Lower control arm bushings

Both flanges on the front bushing on the driver side have broken away from the main bushing. Do the bushings need to be replaced at this stage or is it ok to drive around as it is. No noticeable problems with ride quality that I can see at the moment.

You'll get clunking in the front end soon, not to mention it's gonna destroy your tires because your alignment won't hold with bad bushings.

Hey thanks for the reply. Any ideas where I can buy replacement bushings apart from the dealer (dealer wants $50 for it). All the auto parts stores I have tried so far (locally and online) do not seem to sell them.

Well, IMO, if the bushings are that ruined, you're gonna have one hell of a time getting them off the control arm. You'll have to torch it, and spend a lot of time cussing and beating the hell out of it. For about $60, you can get a brand new control arm(with a new bal joint) on ebay. It would be a hell of a lot easier, and you could probably use a new ball joint anyway :) And if you just want a cheap used control arm, you can get one off of any metro from 1989 to 2001. Search car-part.com and find one with low mileage and a late model year.

Thanks for the tip - I take it they come with the bushings installed. Had a quick look on ebay but cannot see anything for a 2000 metro. Will look again and see if I can find it. I did manage to pick up a used kent moore bushing service set for the metro on ebay (the one recommended in the FSM) so I do not know if that will make it any easier to do the work.

Should work just fine :) Just have a MAPP gas torch handy. Those bushings can be a real bitch to get off the control arm. If you're looking into new control arms, any year will work. I just suggest newer model ones for used arms, because they generally have less mileage.