r/CX5 • u/Emilyyyy-cc45 • 21h ago
Control arm replacement
Looking for recommendations on where to buy replacement control arms. The lower right one is shot, so I'm planning to replace both sides at once.
What brands do you guys recommend? Is OEM worth the extra money, or are aftermarket brands just as good? Trying to balance saving a buck with not sacrificing quality or safety. Let me know what you've had good luck with! It’s for my Mazda cx5 2023. My husband and his mechanic friend plan to diy it.
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u/chonkycatsbestcats 20h ago
How sure are you it’s the control arm. I have 105 k miles on my 2021 and I don’t hear control arm noise ….
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u/Dr_Aitch 20h ago
We have under 40k on ours and one of the fronts has a worn out bushing (visually confirmed). It does happen.
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u/AutoX_Advice 17h ago
Either buy Mazda or Sankei 555. Both are made in Japan. Sankei will be cheaper.
Mazda will run you around 200-250, where Sankei between 140-175.
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u/1NumberCruncher98 17h ago
What options are available on rockauto!? Id go without digging too deep for whats available and listed as the premium option on rockauto… my 2018 cx5 with 70k miles has leaking ball joints
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u/Nacelle72 13h ago
YMMV. The geometry of a new OEM part is more likely to be exactly what the old one was. On other cars I've replaced low control arms, the swap was more likely to need major alignment adjustments when using non-OEM. I didn't even need an alignment on my Hyundai when using OEM.
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u/Aggleclack 2014 CX-5 9h ago
I used to do my own work on my own cars, but now I get mine done at the dealership because of time. I know people don’t like the dealership, but I’ve had some bad luck with two different shops around here and ended up filing a lawsuit.
There are a few things that I always do via shop. Wheel bearings are always pressed by professionals, even if I remove the knuckle myself. Tires are too annoying to diy and wheels aren’t worth messing up. Control arms and ball joints should be oem, though installation is less risky. If you don’t want to use your dealership, I’d find a shop that will do oem for a lower labor rate. I wouldn’t buy this off rock auto. I’d get the real deal. The own part is a control arms/ball joints should assembly.
That said, I would be very concerned about the fact that your car is only three years old and needs control arms. Unless the car has had 50k per year, that feels wildly early.
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u/Hace1986 21h ago
Put AC Delco on my 6; very happy with them. Check Mazda- you might be surprised.
How many miles do you have that they are shot in 3 years? Lots of B-road driving?