Okay so I bought a 2003 Z and apparently it was hit in the front (drivers side) at some point and the owner must have fixed it himself because the carfax was clear. Anyways I already ordered a new crossmember and my mechanic said im going to need a new front lower control arm. "the very bottom one on the drivers side", he said. When I search for one there seems to be 2 different arms im coming across. Which one do i need? below are the pics of the damage, and the 2 arms ive seen. (just used ebay pics for reference I would never buy ebay brand).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 2003 Z.

 

Bump. Come on nobody? Its a easy question i just dont really have a good place to jack my car up and see for myself.

 

You dont have to jack the car up. Just turn the wheels all the way to the left and look with a flashlight.

And if that's your car in the first picture, something is not right. The "mount" or whatever the terminology is (it's slipping my mind at the moment) is bent to hell. You're going to need to have someone straighten that out, not just replace the control arm. From this angle I dont see anything wrong with the control arm, just the housing it's in is all ****ed up, which can eventually put unnecessary strain on the arm and bushings.
I bet the car doesn't drive straight does it?

 

need a better picture, like ss said turn the wheel all the way and look through the wheel well.

that thing looks like it lost a wheel or hopped a curb, rather then hit from the front.

 

Lower control arm? See part #9.

http://www.nissanpartswarehouse.com/...agramCallOut=9

 

i just did mines ..... i did the ones that east to west .... translink ? i think that the name .... any who feels better but i think i need to changed the other ones too

 

The actual car picture is showing the lower control or transverse arm. It doesn't look too bad from the picture..but if you want to replace it then it's the first picture. If the car was hit and that much damage was done to the crossmemeber (ie: a bolder that was ran over) then you should probably replace both arms. The second picture is a compression rod or radius rod. If the suspension got worked in the crash then the ball joint on the compression rod is probably shot..

If you are doing suspension work you need to download the factory service manual. Best book I've ever read

More importantly what noises or symptoms do you have?