Control Arms and Bushings - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Super Pickle · 10-15-2020, 03:15 PM

I have some worn out bushings on my 2011 Camaro front control arms and at 99,000+ miles I want to replace the entire arm, not just the bushings. I know I can order bushings by themselves, but because of the high mileage I want to have a new ball join, too, so I need to replace the whole arm.
My question is, does anyone know where I can purchase new control arms that already have polyurethane bushings? So far, everywhere I look for new arms, they come with rubber bushings and I would have to replace with poly bushings myself. It seems like a waste to remove brand new bushings just to put in the polys. I have spent a few hours online searching and have come up empty. Can anyone point me to someone who sells the parts with poly bushings already installed? Or failing that, does someone sell a control arm with no bushing so I can install polys?

KillboyPowerhead · 10-15-2020, 04:52 PM

Unless this is a dedicated track car I think you're best bet is the factory arms. For the radius rod (curved arm) you can replace the bushing insert with a stiffer one (looks like you can still get Pedders': https://www.phastekperformance.com/P...s-ep6578.htm); the inserts simply pull out and push in, no fancy tools required. I have JPSS's inserts but unfortunately he's no longer in business, although he used to work for Pedders...

The V6 all the way to the ZL1 use these same arms and bushings, and only the Z/28 uses a stiffer insert in the radius rod, so unless you're pushing your car harder than a Z/28 is capable of I'd say factory arms are the way to go.

Edit: the Z/28 uses different front lower control arms; see P/N in link below. You could also go Z/28 radius rods with the stiffer factory insert (P/N also below) instead of aftermarket inserts, if so desired.

Super Pickle · 10-15-2020, 04:59 PM

Much thanks for the answer and info. Inserts may be the route I end up taking. Just out of curiosity, would the 2015 Z28 radius arms fit in a 2011 SS? I know the part numbers are different, but that may just be because of the stiffer bushing in the Z28 radius arm. Are the dimensions of the part the same, allowing it to be installed in a non Z28 car?
Thanks again.

KillboyPowerhead · 10-15-2020, 05:35 PM

Yup, same chassis from V6 to Z/28; all arms and bushings are interchangeable. Done any other suspension mods?

Super Pickle · 10-15-2020, 06:15 PM

Yes, sir! I just finished installing the 1LE Track Pack suspension upgrade from GM. That was a fun weekend. Because of that, I took the car to the alignment shop today and the guy showed me that the bushings had a lot of play. Because of the mileage, I want to replace the whole arm, and put something stiffer back in. That is what led me down this rabbit hole of suspension questions.

TwentyTen2SSRS · 10-15-2020, 06:18 PM

Have been curious on this as well.

What are the part numbers for the z/28 arms? And then just go with the pedders inserts?

Been looking for this answer myself. Glad to hear all interchangeable.

2010 SS here btw.

Have done FE4 upgrade with new LCA’s, BMR front and rear sway bars, Detroit Speed end links, on AirLift 3P suspension

Next up is this mod (z28 UCA’s w/ pedders inserts), rear cradle solid bushings, and I think there are some other bushings to address while cradle is dropped

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

KillboyPowerhead · 10-15-2020, 07:07 PM

The Z/28 front radius rods and lower control arms P/N are here: https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...rimLevel=28227

Also looks like the Z/28 does indeed have a different bushing in the front "lower control arm" (not the radius rod, which has the same bushing and different insert). I'll edit my post above... This whole time I thought the bushing was the same all the way down to the V6

If you're talking the rear upper control arm bushing, the arm is the same for all Camaro's, just the upper/inner bushing (at the subframe) is different, and comes in the bracket which simply bolts on/off; think I gave you the part numbers for those in another post (don't see them on that website I linked).

