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Clunks over bumps and a steering wheel that will not track straight are the classic complaints on a 2005-2009 Dodge Charger or Magnum 2WD. Worn bushings and ball joints let the wheels move when they should hold still. The complete 12-piece upper and lower control arm kit replaces all four arms in one job, instead of chasing them one corner at a time.

What a control arm actually does

A control arm is the hinged link between the wheel hub and the car's frame. It lets each wheel travel up and down over bumps. It also holds the wheel at the angle your steering and alignment depend on.

Two parts do the work. The rubber bushings at the frame side take the constant flexing, and the ball joint at the wheel side carries the load while the wheel steers and pivots.

Rubber hardens and cracks with age, and ball joints loosen with mileage. Once that play is in the linkage, the wheels drift off geometry and the symptoms below start showing up.

Signs your arms are worn: a 5-minute check

You do not need a lift to spot the usual failures. Work through this list:

• Clunk or knock from the front end over bumps, driveways and speed bumps.
• Squeaking from the front corners as the suspension moves up and down.
• Steering wheel vibration that shows up on rough pavement.
• Wandering steering — constant small corrections just to drive straight.
• Uneven tire wear, with the inner or outer edge going first.

One symptom on its own can be something else. Two or more together point at the bushings or ball joints, and that is when replacement stops being optional.

What the 12 pieces cover

The kit is one complete front-end refresh for the Charger and Magnum 2WD. Here is what arrives in the box:

Bushings, ball joints and other wear parts for the rest of the car sit in the general parts collection. Worth a look before you check out, so the second order does not trail the first by two days.

Why replace all four arms at once

The arms on one axle carry the same loads and the same years of road salt. When one bushing splits, its partner is usually not far behind. That is the case for the 12-piece route in three lines:

• One teardown instead of two or three, and one alignment bill instead of several.
• Fresh bushings on both sides keep the geometry even, so your tires wear evenly.
• Pre-assembled ball joints mean no press work at the bench.

Tight on budget or time? If only the front axle is the problem, the 4-piece front upper control arm and sway bar set for the 2006-2014 Dodge Charger covers just that end. It is the lighter option while the rear arms are still healthy.

Do the shocks while you are in there

Worn shocks hide what new arms fix. If the ride is floaty or bouncy in a way the arms do not explain, the struts are due as well. The front and rear shocks and struts assembly kit for the Dodge Charger and Magnum fits the same cars and can go on the same lift visit.

How the install runs

An experienced DIYer can handle this job with hand tools and a torque wrench. A shop does it faster — figure 3-4 hours of labor. Either way, the order matters:

1. Park on level ground and support the car on jack stands rated for the weight. Never work on a jack alone.
2. Remove the wheels and unbolt the worn arms from the hub and the frame.
3. Bolt the new arms in using the manufacturer-recommended torque values.
4. Set the car to normal ride height before the final tighten, so the bushings are not pre-twisted.
5. Book a wheel alignment right after the job. It is mandatory, not optional.

Skipping the alignment wastes the new parts. Your tires wore themselves to the old arms' geometry, and the fresh arms reset it. The alignment is what locks that reset in place.

Control arms wear the same way on every platform. If you also run GM trucks, the guide to front upper control arms and lower ball joints for the Chevy Avalanche, Silverado and Sierra works through the same decision for that family.

Frequently asked questions