My dealership has informed me my '04 cooper needs new control arm bushings. Since they want to charge me wayyy too much I'm doing it myself (more like boyfriend is :p ) my car has 102,000K miles and I was wondering if I need to buy the ball joints too? Was looking at the kit Way Motor Works has. But I really don't want to spend the extra $200. Is this something I really need to replace or is just replacing the bushings OK?

I'm also going to go ahead and replace the sway bar bushings while I'm at it.

any input would be great!!

 

Leah, unless the ball joints are worn out, or the boots on the joints are cracked don't bother. Just do the sway bar bushings at the same time cause you'll already have them unbolted.

 

Unless you want to do the work yourself (or your boyfriend) think about just taking your car down to Way in Atlanta.
From Nashville it is not a bad drive and they could check over your car and do whatever is needed.
Just a thought.