Have the control arm bushings checked before you buy a used car. Torn or off-center rubber, about an eighth of an inch of free play and a pull or clunk under braking are signs they are worn.
For this November 5, 2026 guide I read two Brake & Front End articles on suspension bushings. Bushings are the rubber pivots that hold control arms in place. When they wear, alignment changes as you drive. So it is worth a look before you buy.
Drive it on a proper route
Brake & Front End says a trip around the block does not count. You need left and right corners, bumps, straight cruising and braking. Some worn bushings do not make noise but cause a pull when braking or accelerating. Note any pull and when it happens.
Try a firm stop and steer
The same article says a sudden brake and steer in an empty parking lot may be needed to reveal a failed control arm bushing. Do this only where it is safe. Note any clunk or wander. Our strut-mount check guide covers a related noise you might hear.
Look at the tyres
Brake & Front End says tyres can show camber wear even when the alignment checks good, because worn bushings let angles change in motion. Look at the inner and outer edges of each tyre. Our tire-replacement report guide explains what a history report can and cannot show about tyres.
Ask for a loaded inspection
Brake & Front End says the best way to check bushings is with the car loaded on a drive-on lift. Inner and outer sleeves should look centered. If not, the rubber has taken a set. Tears or separation are grounds for replacement.
Ask about play and leaks
Prying on a control arm and finding an eighth of an inch or more of free play in a rubber bushing shows it has reached the end of its life, the article says. Some bushings are fluid-filled, so the shop should also look for leaks. Ask what was found.
Find the cause of the wear
Brake & Front End says bushings often fail from heat or from fluids leaking from the engine or transmission. A worn axle seal can kill a control arm bushing fast. If the shop finds a soaked bushing, ask where the fluid comes from, because new bushings will fail again unless the leak is fixed. Also ask whether the arm is sold with the bushing already fitted.
Ask the seller the right questions
Before the appointment, ask the seller when this part was last checked or repaired, by which shop, and whether there is an invoice. Ask if any warning light has come on recently, and whether the car has been cleaned underneath. A freshly washed underside or a battery that was just disconnected can hide clues. Write the answers down so you can compare them with what the inspector finds.
Know what you can check yourself
You can look, listen, smell and take notes without tools. Leave lifting the car, opening fluid systems and pulling wheels to the shop, which has the stands, gauges and insurance for that work. A careful note of when a symptom shows up, at what speed and temperature, is worth more to the inspector than a guess. It also keeps the conversation with the seller calm and factual.
Use history reports for a different question
A clean history report cannot tell you the present condition of the part you just checked. Reported repairs and present wear are separate questions; our control arm report guide explains how that coverage works. The NYC consumer-agency guidance suggests getting a history report through NMVTIS and having an independent mechanic check the car. Our VIN verification guide helps make sure every document describes the same vehicle.
Turn the check into a written finding
Ask for a written note on each bushing, any tyre wear pattern and an alignment printout if one was done. Put this item on the work order using our pre-purchase inspection checklist, and ask for a repair scope with a local estimate rather than a verbal promise that the fix is cheap.
We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Guest reports have been about $5.50, member reports about $4.50 and a two-report bundle about $6.75; confirm the price at checkout because it can change. A report can miss unreported work, so keep the inspection appointment even when the history looks quiet.
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