Your Honda Civic 2000 has fulfilled every duty assigned, but with age, some parts start to wear out. While many would consider it unimportant, the rear lower control arm is one such part. This half of the catchy-sounding xylophones of your suspension is just as important to how well your vehicle handles, steers, and rides. Just like any part in your car, they won't last forever.

So how do you know when it needs replacement? Caution: this article is going to describe the 7 signs that show that the rear lower control arms of a 2000 Honda Civic must be replaced. We will explain how to notice the symptoms, the reasons for their wear, and how replacing them will improve your ride comfort.

Let’s get started! 

1. Unusual Noises When Driving Over Bumps

Do you hear strange noises like heavy clunking or a deep noise when driving over uneven surfaces? Then the rear lower control arms might be the issue. These sounds usually result from worn bushings or loose control arms that can no longer absorb shock adequately.

So what do you listen for?

• A heavy clunking or thumping noise as you drive across uneven surfaces. 
• Squeaking noise as you make turns or move slowly.

Precisely for this reason, the control arm bushings act as cushions from impacts and prevent metal from contacting metal. According to AutoZone, one of the most common bad control arm symptoms is clunking or knocking sounds coming from the suspension. These noises are often most noticeable when driving over bumps, turning, or braking. Over a period, they wear due to the combined effects of heat, dirt, and exposure to road elements. When the bushings wear out, the arm becomes loose, and that's what produces that annoying sound.

How can you check? Drive your vehicle over a speed bump or pothole. Any new sound that you have not heard before is to be investigated further. 

2. Poor Handling and Unresponsive Steering

The rear lower control arms are the ones that give you a lot of help when it comes to judging whether or not your Civic feels a bit sluggish or doesn't respond much while turning. They also emphasize their alignment and proper wheel positioning for your vehicle. You can really notice the difference in handling if they're damaged or loose, especially in the corners.

What signs do you have in mind?

• The sway of the vehicle while taking a turn seems to be increased when compared to normal status.
• The steering seems not too precise, as though there is a slight delay in response.
• Even if the steering does not pull to one side, on a perfectly straight road, the vehicle tends to "follow" the other so much steering effort is required to keep the vehicle on the road at all times. 

What causes this? The broken or worn control arm changes the alignment of your car, throwing it off and making it difficult to steer and control; thus becomes pretty unpredictable when you drive it faster or take sharper turns.

So, what can be done? These symptoms will make you see that suspension should be checked sooner, not later. It's annoying and could turn dangerous by how your vehicle tracks down the road as well.  

3. Vibration or Shaking While Driving

Have you almost ever felt that your car vibrates excessively or shakes quite a bit? It could be tires old enough or wheels out of balance, but there's more. Worn rear lower control arms make your car shake or vibrate because the suspension can't absorb and/or distribute forces effectively acting on your vehicle.

What should you feel?

• A noticeable vibration or shake through the steering wheel or the entire car.
• The vibration becomes more noticeable at highway speeds.

Why does this happen? Because the rear lower control arm is a component of the vehicle's suspension system, and if it isn't doing its job, the wheels will no longer be properly aligned. The misalignment will lead to instability and unwanted vibrations while driving.

What can you do? If your vehicle is shaking, especially at higher speeds, it's time for you to have the mechanic check your suspension components like rear lower control arms.

4. Uneven Tire Wear

There are many signs that your rear lower control arms start falling apart, and uneven tire wear will be one of the most conspicuous. The part's wear affects the wheel alignment, which results in a faster wearing rate on one side of your tires compared with the other side.

What should you check?

• Check your tires for visible signs of wear on the inside or the outside edges. 
• If the wear is uneven between the front and rear tires, this might indicate a possible fault with the suspension that involves the lower control arms or the rear suspension system itself.

What is the reason this occurs? Wearing out the rear lower control arm not only affects the proper functioning of the part but also causes an angle change for the rear tires while making their contact with the road. The overall result is irregularities in the wearing patterns due to which the life of tires is reduced drastically.

What action should you take? Notice any irregularity in the wearing patterns. Go for an alignment check and a complete suspension system check. You might also have to replace the rear lower control arms if the current situation doesn't improve, as this action would save costs in the long run by saving your tires. 

5. Misaligned or Crooked Wheels

Have your wheels gone out of alignment, even after a professional alignment? If so, it might be due to the rear lower control arms. These arms are vital in keeping the wheels aligned, and they will make the wheels tilt at unwanted angles if they become bent or damaged.

