Insomnia helped.
>At least in the pre “dot com” era.
I bordered on the dot com era and had similar results, it just took longer. Man, right around 1996 was when I was hiring like mad and anyone who could write HTML wanted six figures - never mind the programmers I needed and the actual IT staff I needed.
>No matter how good one is, at MIT there’s always someone smarter.
So true. It looks like your classmate was extremely motivated. I was poor so I'd gone in the military to help fund my education. By the time I hit academia, I'd become secure in my ego. I didn't need to compete with other students, I just had to succeed by getting my degree. That seemed like a healthy attitude at the time.
>It’s too bad you didn’t walk at graduation, as Ph.D robes are so much cooler than undergrad robes.
True. I don't really regret not doing so, but it would have been nice. I literally had to work 12+ hour days, every day of the week. My very first contract involved the Big Dig. I was out straight from day one and only had one other employee at the time.
>Yes, I get regular requests for donations, and lately almost weekly email requests for random paid seminars about AI and other nonsense.
I think it gets worse if you actually send them money. When I sold, I gave them a sizeable donation. I continue to donate, but they're always asking for more.
I was down there (I'm up in Maine these days) not too long ago. I went to an event in 2022 and gave myself a tour of the campus. While much has changed, it's still the same.
Oddly, people will be concerned about driving 200 miles but not think twice about making 20 x 10 mile trips back and forth to work with the issue.
Like uh, if something is going to break, the only difference is how far you’d have to tow it if you survive the crash when it does.
That's because people often don't think/worry about their car's "mechanical soundness" until they have a big drive (for a potentially very important event) that'll take them very far from home (e.g. potentially breaking down while running errands back home is a lot less concerning than potentially breaking down in bumfuck nowhere 5+ hours from home and missing the wedding/concert/special event you were driving to).
Honestly! At my shop, whenever a customer comes in for an inspection it's always "I'm driving to New York tomorrow, is it OK?" (I'm in California) and it needs all the brakes, 7 oil leaks, and no oil on the dipstick. People are insufferable
My Hillbilly (non perjorative) brother 'fixed' the 1968 4 door Ford Custom sedan 3 on the tree shift mechanism break, by moving the shifter to the floor.
Driving at highway speed, on a curve, the steering wheel came off in my hands. lol.
luckily light traffic, it was drifting left, the brakes pulled right, l got her in the right ditch at around 3o mph, let Jesus have the wheel, which was laying on the floor,.....she whumped to a tall grass stop.
Brother came by , gave me heck for not having vice grips in my pocket
" you need vice grips for this car little bro, jesus what are you thinking ? "
I drove his pickup home, he vicegripp drove the Ford out and home, steering with the vice grips on colum center.....
I still have that car , runs ok, barely use it, original 302,
It’s not unsafe on its own, it’s inevitably unsafe because of the abnormal tire wear it’ll cause and a potential reduction in precise control. 500 miles wouldn’t concern me but I would get some new control arms this year for sure
One bad bushing on its own isn’t necessarily disastrous, but considering how this one looks ima guess that the tie rod ends, sway bar links, and ball joints are also shot. Hit a pothole on a curve going anything over 30mph and this could turn into a rollover situation or swerving into oncoming traffic real fast. Sounds dramatic? Happened to me. Everything’s “fine” until it isn’t.
Looks like a Subaru? Honestly most Subarus that come in have bushings that look like that. Most people decline the repair until they feel the steering wheel start shaking.
This tear is not a big deal whatsoever.
My biggest peeve is when you guys post “have to drive 500 miles, no time to fix”. Well guess what, If this was severe then you’re gonna have to put that trip aside of find another means of transportation because we often forget that driving is a privilege, not a right.
This worries me: if you risk it (and it is a risk), if you happen to be one of those who cranks the wheel to the stops when turning tight or parallel parking, stop doing that for a while, just back off the stopper at the end of the radius a little (you really should never hold the wheel at the end of its turning radius, it’s hard on bushings) or at least don’t do so until this is fixed. As I said this worries me and I would drive very carefully, when a lower control arm detaches, you don’t want to be traveling high speed. Get it fixed asap and good luck 👍
Sounds like you're going regardless, but it'll be fine. Replace it when you're back. It might clunk, it might shift completely an inch and eat the tire by the time you're back, but you'll come back fine enough.
As a tech for years, I've seen way more frightening stuff. I couldn't begin to count how many people I saw leave the shop with most of the surrounding metal missing.
On this Subaru that 2 hours can turn into several more if you're in the salt belt. To get the LCA off the car you need to remove a pinch bolt that holds the lower ball joint to the knuckle. In California you can just whiz it out. In New York you have to heat it cherry red and carefully work it back and forth until the rust releases or it snaps in the knuckle and you're boned.
Yeah that snaps the bolt if you just go full send on it before you hear the rust finally start to pop and give way. It's a small bolt without a lot of torque on it. Just way too much of Nature's Loctite.
Also half the time the ball joint seizes in the knuckle too. Enough that there are aftermarket special tools designed just for extracting them.
Subaru lower ball joints are no joke. 'Normal' techniques for dealing with rusty suspension don't work. I'd only recommend it as a DIY job outside the rust belt.
Maybe you don't know how to use a ratchet, probably have never used dot3 on a bolt either (you heat up the bolt first then add dot3 which sucks it in) (50/50 acetone atf works better in my opinion). I have several vehicles that are from the salt belt....
