Does the lower control arm bushing contain some kind of fluid? When my vehicle is lifted up alowing the front wheels "to hang" - black oily fluid drips out of bushing. (see picture). Maybe some kind of hydralic dampner or something?

I've been having vibration at highway speeds, I figured it was due to new tires just installed. But after 3 trips to get them re-balanced at Sam's I'm beginning to wonder if it is related to this bushing. It is a 2009 Touring 2WD with 76k miles. Had a pulse when I would brake too, had the rotors turned, but only helped slightly. Any ideas about how to tell if the bushing should be replaced? and/or could this be related to the vibration?

 

Yes they do...And i have prob done about 10 sets of these in the past 6 months..Honda knows there is an issue with them going bad because well they updated the style of the part. they only do that when they know they screwed up LOL.

As far as your vibration issue...I have never had someone come in complaining about a vibration and had these be the issue..but does not mean it cant be. Goodluck!


BTW its only going to leak if the bushings are cracked/torn

 

Thanks! I'll order one today. I'll let you know if it helps with the vibration. Like you I doubt that it is related but who knows. If so it was an amazing coincidence that it would start as soon as the new tires were put on. But the brake pedal motion was there before the tires. Again - thanks.

 

I bought the bushing kit, but couldn't past separating the "upside down" ball joint. Does this require a special Honda specific tool for the 2009 Pilot? I didn't want to pry or hammer on it for fear of warping or breaking something.

 

No different than taking apart any other balljoint.

 

Tried it again, too thick for a fork, Nut is up instead of pointing down where there would be room to use a puller, and the drive axle housing is about 1 inch above the top of the castle nut, so there isn't room to do much there.. I must be missing something obvious.

 

BFH

 

When i do it i dont take the balljoint out...i take all the other control arm bolts off and i take the axle nut out and just pull the control arm out untill the compliance bushing comes out...This is wouldnt be very easy on the ground i wouldnt think...i always do it on a lift and its still kind of a pain...but if you need to drop the whole arm..just wack the CRAP out of the knuckle around the balljoint and it should come loose on half a dozen good hits

 

I have a 2009 Pilot 4WD, just over 40K in milage. I am being told that my control arm bushings are shot and need to be replced. The shop is also telling me that the entire control arm needs to be replaced, not just the bushing. He says that 2009's do not have stand alone bushings, it's all one piece. Am I being set up? The shop is telling me it will cost $1,325 plux Tax.