Control Arms

Are your tyres wearing unevenly after lowering or lifting your car? Control arms determine how the wheel moves and sits in relation to the road. This category is for you if you want to restore or adjust your wheel alignment, or replace worn original arms with stiffer versions.

What control arms do

Control arms connect the wheel hub to the body or frame and guide the wheel's path as the suspension works. If you change the ride height with, for example, coilover kits or a lift kit, the angles change too, and camber, caster and toe can end up outside what the original arms can be adjusted to. Adjustable arms can give you that extra adjustment range.

How to choose control arms

Start by working out which arm you need and what it needs to do:

• Position: upper or lower arm, front or rear. For example SPC Performance adjustable upper control arms and rear toe arms, ICON upper control arm kits for Toyota Tacoma and Tundra, or the Skunk2 rear lower control arm for Honda Civic 01-05.
• Adjustment: fixed arms have a set geometry, while adjustable arms leave room for fine-tuning. How much you need depends on the change in ride height.
• Material: tubular steel, aluminium or billet arms affect weight and stiffness. Choose based on use on the street, at track days or off-road.
• Joints and bushings: rubber, polyurethane or rod ends. Stiffer joints typically give more precise handling, but can increase noise and vibration.

Brands in this category also include UMI Performance, BMR Suspension, Superpro and Camburg.

Installation and maintenance

Always measure and adjust the wheel alignment after installation, otherwise your tyres can wear unevenly. Check bolts, joints and bushings regularly for play and cracks. Whether a modified control arm is road legal depends on the product and the car, so check the approval and documentation for the specific part number. See also camber and caster kits and the rest of our suspension components.

Frequently asked questions

Does the wheel alignment need adjusting after fitting new control arms?

Yes. Even small differences in arm length or joint position can change camber and toe. Have the wheel alignment measured and adjusted after installation to avoid uneven tyre wear and the car pulling to one side.

How can I tell if a control arm or its bushings are worn?

Typical signs are clunking over bumps, play in the wheel, a car that pulls or wanders on the road, and uneven tyre wear. Cracked bushings and play in the ball joint can often be spotted during an inspection.

Can adjustable control arms pass a roadworthiness inspection?

It depends on the product and the car. Check for the specific part number whether approval or documentation is available, and confirm with the inspection authority what is required for your particular car.