I have an 03 cls 6speed. My front upper control arms are making noise and I was told I need to replace them. When searching for new parts I saw a bunch of bushing replacement kits. Can I get away with just replacing the bushings ($20) or do I have to replace the entire arm($100+)?

 

I don't think you can get the bushings separate... But your better off just replacing the control arm. All the hassle your going to go through trying to push out the old bushings. You take the risk of rounding out the control arm. Deff worth just buying the entire thing. It will come with a new ball joint and everything! Just make sure you have the alignment checked after, good luck!

 

^^^
Agreed and accurate!

If you call Acura and ask for bushings alone, they will tell you they only come with the control arm. Why? Because Acura intelligently determined by bonding the bushing Metal to metal, there's less of a chance for it to fail. A bushings worst enemy is debri and foreign objects making its way between the metal and bushing destroying the rubber. Kind of like a motor mount. Ever wonder how a few bushings inside the motor mounts can last so long and be able to withstand years of torque and abuse? Quality engineering!

But it does suck to have to buy a $249 control arm for such a small problem! :-)

 

Also, if you ever need a front camber kit you might want to just go with the ingalls full arms now rather than later.