Help requested with Bushing Problems

So I bring my cars in for new tires and alignment. They put the tires
on, but tell me I've got a problem with both front bushings.

Stupid question time: What exactly are bushings, and how badly do they
need to be fixed. Basically, I intend to replace the car ('99 Jetta,
83,000 miles) before the end of the year and would prefer not to put
any unnecessary money into the car. On the other hand, if this is a
serious safty concern, it's gotta be fixed.

Thanks for any advice and info,
Asscer

Uh, what are these bushings attached to/called?
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> So I bring my cars in for new tires and alignment. They put the tires
> on, but tell me I've got a problem with both front bushings.
>
> Stupid question time: What exactly are bushings, and how badly do they
> need to be fixed. Basically, I intend to replace the car ('99 Jetta,
> 83,000 miles) before the end of the year and would prefer not to put
> any unnecessary money into the car. On the other hand, if this is a
> serious safty concern, it's gotta be fixed.
>
> Thanks for any advice and info,
> Asscer
>
>



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Shep wrote:
> Uh, what are these bushings attached to/called?
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>So I bring my cars in for new tires and alignment. They put the tires
>>on, but tell me I've got a problem with both front bushings.
>>
>>Stupid question time: What exactly are bushings, and how badly do they
>>need to be fixed. Basically, I intend to replace the car ('99 Jetta,
>>83,000 miles) before the end of the year and would prefer not to put
>>any unnecessary money into the car. On the other hand, if this is a
>>serious safty concern, it's gotta be fixed.
>>
>>Thanks for any advice and info,
>>Asscer
>>

I'm assuming he is actually referring to the strut bearings (at the top
of the struts) the control arm bushings rarely go bad but the strut
bearings are regular maintenance items at least on cars not equipped
with the later "VR6" style strut bearings. Only other bushings in the
front end are for the sway bar AFAIK and those shouldn't affect
alignment (but are easy to replace if necessary)

nate

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Shep wrote:
> Uh, what are these bushings attached to/called?

Whoops. Sorry about that. According to the report, it's the Control Arm
Bushings. And under Control Arm Bushings, there are three possible
check boxes (Upper, Lower and Left/Right). They marked the Lower ones
as being bad.

Thanks,
Asscer

wrote:
>
> Shep wrote:
> > Uh, what are these bushings attached to/called?
>
> Whoops. Sorry about that. According to the report, it's the Control Arm
> Bushings. And under Control Arm Bushings, there are three possible
> check boxes (Upper, Lower and Left/Right). They marked the Lower ones
> as being bad.
>
> Thanks,
> Asscer

and:
> Stupid question time: What exactly are bushings, and how badly do they
> need to be fixed. Basically, I intend to replace the car ('99 Jetta,
> 83,000 miles) before the end of the year and would prefer not to put
> any unnecessary money into the car. On the other hand, if this is a
> serious safty concern, it's gotta be fixed.

If you are going to junk it this year, then don't bother putting in new ones.
Selling it on the other hand..., I would not want to be responsible
for someone getting seriously hurt or dead because I did not fix a
known safety defect.