Newbie question: is it feasible to replace the lower control arm bushings? Or does this require removing the entire arm assembly anyhow, so you might as well replace the entire thing?

They look okay to my naked eye, but who really knows. I live in South Georgia, so there's just some Southern humidity atmospheric surface rust.

I asked a local, reputable shop for a quote on R&R the following with me supplying the parts:
1) Pitman arm
2) Lower ball joints
3) Upper control arms
4) Alignment.

They gave me a good detailed quote except the technician recommended replacing the entire lower control arm assembly. Problem was he hasn't even seen the truck. They didn't give me the itemized price for just doing the lower ball joints. I'm guessing this basically doubled the labor price estimate.

I've done the complete tie rods, sway bar linkages, and idler arm. Was gonna do the rest, but time is tight and thought I'd see what the shop would charge.

 

You can buy them separately so somebody must be doing it. Might help to describe what you're working on. 97-03 is a pretty broad range.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...m+bushing,7532

 

It can be done. You do have to take them off the truck, and use some sort of press to change them. But, by the time you buy quality bushings, and ball joints, you may as ell just replace the whole lower control arm with a Moog.

 

Not all Moog parts are created equal. You'll want the Problem Solver series.

 

That's what I figured. Looks like I'm sticking with lower ball joints only.

 

are they better than Motocraft and Mevotech. Someone else in another thread said Moog PS quality has been hit and miss lately. I’m not sure how that person reached that conclusion so I’d like to hear from other people as I’m about to do upper and lower control arms.