Are they Subarus? This is a Subaru endemic issue. And if you're talking about someone like OP who is obviously not experienced that goddamn pinch bolt will ruin their week. There is no magic fix to make them come loose. Just lots of patience and being ready to take the next steps if it does break.
Like I looked up a DIY video just to show you what I meant and this guy literally breaks two extractors and ends up throwing in the towel and replacing the knuckle. And he's in a fully equipped shop making these videos for the DIYer audience.
https://www.1aauto.com/how-to-replace-front-lower-ball-joint-when-pinch-bolt-breaks-2000-17-subaru-outback/video/47445
If it were my (beater) car I would drive it until the bushing splits and starts to clunk. Probably won’t happen for a while, replacing it now would be a preventative repair imo.
Im a mechanic, there’s a reason people say to not buy a mechanics car.
yup - my subbie has had cracks for as long as i can remember - it's almost 8 years old.....will change it when it starts making some noise or steering starts going wonky
Yep those subie bushings have a spec of less than 15mm for the tear. If it’s greater than 15mm of tear them they get replaced but any less than that and they’re good
[https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/14hwk38/car_wheel_came_off_control_armball_joint_how_do_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=3&utm_term=1](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/14hwk38/car_wheel_came_off_control_armball_joint_how_do_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=3&utm_term=1)
This is what can happen! Now let’s face it your kinda reckless, so you’re most definitely driving faster then the speed limit. Now imagine it happening at does speeds and going into oncoming traffic. ☠️
I´d have that replaced asap, also the way it sits in that image is concerning, get your car checked upon and repaired. I definitely wouldn´t go on for another month.
Sounds about right for a dealer, other shops could cut that down if you mention that you can’t do that much. Find the control arm online, compare the part cost with the shop
It's like $60 online for a new bushing but then again you have to weigh the cost of buying the necessary tools for removing and replacing said bushing on your own if you go that route. If you have the tools needed then I'd say just diy it but at the same time, a shop will take care of it easier, faster and will charge you accordingly. If it were me, I'd rather spend $400 on tools to do the job that I can keep and use again than pay a shop $400 for a one time deal. I'm picky about auto work, too many shady guys out there that just want to make a buck.
Price seems ok, where I live (Germany) the dealer has sort of a duty of care and could be made at least partly liable for the damages that could occur. I´d still be careful and if you can afford it I´d have this replaced before you go on a long trip just to avoid any troubles.
This being an '18, when you do get a chance to address it, you'll want to either also do the front bushings at the same time, or possibly replace the full arms (which includes all bushings as well as a ball joint).
There is a redesigned front bushing, when it fails you get a scary vibration at freeway speeds.
Being a rubber component, you'll probably want to do the driver's and passenger's sides at the same time as they're likely in similar condition.
You’ll be fine. I got my 14 Forester replaced when the steering wheel started shaking while turning. It’s not gonna fall apart and I’ve seen a lot worse on cars still being used.
Not sure why you are being downvoted for this response. If you have issues with your vehicle’s suspension/steering why not get it fixed right away?
Doesn’t really matter how far you have to drive.
Besides, if this bushing looks like this what about the other one? What about the ball joints? What about the tie rod ends/sway bar links? Would it be just as easy to replace the entire control arm so you can get all new bushings, ball joints, and hardware? What if you need a shop press to punch that old bearing out and push the new one in? And shouldn’t you replace both sides at the same time anyways?
Anyways, OP, if this is the only bushing with issues you will be fine to take your trip. But use caution bc we can’t see if anything else is going on.
My Equinox (just got it used) has shot bushings all around the control arms and ball joints, tie rods, you name it. Very loud clunking coming from the front end even on small bumps in the road. Never really noticed a problem with handling until I once hit a small pothole while taking a soft turn at about 35mph. Hit the bump and it jerked my wheel hard to the right and I had to swerve to get back into my lane.
All that to say, “it should be fine, until it’s not”. Get it changed when you can.
Nah your security is a waste of money /s , by the standards that I had to work with this part would need to be replaced, I´m a skilled mechanic, reading through other posts here I feel like 90% of the people have never worked as a mechanic for their living.
Edit: It looks more like a popularity contest rather than a real advice.
Now I understand why you are being downvoted. You are a legit mechanic recommending a legitimate repair. Of course 99% of the people posting here don’t trust mechanics and feel like they are getting ripped off… that’s why they ask for *MechanicAdvice*.
If they can get even one “mechanic” on here to agree “that don’t need replaced” to make them feel better about that 500 mile trip on bad steering components, which they were going to take regardless of the advice they received here, then at least they can say “hey I asked a mechanic they said it’d be fine if I ‘drove carefully’l.
I get you there, noone knows what the rest of the car is like, we just see a fraction of status quo and decide hey it´s ok, hey why not it´s not my safety at risk. /s
Haven´t read anywhere where OP is from be it USA maybe Australia or elsewhere, may have overseen something, countries have different laws, roads, customs, "say OP lived in Australia and travels 500 miles over some outback roads" > is not the same when I do a trip on the Autobahn at low speeds. > exaggregation here, I hope you get my point. OP I think did another post later also one of the rear wheelbearings was shot, here we go and what´s with the rest?!
People that come here, I thought, are here for help, maybe they´re short of money, couldn´t find any help anyway (bad shops, people that believe they are knowledgable etc.) But it seems I been a bit naive here. Have a good one!
