Parts for your 2014 Toyota Bb-Control arms

2014 Toyota bB control-arms — what they do and when to sort them

Based on technical sources, control arms are used on the 2014 Toyota bB. The Toyota bB (QNC2# series, 2005–2016) features a MacPherson strut front suspension that uses lower control arms with integral bushes and a ball joint. The rear is a torsion-beam axle (no conventional rear control arms). This layout is documented in the Toyota bB Repair Manual for QNC2# and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue, which list the front lower arm sub-assembly and ball joint as service parts.

On the 2014-toyota-bb, the front control-arms are the backbone of the steering and suspension geometry. Each arm links the front hub to the chassis, allowing the wheel to move up and down while keeping camber and caster where they should be. Bushes in the arm soak up vibration and road harshness, while the ball joint lets the steering turn smoothly without binding. When the bushes or ball joint wear, the car can feel vague, wander on the motorway, or thump over bumps, and it’ll chew out tyres faster than it should.

As part of routine servicing, it’s smart to give the control arms a once-over every 20,000–30,000 km or at each WOF/service. Look for cracked or oil-soaked rubber bushes, torn ball joint boots, rust at the arm pivots, and any play when levering the joint. If there’s clunking when taking off or braking, steering shimmy, or uneven tyre wear, the control arms or their bushes likely need attention.

• Typical symptoms of wear: knocking over bumps, vague steering on-centre, tramlining, and inside-edge tyre wear.
• Recommended fixes: replace worn bushes and ball joint, or fit a complete arm assembly if it’s more economical.

When replacing, torque fasteners at ride height so the bushes aren’t preloaded, tightening with the suspension hanging can shorten bush life. Many owners opt for complete arm assemblies to refresh bushes and ball joint in one go. If fitting bushes alone, press them in square and oriented as per the workshop manual. Always follow torque specs and use new self-locking nuts where specified.

After any control-arm work on a bB, a full wheel alignment is a must. That locks in correct camber and toe, protects your tyres, and brings back that tidy, confident feel on Kiwi and Aussie roads. If the car regularly sees rough tracks or heavy loads, consider more frequent inspections.

• Pro tip: if one side’s worn, the other won’t be far behind—doing both front arms together can save time and an extra alignment.

Popular questions about 2014-toyota-bb control-arms

Do the rear wheels of a 2014 Toyota bB have control arms?

No. The rear of the 2014 bB uses a torsion-beam axle with trailing arms and a panhard-type arrangement, not separate multi-link control arms. Only the front suspension uses lower control arms. This is normal for compact Toyotas of this era and keeps the rear end simple, robust, and low-maintenance.

How long do the front control arm bushes and ball joints usually last?

On well-kept cars driven on decent roads, 120,000–180,000 km isn’t unusual before noticeable wear shows up. Harsh roads, kerb strikes, leaking oil onto the bushes, or bigger wheels can shorten that. Regular inspections and timely alignment help maximise life.

Can the ball joint be replaced separately, or does the whole arm need doing?

For the bB’s front end, the ball joint is serviceable and can often be replaced on its own. That said, many workshops recommend a complete arm assembly if bushes are also tired—it’s cost-effective, restores the lot in one hit, and saves a second alignment later.