Catzilla

Dorman-Ingalls lower control arms on Heeltoe look cute:

https://www.heeltoeauto.com/camber-kits-arms/dorman-ingalls-engineering-oe-replacement-control-arm-front-right-lower-acura-tl-2004-08-all-models-has-m10-sway-bar-link-mounts-drill-for-tl-s-cak640289-520-694-ing.cak640289-520-694.html

Searching this forum and intardwrbz in general yields no real feedback. The #1 thing I am concerned about would be strength - the OEM are beefy AF for very good reasons.

Anyone here running these?

BROlando

I don't think any aftermarket bushing will last long. The shock bushing probably won't last 5K miles, if its like the other aftermarket "OE replacement" options.

Maybe these are ok? roll the dice, I guess.

Or buy a factory bushing set.

Catzilla

Bushings come and go, to be expected, but I'm more worried about the entire arm. Are these arms forged, billet, or compressed recycled tinfoil?

thoiboi

@Heeltoe_Automotive input?

BROlando

They're cast iron. The stock ones are cast iron also. They're like $120 each.....so....they're not going to be forged or billet, obviously.

In either case, I don't think people are breaking the actual arm ever.

Catzilla

Update:
Spoke with a rep at Heeltoe about a different issue (who apparently have a level of customer service far, far beyond what I'm used to for buying car parts online, absolute scary good in fact) and after we settled that I took the opportunity to quiz him on these Dorman-Ingalls arms. He said they have had zero returns or warranty claims on these arms, but with the caveat that he's aware that a significant percentage of the aftermarket parts they sell actually never get installed... which I theorize is due to people overestimating their financial and/or skill ability to finish a project car build.

I plan to buy a pair and report back here, stay tuned.

truonghthe

I wouldn't buy these lower arm, since the OEM one is pretty good, you can replace the bushings why buy the whole arm? unless the arm itself is deformed.

Catzilla

I don't have a hydraulic press.

truonghthe

no need for hydraulic press, just rent a bushing press kit. Or bring the control arm itself to your local mechanic shop.

thoiboi

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...-press-891976/

Catzilla

Ha ha I'm already deep into a couple of these DIY threads. Looks like these are very doable on the car.
Thanks for the link!

hondeducation

i actually have the dorman lower control arms installed on one of my TL Type S. my honda mechanic said he has never had a return or failure so far, so i definitely trusted his recommendation. this particular type s was from the east coast and had significant rust underneath, so I ended up replacing the knuckle and sway bar endlinks as well. so far, so good. i haven't ridden in a new OEM type s suspension setup for awhile, so i cant really compare OEM to dorman exactly, but it's definitely an improvement over my previous beatup and worn OEM setup.

my concern for the future is how well the OEM compliance bushings will fit when the dorman bushing needs replacing. i already have a spare set just sitting around until next time (prob 3-4 years from now...)

mikejones23345

You know Honda/Acura sources their parts from third party suppliers, right? Chances are the car rolled off of the assembly line with Dorman lower control arms. Acura would not be the first to mark up parts because of the Acura brand. Donut Media has a video that dives into this practice. I’ve even heard it from the horses mouth while at dealership shop. When a part came up as out of stock, the service guy said they can get it at Napa. Just saying.

Tommy j

I have used oem with moog bushings pressed in . I had this done after I installed after market. They're also painted with eastwood rust encapsulator. I'll sell them to you cheap. Don't know about shipping though

BROlando

I don't think you fully understand the OEM and Tier 1 relationship. The real explanation is complex and boring.

Obviously, Honda doesn't make all their own parts. But everything else is incorrect.

Some parts guys told you how they rip off their customers. Doesn't mean all parts are the same. That's bad correlation.

Also...this is a very old thread

Also...the factory arm has a spherical bearing on one end...not a bushing. Its way better than any aftermarket arm.

The best part in the world is generally the factory part. In virtually every single case.