A-Arms / Lower Control arms - are they worn out?

[72911E]

Hi......hope u can help!.

I think I need to replace the A-Arms / lower control arms on my 72E but want to check as just seen the price for them!

Example - turning off the road and into car park, when I go over the lip of the pavement the car creeks (as if bushings are gone), first at the front of the car and also at rear when the rear wheels go over the bump.

Is this just bushing or something else? If it is the A-Arm at the front making the noise what would be causing the similar noise from rear?

Thanks
Derek

[EARLY911ZOO]

Sounds like youve got poly bushings which in this case is why the creaking sounds and is normal. But to be sure, an inspection of your suspension is in order for your own peace of mind.

[Sacto S]

A-arm bushings, front and rear sway bar bushings, spring plate bushings, tailing arm bushings. Your creaks and groans and likely to come from these areas. You'll have to inspect the A-arms to replace the bushings so you can get a good look at them when they are off the car. Same with the other areas.

[0687]

if your 72E originally had hydro-pneumatic suspension (?) its possible your A-arms are not boxed, and the bars WILL FAIL at the weld joint where the arm joins the torsion bar housing. In other words, if the arm going from torsion bar tube at right angles out to ball joint is a channel section with an open bottom, you should replace them both with a boxed A arm. My 71E originally had the Hydro-pneumatic suspension, and a Koni conversion was installed in the late 70's, by changing the shocks and uprights but not the A-arms. On the hydro suspension the front suspension load goes compressively up the upright, but on the torsion bar suspension the load is cantilevered through the ball joint arm to the torsion bar. My DS failed at about 65k miles 2 miles from the house, going 20 mph, the other I found cracked with frequent inspections. $75 each from 20th Street Auto in Phoenix, off any non-Hydro early car that'll match your Torsion bar type.