10-15-2020, 03:15 PM	#1
Super Pickle Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro 3.6LT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 4	Control Arms and Bushings I have some worn out bushings on my 2011 Camaro front control arms and at 99,000+ miles I want to replace the entire arm, not just the bushings. I know I can order bushings by themselves, but because of the high mileage I want to have a new ball join, too, so I need to replace the whole arm. My question is, does anyone know where I can purchase new control arms that already have polyurethane bushings? So far, everywhere I look for new arms, they come with rubber bushings and I would have to replace with poly bushings myself. It seems like a waste to remove brand new bushings just to put in the polys. I have spent a few hours online searching and have come up empty. Can anyone point me to someone who sells the parts with poly bushings already installed? Or failing that, does someone sell a control arm with no bushing so I can install polys?

10-15-2020, 04:52 PM	#2
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 931	Unless this is a dedicated track car I think you're best bet is the factory arms. For the radius rod (curved arm) you can replace the bushing insert with a stiffer one (looks like you can still get Pedders': https://www.phastekperformance.com/P...s-ep6578.htm); the inserts simply pull out and push in, no fancy tools required. I have JPSS's inserts but unfortunately he's no longer in business, although he used to work for Pedders... The V6 all the way to the ZL1 use these same arms and bushings, and only the Z/28 uses a stiffer insert in the radius rod, so unless you're pushing your car harder than a Z/28 is capable of I'd say factory arms are the way to go. Edit: the Z/28 uses different front lower control arms; see P/N in link below. You could also go Z/28 radius rods with the stiffer factory insert (P/N also below) instead of aftermarket inserts, if so desired. __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts Last edited by KillboyPowerhead; 10-15-2020 at 07:10 PM.

10-15-2020, 05:35 PM	#4
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 931	Yup, same chassis from V6 to Z/28; all arms and bushings are interchangeable. Done any other suspension mods? __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

10-15-2020, 06:18 PM	#6
TwentyTen2SSRS Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,972 View My Garage	Have been curious on this as well. What are the part numbers for the z/28 arms? And then just go with the pedders inserts? Been looking for this answer myself. Glad to hear all interchangeable. 2010 SS here btw. Have done FE4 upgrade with new LCA’s, BMR front and rear sway bars, Detroit Speed end links, on AirLift 3P suspension Next up is this mod (z28 UCA’s w/ pedders inserts), rear cradle solid bushings, and I think there are some other bushings to address while cradle is dropped Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ Cold Air Inductions CAI • Stainless Power LT's with HFC's • Flowmaster American Thunder Cat Back • APEX Scoop and WW Relocation Kit • VMAX Ported Throttle Body • Custom Dyno Tune • Pfadt 1.25" Lowering Springs • ZL1 Rims on 275 front 315 Rear • custome underlay vinyl wrap • Anvil Spoiler • heritage grill • APR Front Splitter • Custom Emblempros emblems • ZL1 Side Skirts • 416.5 whp 410 torque (CURRENTLY) Up Next: BTR Stage 3 Cam and supporting mods (in garage now)

10-15-2020, 07:07 PM	#7
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 931	The Z/28 front radius rods and lower control arms P/N are here: https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...rimLevel=28227 Also looks like the Z/28 does indeed have a different bushing in the front "lower control arm" (not the radius rod, which has the same bushing and different insert). I'll edit my post above... This whole time I thought the bushing was the same all the way down to the V6 If you're talking the rear upper control arm bushing, the arm is the same for all Camaro's, just the upper/inner bushing (at the subframe) is different, and comes in the bracket which simply bolts on/off; think I gave you the part numbers for those in another post (don't see them on that website I linked). __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

10-15-2020, 04:59 PM	#3
Super Pickle Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro 3.6LT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 4	Much thanks for the answer and info. Inserts may be the route I end up taking. Just out of curiosity, would the 2015 Z28 radius arms fit in a 2011 SS? I know the part numbers are different, but that may just be because of the stiffer bushing in the Z28 radius arm. Are the dimensions of the part the same, allowing it to be installed in a non Z28 car? Thanks again.

10-15-2020, 06:15 PM	#5
Super Pickle Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro 3.6LT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 4	Yes, sir! I just finished installing the 1LE Track Pack suspension upgrade from GM. That was a fun weekend. Because of that, I took the car to the alignment shop today and the guy showed me that the bushings had a lot of play. Because of the mileage, I want to replace the whole arm, and put something stiffer back in. That is what led me down this rabbit hole of suspension questions.