ShaunSL2

I took my Ion in for an oil change. Upon finishing, I was told that the tech saw that the bushings in the lower control arm are basically shot and the entire lower control arm needs to be replaced. The problem is I don't have $300 up front. Realistically.. how long can I safely go without replacing it? It's gonna take a little bit to get $300 together.

Also, if someone could point me in the direction of a how-to for replacing the cabin filter. .or just tell me how to do it here, that'd be great. I installed a k&n drop-in easily enough. How difficult is the cabin filter install? It's behind the glove compartment, right?

Ok. Thanks in advance.

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trick94sl2

To replace the cabin filter, press in the tabs and drop the glove box. It tells how to do it in the owners manual.

ShaunSL2

My Ion didn't come with one.
But, my girl has a sedan. .with a manual. I'll read through hers.
Thanks.

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Ssicarman

You don't give a year but if the car is still under warrenty then Saturn will do it under warrenty. The assumption is that you are talking about the lower control arm rear bushings. If this is the case then they can be replaced seperately from the control arm.

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ShaunSL2

My mistake.
It's a 2003 and no longer under warranty.
But, I'll see if I can get another opinion elsewhere.
Saturn told me the bushings couldn't be replaced independently, but I also know they're looking to make as much money as possible.

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Ssicarman

Subject: Clunk, Thump or Rattle Noise from Front Suspension while Driving Over Rough Road Conditions or when Braking (Replace Front Lower Control Arm Rear Bushing) #04-03-08-006 - (05/14/2004)



Models: 2003 Saturn ION vehicles

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Condition
Some customers may comment on a clunk, thump or rattle noise coming from the front suspension while driving over rough road conditions or when braking.

Cause
The rubber section of the front lower control arm rear bushing separating from the outer metal sleeve may cause this condition.

Correction
Verify the concern and replace the front lower control arm rear bushing. Refer to the procedure in this bulletin.

Procedure


Verify the customer's comment by using Chassis Ear.

If the noise is coming from the front lower control arm, inspect the rubber section of the front lower control arm rear bushing.
If the rubber section of the front lower control arm rear bushing has separated from the outer metal sleeve, replace the front lower control arm rear bushing.


Part Number
Description

22688205
BUSHING-FRT LWR CONT ARM


I can't see replacing the entire control arm would be cheaper than replacing just the bushings. You don't even need an alignment afterwards.

A quick check of saturnparts.net shows the control arms at 155$ apiece. Are you sure that they quoted you the entire control arms? 300$ now sounds more like the bushings and labour.

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ShaunSL2

Hm.
On the recommendations portion of my invoice for the oil change, I was quoted for the entire control arm. It read that the bushings were shot, and I was told that they couldn't just replace the bushings, but that the entire control arm would have to replaced. Should I take my car elsewhere? I know of a place that does good work and would be completely honest with me.

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toytech2005

for some reason i find it hard to believe that the dealership would want to replace the whole control arm with bushings, granted the tsb says to replace the whole thing but its fairly simple to replace just the bushings

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Artificialist

Perhaps the control arm design is flawed, and the replacement part has been redesigned to solve certain problems that were in the OE 2003 ION control arms.

BTW, can you tell me how many miles you have, and if you live where road salt is used? I may have to prepare myself for this challenge.

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Ssicarman

No control arms are ok it is bad bushings. If the control arms were bad the supplied copy of the TSB (in blue) would indicate that.

The only thing that may inlfluence things would be if the driver had been driving the car for SOOOOOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOOOOONG with the bad bushings that the control arms may be damaged by the frame.

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