Lower Control Arm
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lower control arm front bush |
| 2 | Lower control arm rear bush |
| 3 | Lower control arm |
| 4 | Ball joint |
| 5 | Brake cooling air duct (if equipped) |
The lower control arm assembly consists of a forged steel lower control arm, 2 bushes and a ball joint.
The ball joint attaches the outer end of the lower control arm to the wheel knuckle. A nut and bolt clamp the ball joint stud to the wheel knuckle.
The lower control arm has 2 attachments to the front subframe. The forward attachment is a non-serviceable rubber bush which is pressed into the lower control arm. This joint locates in a slot in the front subframe and is secured with a bolt. The bolt is screwed into a threaded boss on the front subframe.
The rearward attachment is a bush which is located on a spigot on the lower control arm. The bush is pressed into a machined aluminum bracket, which provides the attachment to the front subframe with 3 bolts. The bush contains hydraulic fluid and valves which allow controlled displacement of the bush. The controlled displacement of the bush improves the bump and handling characteristics and also reduces road noise transmission. The bush becomes progressively stiffer as the force on it increases, such as severe braking.
Depending on vehicle specification, the brake cooling air duct is attached to the lower control arm with a bolt. The brake cooling air duct is made of plastic and it is flexible to reduce damage when travelling over uneven ground. The brake cooling air duct diverts the cooling air towards the brake system.