Every vehicle has control arm bushings at the joints between the upper and lower control arms and the vehicle's frame, just like every skeletal system has cartilage to cushion and align bones at a joint.
These bushings are made up of a rubber or polyurethane cylinder bonded to a bigger and smaller metal cylinder on the outside and interior, respectively.
The control arms are the metal parts that join the vehicle's chassis to the steering knuckle, which is where the wheels and tyres are attached. These are essential for the vehicle's steering and suspension.
If you go online and complete a MOT history check for your car, you will realise that one of the common reasons for MOT test to fail is due to failing bushings of a car.
Majority of front-wheel-drive economy cars have only lower control arms, whereas other cars and bigger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, have both upper and lower control arms in a double-wishbone suspension assembly.
A ball joint connects the end of the control arms to the steering knuckle, allowing turning actions to be transferred to the wheels. When a control arm bushing is worn out or damaged, it can have a significant impact on how your vehicle operates.
Check MOT history of your car online to see if a faulty suspension system component was the cause of a previous failure and if the proper actions were taken to resolve the issue.