Had my X type wheel rotation done and I was told that I needed to replace split front end control arm bushes. The garage looked for parts and said they could source an aftermarket Right hand bush for around $250. The shock came when they said they could not find an aftermarket left hand bush and would have to go OEM for over $1000! Anyone know where I might be able to source an aftermarket left hand bush at a reasonable price? I am in Australia - am happy to pay shipping if need be to save on overall cost...

 

My initial thought about that garage: Extremely fishy - and that is without me knowing WHAT exactly you are looking for.
You are in Australia (Queanbeyan, NSW).
Hence, the part below - if that is the part you are after - is an option:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/192344107514

AUD$395 plus 17 postage. This is from Jagdaim in Melbourne, and they are generally NOT the cheapest, i.e. there might be cheaper options.

So would that be the correct complete part you are after? Are you after a complete part at all? I myself would actually just replace the bushes. If that is your idea anyway, a price of 250 or 1000 does not make any sense anyway, nor does LHS and RHS any sense, because the bushes on both sides should be that same.

So, to answer your question, I would have to understand first WHAT exactly needs replacing... - and if just the bushes, then which of the bushes or all of them?

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...c&LH_PrefLoc=1
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...490.m570.l1313
As Peter_of_Australia already wrote, it is not clear what you need or are looking for. Here are 2 links for the search. Replacing the rubber mounts is not always easy because the bolts are rusted into the sleeve. The only thing that helps here is the grinder or reciprocating saw. Because of these problems, we have always replaced the complete arm. With a new set of screws. Suitable ones are available from Ford. Don't use the cheapest, otherwise the rubber bearing will only last from noon to noon. The bolts should only be tightened under load,i.e. axle compressed. Many workshops do not take this into account, which drastically reduces the service life of the rubber bushings. Of course, this is all easy to say if, like us, you have your own workshop.

 

Yes, correct - as Jo van Haag wrote:
> The bolts should only be tightened under load,i.e. axle compressed.

That is a tricky one, and normally an impossible task, because the only time you have proper access to the bolt and are able to insert them is when the wheels are removed...
...and latest by now, you should ask yourself how to put the system under load, of the wheels are not on the ground, as they are not even on the car!?
I found a solution: I had put the rotors (=brake disks) and calipers back on, but NOT the wheels. And to ensure that the rotors are firmly mounted, I put the wheel nuts back on (but again: Not the wheels). Then, I put yet another car-jack under the rotor and lifted the car a tiny bit above the stand (on which the Jag was resting there, and THEN I tightened the big bolts with the correct torque (which is quite high!)...

 

I'm not syre what exact part is needed - the garage described them as control arm bushings - I don't think they need to replace the whole arm - just the bushings - according to them there is a left and right hand side bush.

 

If you are seriously "talking" about bushes (or "a" bush) for $1000, you are definitely dealing with the wrong garage.
I can currently not think of any bushes, which are different on LHS and RHS.
And without information, what part we are dealing with, I can't say much...