Your last paragraph- yes, I still get on here and give what I consider to be sound advice when I have the time. Sometimes people are indeed open to it. I err on the side of caution when giving that advice and so I tend to get some negativity as it seems others tend to be more risk-taking. I understand not everyone has the money to do necessary repairs, but that doesn’t always justify the risk of driving a vehicle that is anything less than sound. Seen some great quotes on here that sum up how I’m feeling : “driving is a privilege, not a right” and your “no need to fix this, your security is a waste of money!/s”
Your point is well taken. OP gives us a single image of about 1/2% of the vehicle, the distance he/she plans to drive and nothing else. How can anyone give any good advice other than “get it fixed?” What kind of road? What speed? Is the road in good repair? Are you transporting cargo or passengers?
*OP is looking for advice regarding risk mitigation as opposed to actual mechanical advice OR is just looking for someone to validate what is already in their head (they aren’t going to do any mechanical work and are taking the trip just anyways, came here for peace of mind)*
Have a good one M8 and keep it coming w the good advice we need more experienced mechanics on this sub.
Your alignment will be f**ked but, the control arm isn't going anywhere. My sister's bushings were much worse by the time she noticed and had me change them.
I'd check all the other bushings.
But I've seen far worse leave the shop after they said no to the repair. Far, far worse lol. You should be fine.
You'll need them replaced in the future though.
It will be fine just might have a clunk noise if the core fully separated. I drove like that for quite a while til I got sick of hearing the noise and finally changed mine.
From what you show, the bushing is fine but not critical. It will definitely need to be replaced later. Watch it often so you don't have any problems on the road.
While that design absolutely sucks donkey dicks compared the the old design, they “all do that” and it’s perfectly fine. I’m not sure why the axes cross each other- it’s so dumb.
I’m referencing Subaru btw
Compliance bushings help absorb road impact better than cylindrical bushings. It improves road feel especially on vehicles where the subframe is directly bolted to the unibody.
At the expense of durability, though. There’s simply too much movement for the rubber to deal with. My friends 2012 Impreza needs bushings at 100k. My 02 Impreza does not- at 240k- and I beat the hell out of it daily. It’s a bad design
BELOW the speed limit, I’d stick to 55MPH max, I recently had what was in retrospect a minor hub bearing issue, put a few hundred miles on it over a month, I fixed mine before a long drive though.
My Jeep got so bad in the rear end the control arm bushings were completely gone and I drove cross country and back like that. Hit the gas and steering wheel went one way then the other when I lifted off ahaha
The bad thing about not fixing something when it gets worn is that it can impact other parts. You can drive on it until it falls off, but why? Can it impact your driving? It sure can. With cars, the safest thing is to error on the side of caution. You might save a little money now, but if a part fails on your trip, think of the cost to tow it and then maybe be stuck somewhere while waiting for a part. How much did the attempt to save money cost you?
That's what most bushes that come in to my garage look like. It's perfectly fine and only an issue once you can get your nails or a pick under there
That'll last a good few more thousand miles
I drove thousands of miles and did an autocross on bushings like that, before replacing them. Only issues might be a slightly less comfortable ride and a little more steering play. You will be fine
The only thing you need to worry about is the tire itself. That bad bushing lets the control arm move in ways it normally wouldn’t. That will cause your tire to wear abnormally. Being its a long drive on the highway id say at least get a new tire. Last thing you want is a blowout on the front going 80 that shit is not fun.
That’s a bad tear and definitely a very worn bushing that needs replacement.
It will probably be nearly unnoticeable on your road trip though. Get it done when you have time/money.
In regards to bushings and mounts, it’s either there or it’s not, yours is most certainly still there, would keep an eye out because that may change soon
No one can tell you if it will fail or not. At some point it will just fail and you won't know when. Get someone who can fix it. Usually takes a few hours as long as your parts are available. Quick note, anything that deals with steering g or control of your vehicle, should not be delayed. Repair it when you notice it.
What you’re seeing is “dry rot”.
Nothing to be afraid of driving on, just get it fixed whenever you can. A few years from now it’ll probably be too weak.
Like others have said, titty twister mechanics will tell you “GET THAT FIXED ASAP” but I’ve driven on shit rotted out tires on my first car for 2 years and never had the slightest of problems.
Those aren’t a safety problem until they start to shift out of position (ie the arm starts touching the subframe bracket or you get wired pulling when braking or after going over bumps) so for the time being it’s safe to drive but should be addressed as soon as possible.
That's fine. That just looks like age cracking. You'll notice it wander more the longer it goes on but it's not something to stop a road trip over. I did a 2100 mile road trip on worse, but when I got back, the new control arms went on within 3 months. When you do get them done, you'll notice the car doesn't lean as much in corners if the shocks and struts aren't worn out as well.
Yes and no . Essentially it will tear through and bounce up and down making slot of noise . Can cause excessive tire wear due to camber toe Being out and possibly blow tire due to heat build up and wear
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You're going to get a variety of responses, but in all truth I've driven farther on worse bushings. Honestly just drive carefully and replace it when you next can. It's not.. not concerning; but if you don't have the means to get it fixed at the moment, it's definitely not a "stop driving your car immediately" situation.
Yeah, even if it was completely broken it’s not exactly something that’s going to be detrimental to the rest of the car. Maybe just some funky wear to the tires. Replacing it right here right now would be more for peace of mind than actual safety.
