# Control arm

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/control-arm/15628>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 21, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/control-arm/15628 "2008-06-21T04:10:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![reeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dc4da7/32.png) [@reeves](https://community.cartalk.com/u/reeves)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/control-arm/15628/1 "2008-06-21T04:10:24Z")

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At 66,000 miles I was told I needed a new control arm on my 2003 Camry. 3000 miles earlier I had my front brakes replaced and 2 new tires and was not aware there was a problem. While replacing the control arm they said a part (a bolt I believe) had been so loose it and had shifted to the point of practically falling out. They said the labor intensive job (which cost $1100 including an alignment) was absolutely necessary and without it being done, my car would not have passed inspection. Was I a sucker, or does this seem like a legitimate repair.  
  
 Thanks,  
  
 Lauren

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/control-arm/15628/2 "2008-06-21T04:32:21Z")

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I don’t know if you’ve managed to provide all of the exact details here based on your post but if this repair consisted of nothing more than a lower control arm (with ball joint), then the repair sounds way overpriced.  
The part should be a couple of hundred dollars and labor should not be more than an hour or so at most.  
It’s not a difficult job unless there is something additional going on or if both control arms are involved, etc.

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/control-arm/15628/3 "2008-06-21T04:32:22Z")

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If you post the itemized bill you may get more information than you wish.