For a vehicle to have stable steering and good handling, its tires need to have good contact with the road. This is made possible by the suspension system, which is also designed to evenly support the vehicle and reduce shocks from road bumps. It also helps make rides more comfortable.
A typical suspension system consists of many different components, including the tires, springs, linkages, bushings, ball joints, struts, sway bars, shock absorbers, and control arms.
Driving With Broken Control Arms: What Can Happen
Having damaged control arms and worn bushings or ball joints could cause suspension parts to become misaligned. When this occurs, you may experience issues with steering and handling.
In extreme cases, driving with bad control arms could lead to loss of control or inability to steer due to the wheel and tire assembly moving outward from the vehicle. If the ball joints break, the wheels could also fall off.
What Causes a Control Arm to Break?
Although control arms are usually made of metal, they can feature parts that are made of other materials. Usually, they include rubber or polyurethane bushings that can have metal sleeves, as well as ball joints that are composed of metal and rubber or plastic parts. These components are more susceptible to wear and damage from use, unlike metal control arms, which are most likely to be damaged by significant impact or collisions.