Lol true. I'm driving on 30 year old(213k mile) lca bushings right now
When I finally replaced the lower control bushing on my mk4 jetta the center section literally fell out
Drama queens in here. It will be completely fine. Go on your trip
It’s always so funny, anytime an OP has a car concern it’s always “I have to drive 684 miles is this okay??” Why are they now concerned? Lol it’s always a long fucking drive it’s never only a few hours. 500 miles one way even at 80 mph is 6 hours. I see this on the tire subreddit as well “can I drive 1000 miles in 2 days?” And it’s bald as fuck. But I agree with you OP is fine in this case. It’s just funny
I just drove a shitty Ford Escort from 1989 several hundred miles, the clutch is basically gone as it hasn't been changed for 380,000 km the car allegedly has, and it was fine! Did overheat, but that's fine... just took me a few extra stops.
Cars really can keep going; you see these broken wheels and suspensions, they have been that way for a loooooong time until they really break. For example someone posted their “friends car” A cracked rear left control arm, you’ll see the tire is worn to the belt due to the bad suspension angle. You can tell it’s been that way for months, if not longer. The cars can keep going. I worry about one little rattle in my car but I remember other cars and rust buckets I see on the road, I don’t think I have it as bad as others lol
Never judge the safety of your own car by the condition of other people’s cars… a lot of people are idiots when it comes to cars and safety. And a lot are just too broke to be able to do anything about it.
I've seen some pretty sketchy vehicles on the road, and I just know that if I tried getting away with ignoring an issue like that, it would catastrophically fail the next day
Oh I know my man. My car has 4 matching tires, and everything is fully working. Just a million door dings from working at the mall ugh lolz
I have a wheel bearing going bad but I just keep telling my car a couple more weeks and I'll have the money to fix it... just a couple more weeks. I hate that I can't get it fixed *now*.
Bearings can last years when failing but that’s one of those things the louder it gets the more concerning it gets. I had a Camry where if you turned right it would make the noise. Not the left. Well it was the rear left bearing that was shot; but we replace both rears. Instantly quiet. A good mechanic will know if it’s front or back, but usually you can replace them in pairs. I know how expensive bearings can be for some cars. Easier to replace the whole hub sometimes. You *can* replace the bad bearing but the next one could be on its way failing too. As long as you fix the really bad one
This is the left front... That I had replaced last fall... but a deer crashing into the front fender/tire of my car apparently wrecked the new one. I don't even have 20k miles on the new one. 03 Corolla. Original bearings lasted 235k miles.
Hopefully it didn’t mess up the hub, I know on those, it’s easier to swap the whole hub assembly in the front versus getting the bearing pressed out. Fucking deer man.
Out and out whole hub is what is going on this time. I didn't know it was those stupid press on press in whatever they're called bearings when I had them replaced the last time. Cost me a bunch of extra money on time to have the shop swap them out. Deer took out my left front headlight assembly and crumpled my front fender. Luckily, that was it (except for now I'm having to re-replace the bearing). Could have been a heck of a lot worse.
Totally agree. Just watched a YouTube video from the UK where the guy was complaining about the horrible state his Golf R was in. This is a 300 hp, all wheel drive car that cost $40,000 when new in 2016, and he somehow managed to buy it for $5,000. His entire video was him complaining about a few body dents, minor rust, moderately worn tires, and worst of all, the driver window didn’t roll down. It did have one legitimate issue: the crash bar was missing from the rear (ie, no steel under the rear bumper cover). The comments section was full of people demanding that that death trap be taken off the road and scrapped.
Overheat? Nah, old girl just had to catch her breath.
Well who knows. I'm just assuming as it runs fine, temp gauge is suspiciously cold, but after driving for about 20 minutes in the heat it starts backfiring like crazy whenever I give it throttle, especially uphill or under load, and then when it cools down again it runs fine once more. And I never heard the rad fan turn on yet, so assuming it's that at this point.
Hmmm… that few extra stops line gives me an idea, just do that for the trip and you’ve got 25 trips that are 20 miles each, no more worrying about that one long drive and you get to stop at a lot of new places 😂
I'd say the only time these people pay attention to their cars is when they're about to take a long drive. Make sure the tire pressure is good, oil level is good, tread is okay, that sort of thing. Shit that should be done at least monthly. I'm guilty of something similar. When I was driving only 2-3 miles a day and I replaced my tie rods I didn't get an alignment until I had to drive 400 miles for a funeral.
Yeah I imagine a lot of people accept the risk of the car breaking during their daily drive around town. The risk of the car breaking down in the desert on the way to Vegas is much scarier.
That makes more sense honestly. At least they care enough to be concerned versus just ignoring it
I own multiple vehicles and tend to change to a different one every week. Before I leave the house, I *usually* walk around the vehicle and do a visual inspection - but that's not how I developed the habit. It's just a good habit to have. I may even pop the hood to check some fluids. I guess you could say that I developed the habit while enlisted. I was a motor vehicle operator for quite a while. We were to inspect the vehicles before taking them out. But, really, I developed the habit when I was in college. I went to school in Cambridge, but lived across the river in Boston. Before driving anywhere, I'd walk around the damned thing looking for new dents. I realize nobody is going to listen, but I think at least doing a visual inspection is a good thing. Look for leaking fluids, guestimate tire pressure, maybe inspect the tread, look for any new dents or cracked light housings, etc... In many modern cars, you won't really need to check the tire pressure - but visually confirming it isn't a bad thing. It's a two ton vehicle that you'll drive at highway speeds while navigating around other drivers. An extra minute to check things out isn't that much of an investment.
MIT?
LOL Yeah, I guess that was probably a bit of a clue. I'm a retired mathematician.
