canister

Did anyone ever need to install the rear upper control arm p/n 52390-SWN-305?
I am trying to wrap my head around the price tag of $400 while Moog sells it for $50 and Ultra-Power for $10.

ThisIsMatt

Try wrapping your head around the fact that Honda pays someone else to build p/n 52390-SWN-305 too...potentially even Moog or Ultra-Power! You'll always pay insane cash for OEM-labeled gear. In a few situations it's worth it, but not in this one. Buy the Moog part. Even if it lasts half as long as the original Honda part you're still probably getting decent longevity out of it.

canister

The question was to those unfortunate souls who had to have this specific p/n installed - why and under what circumstances.
All that would have made sense if Honda did not also sell the very similar part for $50 bucks.
Did you look in their catalogue? There is another p/n for the same upper control arm 52390-SWA-A00 which costs only less than $50 (CDN$71).

ThisIsMatt

Ahh, yeah that's pretty confusing when you consider the much cheaper, seemingly identical part number. I'd call my local stealership's parts department and see if they know the difference. Around here they won't give you a part number over the phone (since they know you'll just google it and buy it for less, but still too much money online), and they probably won't tell you which one is the right one for your car either, but they may be able to direct you towards the differences.

1999 Civic Si

I have no experience with this particular OEM part, but it appears that the more expensive one is adjustable vs the cheaper one which isn't. This is based off some part number googling and looking at images.

Which Moog and other companies offer an adjustable one as well that is nearly identical to Honda's adjustable one. Which would be used for camber correction. There may be a TSB floating around somewhere for that year range of CRV that required the adjustable one to be used.

canister

Point being that the adjustable aftermarket part is still in the same ballpark as non-adjustable.

1999 Civic Si

Welcome to the world of OE spec'd parts and OEM parts. I use to work in the OE parts field and the quality can be better or worse. Price higher or lower. Typically the bushing quality on aftermarket off the shelf parts, like Moog, tend to be softer and more likely to wear prematurely. But that can also depend on the application of the bushing.

If the adjustable part from Honda was for TSB or something along those lines, then more than likely it wasn't made in as large of a quantity as the non-adjustable one, so the price reflects that. I don't work for Honda or there design/sales or parts. So you aren't likely to get an exact answer on that from someone on the internet, unless that were part of that.

Like my 05 TL there was a TSB on the rear sway bar end links for them wearing prematurely on certain models, the ones that came on the car stock are about $17 each from Acura/Honda and the ones from the TSB are about $100 for the pair. Not as large of a price jump as what you are asking, but its an example.

But you should only need to use an adjustable arm if you are needing the camber adjustment. I am not sure if you are asking because you are looking to buy or just curious about it. If you are looking to buy and don't need adjustable camber then get whatever fits your budget, really the same would apply for needing camber adjustment. lol

But hopefully someone can chime in that may have actually had to go the route of the OEM one, they may be able to help answer your question(s) better.

stin1

iTrader: (1)

That is interesting. Back in the day there was a tsb on the 92 gsr distributor and it was much cheaper than the 93 version that was not included on the tsb. I needed two relays on my 2000 civic and Honda had 1 cost me $30 I went to Acura for the other and it belonged to vehicle with a tsb and it was $5.

canister

Selling TSB parts at 10x markup is diabolic.