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2014 Prius Bushing Separating Front Lower Control Arm

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ArielL, Mar 2, 2024.

  1. ArielL

    ArielL New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2024
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    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Went to the dealer today to service my 2014 Prius 63K mileage, and they said the front lower control arm bushing is separating. They are charging $2900 for the repair. 10% off if I commit to the repair today...

    That price seems high to me. What is a reasonable price range for this type of repair? Does it need to change the entire suspension assembly?

    Also how urgent is this repair? Can I still drive my Prius a bit before fixing that?

    I don't know much about cars, so any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    Picture of the issue attached.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Do you get a bunch of clunking from that side noise tick tick clank clank clunk clunk turning Why did you go into the dealer? For an oil change something else was going on Is this worth $290 to me no but at current dealer pricing and shop pricing this is not really too badly out of line at home I have a few of these on a few cars that are broken beyond repair so I would just unbolt one off the other car and shove it onto this car that I'm driving and be done and it would take about 55 minutes of my time at home it'll take the shop similar but they get paid by the time labor guide and well that's that this is not going to rip off the car. Eventually that bushing will fail and they'll be some clank and clunk clunk going on when you turn the steering wheel or the car undulates up and down going down the road they can't let go and let the lower control arm go flying off the car and generally you go into the drink or something like that.
     
  3. ArielL

    ArielL New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dealer has been telling me I need to change the transmission oil, since they had a special, I went in to get that changed. They told me they also have a alignment special, and since there are so many potholes on the road lately, I got that done too.

    The car drives fine, no noise. After the alignment, it drives even smoother.

    If the cost was $290 then I would have done the fix, but the actual quote was 10x that, $2900, which is alot of money T_T. I asked them why the price is so high, and they said they are changing the whole assembly.

    I don't know much about cars, that's why I'm seeking advice on this. Sounds like if the bushing fails, I would know by the sound and how it drives. Also the dealer price sounds too high, and doesn't need to change the whole assembly? Can I still drive a bit in the current condition of the bushing? Thank you. =)

     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    The whole lower control arm shouldn't be any money I mean I have to go look online just like everybody else that's a piece of unit construction type steel or whatever there's no way that should be available from almost everybody for well pretty inexpensive $100 usually you take that one out and you beat new bushings in or squeeze new bushings in or I guess now you don't That's how we used to do it but getting that out is you know nothing to do really even on jack stands in the driveway so 2,900 that must have been for all the other work too but anyway yeah I would say drive it until the wheels fall off this is a generation 3 that shouldn't be really that long.