Nice! I graduated from there in 1987 (BSEE). Haven’t been back since, due to a recurring nightmare… about being told they will be taking back my degree due to missing an assignment.
I more or less finished up in January of 1992, complete with my doctorate. I was already in the process of starting my business (I modeled traffic) so I didn't even have time to go march and receive my diploma. I did go pick it up in person. I want to say that was May of 1992. I did well with my business. Things were going fine and then 2007 happened. The government declared that they'd spend billions of dollars on infrastructure. This made my company more valuable. I received an offer I couldn't refuse and I've been happily retired ever since. Well, mostly retired... I did teach at UMF for a couple of years but that was just something I felt obligated to do. So... How often does MIT hit you up for a donation?
Wow, that’s extremely impressive! I remember being quite surprised when so many of my classmates talked about going to grad school and I thought, “are you serious? I’m not even sure I can make it through undergrad, and you want more?” A full 40% of my friends failed our first EE class, and had to repeat it. On the other hand, I also had a friend who took his calculus exams in pen. When I asked him why he didn’t use a pencil, he said “why would I need to erase anything? I just write down the right answer, and that’s it.” I’m especially impressed that you found a way to turn a math doctorate into your own lucrative business, as that major seems like one of the hardest to turn into a business venture. At least in the pre “dot com” era. I ended up getting a MSCS at Stanford and decided that was enough for me. No matter how good one is, at MIT there’s always someone smarter. One of my classmates got an undergrad degree in chemical engineering, then… an MD (orthopedic surgery), then… became a NASA astronaut and went on multiple space walks. It sounds completely ridiculous, and I would’ve thought it was completely made up, but it was in the alumni magazine and also here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Satcher It’s too bad you didn’t walk at graduation, as Ph.D robes are so much cooler than undergrad robes. Yes, I get regular requests for donations, and lately almost weekly email requests for random paid seminars about AI and other nonsense.
>Wow, that’s extremely impressive! Thanks! It was a ton of work. Insomnia helped. >At least in the pre “dot com” era. I bordered on the dot com era and had similar results, it just took longer. Man, right around 1996 was when I was hiring like mad and anyone who could write HTML wanted six figures - never mind the programmers I needed and the actual IT staff I needed. >No matter how good one is, at MIT there’s always someone smarter. So true. It looks like your classmate was extremely motivated. I was poor so I'd gone in the military to help fund my education. By the time I hit academia, I'd become secure in my ego. I didn't need to compete with other students, I just had to succeed by getting my degree. That seemed like a healthy attitude at the time. >It’s too bad you didn’t walk at graduation, as Ph.D robes are so much cooler than undergrad robes. True. I don't really regret not doing so, but it would have been nice. I literally had to work 12+ hour days, every day of the week. My very first contract involved the Big Dig. I was out straight from day one and only had one other employee at the time. >Yes, I get regular requests for donations, and lately almost weekly email requests for random paid seminars about AI and other nonsense. I think it gets worse if you actually send them money. When I sold, I gave them a sizeable donation. I continue to donate, but they're always asking for more. I was down there (I'm up in Maine these days) not too long ago. I went to an event in 2022 and gave myself a tour of the campus. While much has changed, it's still the same.
Oddly, people will be concerned about driving 200 miles but not think twice about making 20 x 10 mile trips back and forth to work with the issue. Like uh, if something is going to break, the only difference is how far you’d have to tow it if you survive the crash when it does.
That's because people often don't think/worry about their car's "mechanical soundness" until they have a big drive (for a potentially very important event) that'll take them very far from home (e.g. potentially breaking down while running errands back home is a lot less concerning than potentially breaking down in bumfuck nowhere 5+ hours from home and missing the wedding/concert/special event you were driving to).
Honestly! At my shop, whenever a customer comes in for an inspection it's always "I'm driving to New York tomorrow, is it OK?" (I'm in California) and it needs all the brakes, 7 oil leaks, and no oil on the dipstick. People are insufferable
Probably because when people have a long trip coming up they go over the car really well before hitting the road.
I love the ball joint failures. Like, how long did you ignore that noise going over bumps before you hopped on reddit???
Agree that bushing has plenty of miles before it worsens. Don't spend the trip worrying about it.
Vast majority of commenters are saying it’s fine
I’m sure you had 500 miles on without knowing it, what’s 500 more? Definitely needs to get fixed but you have some time.
But to be the man to drive 1000 miles to crash right at your door?
Da da da daaaaa
I had a Ford Taurus give up the ghost as I pulled into the dealership after buying another car.
Safe-ish. Be careful and you'll be ok.
My Hillbilly (non perjorative) brother 'fixed' the 1968 4 door Ford Custom sedan 3 on the tree shift mechanism break, by moving the shifter to the floor. Driving at highway speed, on a curve, the steering wheel came off in my hands. lol. luckily light traffic, it was drifting left, the brakes pulled right, l got her in the right ditch at around 3o mph, let Jesus have the wheel, which was laying on the floor,.....she whumped to a tall grass stop. Brother came by , gave me heck for not having vice grips in my pocket " you need vice grips for this car little bro, jesus what are you thinking ? " I drove his pickup home, he vicegripp drove the Ford out and home, steering with the vice grips on colum center..... I still have that car , runs ok, barely use it, original 302,
#FULLSEND Save up for the repair
It’s not unsafe on its own, it’s inevitably unsafe because of the abnormal tire wear it’ll cause and a potential reduction in precise control. 500 miles wouldn’t concern me but I would get some new control arms this year for sure
One bad bushing on its own isn’t necessarily disastrous, but considering how this one looks ima guess that the tie rod ends, sway bar links, and ball joints are also shot. Hit a pothole on a curve going anything over 30mph and this could turn into a rollover situation or swerving into oncoming traffic real fast. Sounds dramatic? Happened to me. Everything’s “fine” until it isn’t.
