We thought it was squeaky struts, but apparently our control arm bushings are shot. Two are split, two are worn to the point of being about to split. If control bushings fail, apparently the damage can be catastrophic.

So it’s about $250/wheel or bushing including labor. They think. I guess we’ll find out.

Looking on Google, it appears that bushing kits are about $10 - $40/wheel, so the rest must be labor. I hear the labor’s a “pain in the ass”, so I guess we’re not getting nailed too badly.

Here’s an example of bushing replacement on a jeep/dodge/chrysler/etc. Looks like they’re all made about the same way. A bushing’s a stout metal and plastic or rubber part that helps distribute load for parts of the suspension. I can see how a failure could pretty much suck for the car and the suspension.

It also looks like “total pain in the ass” is a completely reasonable descriptor for the amount of labor involved.