Worn control arm bushings cause vague steering, clunks over bumps, and uneven tire wear; replacement requires pressing the old sleeves out — most TJ owners replace the whole arm instead of fighting the press job.
The TJ has eight control arm bushings — two per arm at each end, four arms total. They wear by 80,000-150,000 miles depending on use, and a lifted TJ that's seen mud or saltwater destroys them faster. Symptoms: clunking on direction changes, steering wander, premature inner-edge tire wear, and a "loose" feel that doesn't track straight on the highway. Grab each arm and try to twist it — significant rotational play at the bushing eye means it's done.
Three real options:
**Replace the bushings in your existing arms.** Cheapest at $60-$80 in parts, but the labor is the catch. The bushing sleeves are pressed into the arm eye and bonded with rubber. Burning the rubber out with a torch, drilling the sleeve, and cutting it with a sawzall is the proven method — a 12-ton shop press will handle the new bushing install. Plan four to six hours total. Poly bushings (Prothane 1-204, Energy 2.3106) transmit more road noise than rubber but last twice as long.
**Replace the whole arms with new OE-spec ones.** Replacement arms with fresh bushings run $35-$50 each in stamped steel from MOOG or Dorman. Total: $140-200 for all four, no press work needed. This is the right call for most owners.
**Upgrade to tubular arms with rebuildable joints.** Currie, Clayton, and JKS make tubular arms with Johnny Joints or similar — $280-$500 per pair. Rebuildable for life, much stronger than stock stamped arms, and necessary above a 3" lift to correct geometry.
Whatever you choose: torque to spec **with the suspension at ride height**, not with the wheels hanging. Torquing at full droop preloads the bushings and tears them apart within a year.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Prothane front control arm bushing kit (poly) | Prothane | ~$65 |
| Energy Suspension front control arm bushing kit (poly) | Energy Suspension | ~$80 |
| MOOG lower control arm bushing (rubber, OE-style) | MOOG | ~$42 |
| Currie / Clayton Johnny Joint replacement arms (full set) | Currie/Clayton | ~$280 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.