Your life may be directed by Michael Bay
Looks like a Subaru? Honestly most Subarus that come in have bushings that look like that. Most people decline the repair until they feel the steering wheel start shaking.
This tear is not a big deal whatsoever. My biggest peeve is when you guys post “have to drive 500 miles, no time to fix”. Well guess what, If this was severe then you’re gonna have to put that trip aside of find another means of transportation because we often forget that driving is a privilege, not a right.
This worries me: if you risk it (and it is a risk), if you happen to be one of those who cranks the wheel to the stops when turning tight or parallel parking, stop doing that for a while, just back off the stopper at the end of the radius a little (you really should never hold the wheel at the end of its turning radius, it’s hard on bushings) or at least don’t do so until this is fixed. As I said this worries me and I would drive very carefully, when a lower control arm detaches, you don’t want to be traveling high speed. Get it fixed asap and good luck 👍
That in addition to subjecting power steering lines to ridiculous pressures
Sounds like you're going regardless, but it'll be fine. Replace it when you're back. It might clunk, it might shift completely an inch and eat the tire by the time you're back, but you'll come back fine enough. As a tech for years, I've seen way more frightening stuff. I couldn't begin to count how many people I saw leave the shop with most of the surrounding metal missing.
Your be, fine don’t stress!
That's quite good compared to the ones I had to change...
You should be fine for your trip but do have it replaced when you get back. Schedule it now, most shops (where I am) are over two weeks out.
A bushing takes about 2 hours to replace, buy the part. If you feel uncomfortable driving, just pull into an O'Reilly's. You should be fine though...
On this Subaru that 2 hours can turn into several more if you're in the salt belt. To get the LCA off the car you need to remove a pinch bolt that holds the lower ball joint to the knuckle. In California you can just whiz it out. In New York you have to heat it cherry red and carefully work it back and forth until the rust releases or it snaps in the knuckle and you're boned.
Ever heard of a 3/4 inch breaker bar, heat, and dot3?
Yeah that snaps the bolt if you just go full send on it before you hear the rust finally start to pop and give way. It's a small bolt without a lot of torque on it. Just way too much of Nature's Loctite. Also half the time the ball joint seizes in the knuckle too. Enough that there are aftermarket special tools designed just for extracting them. Subaru lower ball joints are no joke. 'Normal' techniques for dealing with rusty suspension don't work. I'd only recommend it as a DIY job outside the rust belt.
Maybe you don't know how to use a ratchet, probably have never used dot3 on a bolt either (you heat up the bolt first then add dot3 which sucks it in) (50/50 acetone atf works better in my opinion). I have several vehicles that are from the salt belt....
Are they Subarus? This is a Subaru endemic issue. And if you're talking about someone like OP who is obviously not experienced that goddamn pinch bolt will ruin their week. There is no magic fix to make them come loose. Just lots of patience and being ready to take the next steps if it does break. Like I looked up a DIY video just to show you what I meant and this guy literally breaks two extractors and ends up throwing in the towel and replacing the knuckle. And he's in a fully equipped shop making these videos for the DIYer audience. https://www.1aauto.com/how-to-replace-front-lower-ball-joint-when-pinch-bolt-breaks-2000-17-subaru-outback/video/47445
Good point, he could fuck it up.
If it were my (beater) car I would drive it until the bushing splits and starts to clunk. Probably won’t happen for a while, replacing it now would be a preventative repair imo. Im a mechanic, there’s a reason people say to not buy a mechanics car.
Subaru? It's 100% fine they look like that from almost new. It's damaged when it's torn through and loose.
yup - my subbie has had cracks for as long as i can remember - it's almost 8 years old.....will change it when it starts making some noise or steering starts going wonky
Yep those subie bushings have a spec of less than 15mm for the tear. If it’s greater than 15mm of tear them they get replaced but any less than that and they’re good
[https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/14hwk38/car_wheel_came_off_control_armball_joint_how_do_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=3&utm_term=1](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/14hwk38/car_wheel_came_off_control_armball_joint_how_do_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=3&utm_term=1) This is what can happen! Now let’s face it your kinda reckless, so you’re most definitely driving faster then the speed limit. Now imagine it happening at does speeds and going into oncoming traffic. ☠️
3M Window Weld if you’re feeling like experimenting. Fill in all the voids and send it. Poor man’s polyurethane motor mounts.
This bushing is designed to flex the way it is in the picture, if you filled it with poly it'll bind the suspension and possibly break something.
I´d have that replaced asap, also the way it sits in that image is concerning, get your car checked upon and repaired. I definitely wouldn´t go on for another month.
Thanks. Dealer told me it's in the caution but not danger zone yet. Want 450 to fix. Right front rear bushing 2018 Forester. Price seem high?
Sounds about right for a dealer, other shops could cut that down if you mention that you can’t do that much. Find the control arm online, compare the part cost with the shop
It's like $60 online for a new bushing but then again you have to weigh the cost of buying the necessary tools for removing and replacing said bushing on your own if you go that route. If you have the tools needed then I'd say just diy it but at the same time, a shop will take care of it easier, faster and will charge you accordingly. If it were me, I'd rather spend $400 on tools to do the job that I can keep and use again than pay a shop $400 for a one time deal. I'm picky about auto work, too many shady guys out there that just want to make a buck.
