amdiboy

Hey guys so so I found out my front lower control arms are bad (mechanic showed me the up and down play) as well as the front struts. So I have purchased new control arms and coilovers for my car. I don't feel comfortable doing the control arms so I can either get them replaced first at the shop and do coilovers after or do coilovers first and drive with the bad control arms and get them replaced second. What do you guys recommend to limit the wear on the new components.

blnewt

iTrader: (13)

Hopefully you can just get the whole suspension done at once, no need to have the extra worry that you're running on bad parts.

amdiboy

I definitely would prefer that but I'm getting quoted a lot, about 400 more for the coilovers installed, while that's something I can easily get done.

blnewt

iTrader: (13)

I'd try to set it up so you can get the shop to do the control arms followed by your DIY on the coilovers. Are you also DIY'ing camber arms and toe bolts?

If you do have to only do one part first the control arms should take priority since they have been identified as a part that's needing to be replaced. Even though you mentioned the front dampers are in bad shape the control arms having excessive play would be more important to get addressed.

Hopefully you can just get this all done in a weekend if the shop can get those arms done on a Friday.
G'luck.

stealthee

Maybe its just me, but if you're comfortable doing coilovers then I don't see how doing the control arms is out of your league.

There have been plenty of times where I wasn't 100% comfortable doing something on a car, and I researched and did it anyway and learned more along the way and became a better mechanic because of it.

blnewt

iTrader: (13)

So True^^^ And Youtube is great for checking things out just to see if it's within your comfort zone to attempt.