how to tell lower control arms bad?

[Russell]

How can you tell the lower control arms bad? Seaching through archives found that most were just replaced when the thrust arms are replaced.

I can twist mine a bit. Nothing looks bad. the boots are solid and the rubber bushing looks solid. I think I get a soft clunk every once in a while

BTW, the upper thrust arms have been recently replaced with lemforder and 750i bushings. As have the sway bar links.

I have no 45-65 mph shimmy. However, I do have a bit of vibration in the steering and brake pedel when I first put on the brakes. Push the brakes hard and it goes away. It may be brakes not loer control arms.
Opinion?

[GoldenOne]

usually the lower arm bushings dont go bad....the ball joint generally give out before it does (which makes the clunk)

[632 Regal]

they should last 100k or so.

[NovceGuru]

I could "twist" my old ones (by hand) quite a bit, probably a 1/2 inch in both directions. My new ones are solid as a rock. Hopefully they'll stay that way for a while!