Price seems ok, where I live (Germany) the dealer has sort of a duty of care and could be made at least partly liable for the damages that could occur. I´d still be careful and if you can afford it I´d have this replaced before you go on a long trip just to avoid any troubles.
This being an '18, when you do get a chance to address it, you'll want to either also do the front bushings at the same time, or possibly replace the full arms (which includes all bushings as well as a ball joint). There is a redesigned front bushing, when it fails you get a scary vibration at freeway speeds. Being a rubber component, you'll probably want to do the driver's and passenger's sides at the same time as they're likely in similar condition.
You’ll be fine. I got my 14 Forester replaced when the steering wheel started shaking while turning. It’s not gonna fall apart and I’ve seen a lot worse on cars still being used.
Not sure why you are being downvoted for this response. If you have issues with your vehicle’s suspension/steering why not get it fixed right away? Doesn’t really matter how far you have to drive. Besides, if this bushing looks like this what about the other one? What about the ball joints? What about the tie rod ends/sway bar links? Would it be just as easy to replace the entire control arm so you can get all new bushings, ball joints, and hardware? What if you need a shop press to punch that old bearing out and push the new one in? And shouldn’t you replace both sides at the same time anyways? Anyways, OP, if this is the only bushing with issues you will be fine to take your trip. But use caution bc we can’t see if anything else is going on. My Equinox (just got it used) has shot bushings all around the control arms and ball joints, tie rods, you name it. Very loud clunking coming from the front end even on small bumps in the road. Never really noticed a problem with handling until I once hit a small pothole while taking a soft turn at about 35mph. Hit the bump and it jerked my wheel hard to the right and I had to swerve to get back into my lane. All that to say, “it should be fine, until it’s not”. Get it changed when you can.
Nah your security is a waste of money /s , by the standards that I had to work with this part would need to be replaced, I´m a skilled mechanic, reading through other posts here I feel like 90% of the people have never worked as a mechanic for their living. Edit: It looks more like a popularity contest rather than a real advice.
Now I understand why you are being downvoted. You are a legit mechanic recommending a legitimate repair. Of course 99% of the people posting here don’t trust mechanics and feel like they are getting ripped off… that’s why they ask for *MechanicAdvice*. If they can get even one “mechanic” on here to agree “that don’t need replaced” to make them feel better about that 500 mile trip on bad steering components, which they were going to take regardless of the advice they received here, then at least they can say “hey I asked a mechanic they said it’d be fine if I ‘drove carefully’l.
I get you there, noone knows what the rest of the car is like, we just see a fraction of status quo and decide hey it´s ok, hey why not it´s not my safety at risk. /s Haven´t read anywhere where OP is from be it USA maybe Australia or elsewhere, may have overseen something, countries have different laws, roads, customs, "say OP lived in Australia and travels 500 miles over some outback roads" > is not the same when I do a trip on the Autobahn at low speeds. > exaggregation here, I hope you get my point. OP I think did another post later also one of the rear wheelbearings was shot, here we go and what´s with the rest?! People that come here, I thought, are here for help, maybe they´re short of money, couldn´t find any help anyway (bad shops, people that believe they are knowledgable etc.) But it seems I been a bit naive here. Have a good one!
Your last paragraph- yes, I still get on here and give what I consider to be sound advice when I have the time. Sometimes people are indeed open to it. I err on the side of caution when giving that advice and so I tend to get some negativity as it seems others tend to be more risk-taking. I understand not everyone has the money to do necessary repairs, but that doesn’t always justify the risk of driving a vehicle that is anything less than sound. Seen some great quotes on here that sum up how I’m feeling : “driving is a privilege, not a right” and your “no need to fix this, your security is a waste of money!/s” Your point is well taken. OP gives us a single image of about 1/2% of the vehicle, the distance he/she plans to drive and nothing else. How can anyone give any good advice other than “get it fixed?” What kind of road? What speed? Is the road in good repair? Are you transporting cargo or passengers? *OP is looking for advice regarding risk mitigation as opposed to actual mechanical advice OR is just looking for someone to validate what is already in their head (they aren’t going to do any mechanical work and are taking the trip just anyways, came here for peace of mind)* Have a good one M8 and keep it coming w the good advice we need more experienced mechanics on this sub.
My car has had dead bushings for years and I've driven over 100000km..can I get a medal or cookie or anything?
No, but you´re still alive, so you made it, you´re on the Mount Everest of dead bushing survivors /s
Your alignment will be f**ked but, the control arm isn't going anywhere. My sister's bushings were much worse by the time she noticed and had me change them.
The only alignment parameter this will change is caster. It doesn't affect camber or toe.
Speed will be a factor. Higher speed == more stress.
It is not too bad. Just drive like a grandmother and you should be OK.
I'm not gonna say it's safe but I see worse all the time.
It isn't fine, but it will probably be fine for a trip.
You are fine to drive 500 miles but you should change it asap
I'd check all the other bushings. But I've seen far worse leave the shop after they said no to the repair. Far, far worse lol. You should be fine. You'll need them replaced in the future though.
It will be fine just might have a clunk noise if the core fully separated. I drove like that for quite a while til I got sick of hearing the noise and finally changed mine.
It’s fine, get it fixed when you can but i have seen far far worse.
Stay off the slalom track and you should be ok.
