I have acquired a set of front lower control arms (the rear one) that I am considering rebuilding. My question is, is there a demand in the market for this service? I know for a fact that the Jaguar pieces can cost up to $1300 for the pair. Do you guys out there have a need for rebuilt pieces? or Are there enough DIYers to just not bother with rebuilt units? I'm trying to build a business case for these arms before they go to the scrap guy. They are from a 1999 XK8 CV and would be rebuilt with the latest level bushing and new ball joints.

Any interest?

 

Trying to get an idea on these. Would you folks out there pay for arms with new bushings and ball joints? What would be a good price?

 

I can't recall if the rear or fronts were more expensive, but i think it was the rears at $550 from the dealer, best price i could find from our sponsor Gaudin. I had new bushings pressed into them and new ball joints. The fronts I just bought new at $350 ea. I think if rebuilt ones were priced at $200-250, DIYers would buy them, probably even sell you back their 'cores' for a little savings too. Makes the swap go quicker with less downtime for the shopwork.

 

The value has a range.

To a hardcore diy'er without a press, they are worth the cost of the replaced parts, plus the cost to press and the trip to get it done. Sandblasting would be nice. That would be the bottom of the range.

To a more casual buyer on perhaps ebay who is taking them to an indy, or the indy himself, they would be worth some higher number.

If you are going into business with this, always price at "plus core".

 

Thanks for the input. I am considering it. I could not replicate the new part look. It looks like in production the whole part is painted then machined, then bushing and ball joint pressed, then wrapped in anti rust paper. I don't have access to a sandblaster (easily anyway) so the way they come would be the way they go. I would do exchange only since the new ones are so expensive. I was thinking in the $500 a pair range but am willing to go lower to get something going. My only concern is the availability of parts. The ball joints seem to be in the UK and this adds to the cost due to shipping. I am trying to get a hold of a wholesaler I know to see if he can dig some up for less cost per unit.

I will keep working on this. its a little pet project for now. Once I get all my ducks sorted, I should be able to get a pair available.

thanks y'all for the input

 

good luck, with the traffic around here, you might be able to get a steady stream of buyers as you get stock available.

 

If you have a compressor, the sandblasting equipment is dirt cheap. No pun intended ... but accepted The "booth" can be rigged up from a big cardboard box. Another box can be used for a painting "booth" and your spray gun can be a spray bomb of Rustoleum. If you go to Harbor Freight, you can setup a whole "production line" for under $1000 including press and compressor.

Your cost to acquire parts from the UK can be amortised if you buy them in multiples since most sellers quote the added units at added weight only.

 

I've used the UK aftermarket ball joints & have been disappointed with the Gaiters. They have both split within a couple of years. I now use a vice to knock the new ones in as it's awkward to mount in press. You can clamp the arm at an angle in the vice using the top face of the jaws to support the end. A very large deep socket can be used on the flange to drive it in with a hammer. Make sure it's square on at the start with gentle taps. To get the old one out it'll sometimes press out with the flange ground off. It's often too stuck so I cut the rim enough to get the ball out but leaving a small amount of rim to use a. chisel on. I then drill the middle of the cup to get a hacksaw in & cut the rest of the cup almost through. Then use the chisel to collapse the cup in. Take care not to cut the arm itself.

 

If doing it as a business I guess you'll look at having a mount made. It's a bit tricky to make judging by the one I've seen used by a local specialist. Here in UK I think they're done for 120gbp each last time I looked.

 

Thanks, would those be the Lemforder ones or are there less expensive aftermarket ones in the UK? I have a wholesaler looking for them here in the states.

 

On the Corvette upper arms, I have used a wire brush on a drill to give them a like new appearance.

Easy, cheap and won't hurt the arms.

Best of luck. I just bit the bullit and had my Indy press in the new ball joints. I would have liked to get rebuilt ones but the peope would had them wanted almost as much as new and I couldn't afford them.

 

For my 2004 XJ8 with 86,000 miles, I recently purchased, on Ebay the last two (both left and right) used upper control arms for $119.00 US. They were a steal...especially since they were in GREAT condition.
The new ones on Ebay were about $250.00 each compared to the Dealer price of about $730.00 EACH!]
This "repair" was supposed to rectify a subtle rattling noise and prevent an upcoming issues of future alignment problems due to the deterioration of the rubber boots apparent on the upper control arms I had. I was not sure if it was a necessary repair especially since the subtle rattle remains, but at $119.00 each, compared $730.00, I couldn't pass them up. I'm still searching for the subtle rattle noise.....any advice?

 

Your suspension is quite a bit different. You would have better luck posting in the section specialising in your particular model.

 

I just had the lower control arms replaced on my Jag.

I PM'd someone here who I thought (from an old thread) would sell the restored ones for $500. (US).

I found the right side, new on Ebay, for $450. but it was just a fluke, none others available. My mechanic bought the other side for $620.

I would have gladly paid $500. each, if I could have.

Good luck!