I've wanted to go back to OEM bushings on all my control arms. One of the previous owners switched over to orange poly all the way around. I got a quote for doing the forward control arms with the OEM bushings and it was a little over $2,000 with an alignment. The labor was pretty modest, but the parts were hefty - a bit over $500 for each side. I've seen aftermarket lower forward control arms for under $200. Probably not the same quality, but I'm trying to get a sense of what I should be paying. Plus, that was just for the forward lower control arms and didn't change out bushings on the rear or upper.
I'm good where I sit with the orange poly. They get the job done. But it's been on my wish list to get the nicer ride from oil-filled. Got a couple questions I'm looking to find help with. First, are lower front control arms all that really matters when it comes to bushings and ride quality? Is there a big difference between OEM control arms and aftermarket? Do you need an LR mechanic to do this job or can any competent shop swap out control arms because they are just a normal part of suspensions and all vehicles have them? Is it overkill to want to swap out all the bushings, front and back, lower and upper? If so, what would make the most sense to swap out? And, again, how much should I expect to pay?