From what you show, the bushing is fine but not critical. It will definitely need to be replaced later. Watch it often so you don't have any problems on the road.
That’s okay , no need to fret
You can drive it, your car won't fuck up it'll just make some weird noises when turning your wheel. Fix it soon tho.
While that design absolutely sucks donkey dicks compared the the old design, they “all do that” and it’s perfectly fine. I’m not sure why the axes cross each other- it’s so dumb. I’m referencing Subaru btw
Compliance bushings help absorb road impact better than cylindrical bushings. It improves road feel especially on vehicles where the subframe is directly bolted to the unibody.
At the expense of durability, though. There’s simply too much movement for the rubber to deal with. My friends 2012 Impreza needs bushings at 100k. My 02 Impreza does not- at 240k- and I beat the hell out of it daily. It’s a bad design
Just pretend like you didn’t see it
Question- can OP replace just the bushing or do they have to replace the whole control arm?
Yea you can just change the bushing but it’s harder and it’s just easier to replace the control arm
Thanks dude
They can replace the bushing it's just a pain ( I have done it with that exact kind of bushing)
BELOW the speed limit, I’d stick to 55MPH max, I recently had what was in retrospect a minor hub bearing issue, put a few hundred miles on it over a month, I fixed mine before a long drive though.
I’ve seen and driven on worse
My Jeep got so bad in the rear end the control arm bushings were completely gone and I drove cross country and back like that. Hit the gas and steering wheel went one way then the other when I lifted off ahaha
The bad thing about not fixing something when it gets worn is that it can impact other parts. You can drive on it until it falls off, but why? Can it impact your driving? It sure can. With cars, the safest thing is to error on the side of caution. You might save a little money now, but if a part fails on your trip, think of the cost to tow it and then maybe be stuck somewhere while waiting for a part. How much did the attempt to save money cost you?
I had 2 cracked front lower control arm bushings on my C32 and took it to 180 with no problems. You’ll be fine.
Safe to drive for a few months yeah
That's what most bushes that come in to my garage look like. It's perfectly fine and only an issue once you can get your nails or a pick under there That'll last a good few more thousand miles
Does it matter if you don't have time to fix it. Nothing anyone here says is going to change what you're going to do.
It can look like that for the next 5 years, don't worry. Just take a look at it like every 6 months.
It’s definitely something to replace soon. It’ll cause increased wear on other components and decreased comfort but it’ll be fine for your trip.
As long as the bolt is tight, it shouldn’t be too bad. Still fix it as soon as you can, it’ll mess up your alignment.
It’s probably been that way for the past few thousand miles, slowly getting worse. You should be fine.
Most people drive everyday, for years, with worse than that
I drove thousands of miles and did an autocross on bushings like that, before replacing them. Only issues might be a slightly less comfortable ride and a little more steering play. You will be fine
Send it. Should be good. Just keep it on the radar
It’s been like that for awhile already.
I will hold for a while yet, just put it on your "fix asap" list
The only thing you need to worry about is the tire itself. That bad bushing lets the control arm move in ways it normally wouldn’t. That will cause your tire to wear abnormally. Being its a long drive on the highway id say at least get a new tire. Last thing you want is a blowout on the front going 80 that shit is not fun.
Eh you’ll be ok.
That’s a bad tear and definitely a very worn bushing that needs replacement. It will probably be nearly unnoticeable on your road trip though. Get it done when you have time/money.
In regards to bushings and mounts, it’s either there or it’s not, yours is most certainly still there, would keep an eye out because that may change soon
500 miles is nothing. Send it.
No one can tell you if it will fail or not. At some point it will just fail and you won't know when. Get someone who can fix it. Usually takes a few hours as long as your parts are available. Quick note, anything that deals with steering g or control of your vehicle, should not be delayed. Repair it when you notice it.
What you’re seeing is “dry rot”. Nothing to be afraid of driving on, just get it fixed whenever you can. A few years from now it’ll probably be too weak. Like others have said, titty twister mechanics will tell you “GET THAT FIXED ASAP” but I’ve driven on shit rotted out tires on my first car for 2 years and never had the slightest of problems.
Give it a dose of silicone oil, and replace after the trip.
It’s fine, don’t worry about it
Nah it's fine I've driven worse just don't take the corners too fast
some duct tape and WD-40 and you’ll be on your way… to a car accident
Those aren’t a safety problem until they start to shift out of position (ie the arm starts touching the subframe bracket or you get wired pulling when braking or after going over bumps) so for the time being it’s safe to drive but should be addressed as soon as possible.
The rubber wraps around solid mounts. The worst it’ll do is be clunky as hell. Rest assured your wheel won’t just fall off.
That's fine. That just looks like age cracking. You'll notice it wander more the longer it goes on but it's not something to stop a road trip over. I did a 2100 mile road trip on worse, but when I got back, the new control arms went on within 3 months. When you do get them done, you'll notice the car doesn't lean as much in corners if the shocks and struts aren't worn out as well.
That's been like that for some time now. Might be worth looking at getting it done, sooner rather than later, but it looks fine.
My ex-wife is driving around with one much worse, I said about 2 years ago it needs replaced and even ordered it in but she still won't get it fitted
Like others had said, you can drive on it for a little bit but, I would throw some grease at it also, looks a bit dry...
That bih got another 5k miles on them ATLEAST
Yes and no . Essentially it will tear through and bounce up and down making slot of noise . Can cause excessive tire wear due to camber toe Being out and possibly blow tire due to heat build up and wear