What are you looking for?

• In the front or rear view of a car, such wheels tend to appear tilted inwards or outwards.
• Discrepancy in the space of the tire and the body of the car indicates possible misalignment.

Why does this happen? The rear lower control arms connect the suspension system anchoring the vehicle's frame and maintaining the required position of the wheels. When they bend or break, the resulting misalignment makes the wheels crooked.

What will you do about it? If your wheels are out of alignment, let the mechanic check the rear lower control arms along with the other suspension members for damage or wear. This is a potential concern for real handling and tire wear.

6. Excessive Play in the Rear End

Driving with a sense of instability, or looseness, at the rear end of your Civic might mean that the lower rear control arms have too much play. When these arms wear or become loose, they permit an excess of movement in the suspension, resulting in a vague or bouncy feeling tendency that tends to enhance on bouncy roads.

What might you feel?

• A loose or "wobbly" feeling at the rear of the car when driving.
• An increase in body roll during turns, makes the car feel less stable.

Why does this happen? The rear lower control arms are meant to stabilize the rear suspension. When the bushings or joints wear down, the control arms become less effective, allowing excessive movement and instability in the rear end of the vehicle.

What should you do? If you’re noticing instability or play in the rear of the car, it’s crucial to get the rear suspension inspected and consider replacing the rear lower control arms to restore proper handling.

7. Visual Damage or Rust on the Control Arms

Yes, it may seem a no-brainer, but it is worth pointing out. If you check under your Civic and find visible damage like cracks, bends, or rust on the rear lower control arms, then it's a sign that you need to replace it. Rust, salt, and general wear and tear can cause the material of the control arms to deteriorate or break up over time.

What should you look for?

• Cracks or visible bends in the control arm itself.
• Signs of rust or corrosion, particularly around the joints or bushings.

Why does This happen? The metal components of the control arm are often in contact with road conditions, moisture, and dirt. With all of these over time, the inner systems develop rust and some corrosion, leading to weakening of the structure of the control arm and proneness to failure.

What can you do? Whenever you see any external visual damage or rust, it is time for a replacement control arm. Do not ignore it as severely damaged or rusted sections will lead to costly repairs down the line.

Replacing Your 2000 Honda Civic Rear Lower Control Arms: What Are Your Options?

If you have looked through these symptoms and confirmed that your rear lower control arms need fixing, you must be wondering the places where you can acquire them and what to look for when selecting the ideal ones. Fortunately, high-quality aftermarket parts are available for restoration of handling and performance in your Civic.

Take a look at this collection of lower control arms at Blox Racing. This is where you find aftermarket performance parts designed for: Constructing better durability and handling, and enhancing your overall driving experience.

Replacing your rear lower control arms doesn't have to be a hassle, and choosing the correct parts for your 2000 Honda Civic can ensure it smoothly drives for years to come.

Conclusion

Control arms in the rear lower parts of your 2000 Honda Civic make it possible to maintain the efficiency of the suspension, handling, and quality of ride. If your symptoms sound like any of those mentioned above, it may be time for you to check and replace what you need. Don't wait until major disasters are evident; replace them when inexpensive repairs are still possible.

Keep your ear open to unfamiliar noises, keep track of how your vehicle maneuvers, and have a look at your tires. If any of these sounds like something you might be hearing or feeling, it's time for you to do something about it. Your Civic will appreciate it!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if I need to replace my lower control arm?

A control arm in poor condition can produce a persistent vibration through the steering wheel. The vibration is also subject to variation according to the speed. Bent or worn bushings usually lead to wheel shimmy.

2, Can I drive with a bad rear control arm?

When you drive with a bad control arm, you may hear strange noises and your vehicle may suddenly change the way it steers or handles.

3. How to test for bad control arms?

In checking control arm bushings, the control arm should be pried slightly at the point near the bushing while moving back and forth. If slight movement occurs, it is alright; but if it exceeds or has significant movement that is about ⅛ inches or more, then it should be concluded that control arm bushing wear has occurred, thus requiring bushing replacement.

4. Do bad control arms squeak?

Certain sway bar bushings and control arm bushings can squeak if they need to be lubricated but others will need replacing. It all thus depends on what they come from as to whether you need a new control arm or sway bar bushes or whether they need lubricating.

5. How do I know if my control arm or ball joint is bad?

It will usually be a faint, irregular clunk in the corner of your vehicle that first indicates ball joints that are worn out or getting loose. Bumps, dips, or corners might make the noise seem even more present.