I am looking to replace all the bushings on the front end of my pickup. I know next to nothing about tie rods, control arms, ball joints, etc but I DO know every rubber piece is degraded and falling apart. I know enough to know, this isn't good and can be dangerous. So, I would like to replace all of them but I don't even know where to start. Rather than buying one piece at a time I would like to buy it all in a kit and do it all at once.

My question is, where can I get a kit with all those bushings in it? I don't even know how many I am looking for, or what they are called. I have been going through autozones website looking at individual parts, but is overwhelming how many different things there seem to be. I know someone will suggest I bring it to someone and have them do the job, but I like to get my hands dirty, and I like to learn so I am planning to do it myself. I just need a bit of guidance in how to get started.

The truck is a 97 f150, 4.6, 4wd, just rolled over 260,000 miles, original bushings. Thanks for any help or guidance anyone can give.

 

If your rubber pieces are falling apart and they are original at 260k, you won't be able to just replace the rubber parts. Should bring it to a shop and see what is actually bad, but typical parts include:

upper control arms w/ ball joints pressed into them
Lower ball joints (maybe lower control arm bushings too)
Innner/outer tie rods with sleeves
Idler arm
Maybe Pitman arm

Rockauto.com is pretty low priced but you might get defective parts (I know I have twice in the last month).

 

I'm not sure what you mean when you say with that many miles, I won't be able to just replace the rubber parts. Do the actual arms and what not wear out somehow? Just from looking at it, it seemed it was all just pieces of metal with bushings. How do you tell if they are bad?

If you buy a control arm, does it come with ball joints and bushings already installed? What is the difference between the two?

 

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...prod=4%2E18123

Does this look like what I would need? Is that all the rubber pieces to do everything?

 

It may work, but I've never seen anyone replace all the bushings. If yours are cracked and such, they have probably been on the truck awhile, letting dirt and water in. Besides that, all the parts I listed are 'wear' parts meaning they are made to wear out. Water and dirt makes them wear out quicker. Having a shop check for play in your steering components would be advised. Replace parts that are out of spec with play. The new parts will come with new bushings.

Worn out parts change your ride quality,alignment, creates clunks and creaks.