Dealer pisses me off

Ok, so I've been riding around for a year in my eclipse, and there has been this persistent loud banging sound coming from the right-rear of the car everytime I hit a bump on the road. I finally went back there to check it out and found that the bushing that goes between the upper control arm and the arm that connects to the wheel itself (sorry that's the best explaination I have for it) has erroded.

So I figure, hmm, rubber bushing, can't be that hard to replace and can't be expensive. So I call the dealer today and they tell me they can only sell the entire control arm thing and bushing together as a package and it will be $218! I was like f#%$ that! What the hell, I just needed a little piece of rubber! Should I just try to go to a hardware store and find something that will work?

Check out www.partznet.com and see if Conicelli Mitsu will sell that piece.

Alot of times it depends on the dealer, though. My BISS screw was missing one morning, and I was told I would have to replace the entire manifold...found it down the road at an Eagle dealer for 2.78.

Thanks, I looked at that website, the link to the thing I'm looking for is specifically http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=840&chapter=APP703&appSectionid=24&groupid=20127&subgroupid=60181&componentid=0&make=24&model=Eclipse&year=1996&graphicID=F703150&callout=16&catalogid=1

At least it gives me a better idea of what the parts are called. What I need is the bushing that goes around the bolt that connects the upper control arm to the knuckle. What is happening is that every time I hit a bump, the upper control arm and knuckle bang each other (the bushing in there is almost all worn out) and it sounds horrible.

From looking at the diagram in that link, I don't think they have the specific bushing I need. I took out the calipers and measured that I would need a bushing that is 1" outer diam./ 0.5" inner diam. / 1.5" long. I think I might be able to find something like this at the local tractor supply store.

Just find out the part number and call the dealer or a different one and just tell them the part number then see what they say

I Cant tell what part you are talking about from the description, but just be sure its not a bad balljoint or something more serious. If it really is just a bushing, drive it on. If its a balljoint, I would replace it (which means a new control arm unfortunately).

Duly noted. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try calling around other places. All I keep finding on the internet is kits for control arm bushings which cost like ~$160. I just need one bushing though. I didn't really think about the balljoint but will try replacing the bushing first, then see if it keeps happening. When I had my tire off, I tried wiggling everything in the assembly, but it seemed that the only part that wiggled was where the bushing had erroded. Could you tell if the balljoint was bad if you wiggled the assembly? If so, then I don't think it's the ball joint.

Have you ever had the BJ recall done?

Have you ever had the BJ recall done?


"BJ recall" :lol2:

Sorry, I just had to go there :biggrin:

Leave it to you. :p

Actually no, not yet. I thought it was just for the front balljoints. If they check the rear, then that would be great, I wouldn't have to pay for anything if it turned out to be the balljoint. Good call.

The BJ recall only covers the the outer BJ on the Lower Lateral Link, in the front. So if it is a rear BJ, as opposed to a front BJ, you are on your own and will be paying for that BJ out of your own pocket. No free BJ from the dealer my friend...

The only reason I brought it up, is that the BJs have rubber boots, and I can see it being mistaken for whatever rubber thing you decribed originally. Its tough to know what people are looking at behind this computer screen 1000 miles away... :)

All is good. Yeah, it wasn't the balljoint in the rear, it was the bushing that goes around the bolt that connects the upper control arm to the knuckle. I just went out and got a bushing that was close to what I needed, then shaped it a little and got it to fit. The car rides nice and smooth again, no more loud bashing sound from the rear whenever I hit a bump. Pfff, and the dealer wanted me to pay $218 to fix what I fixed with 50 cents! Score one for the little guy. :lol2:

Sweet. Nice fix, POSR stylee... :D