I have what I suspect is abnormal play in the front end of my car. I checked play at the rubber bushings on the front control arms, but don't know what is normal/acceptable. There is no visual damage to the bushings - i.e. missing rubber, obvious breaks, but when I put a pry bar between the rear of the control arm and the anti-roll bar, I could move the control arm around over 1/4 inch, which I think is excessive. Can anyone confirm what is normal and acceptable?
If you are talking about the horizontal bushings at the rear of the tables then taking a pry bar between the table and subframe ,you should be able to move the table ,but without excessive pressure ,not be able to make the table "knock " against the subframe. If it's the front bushings, they should be pretty tight, no more than some slight play.
Yes, I am talking about the rear bushings on the front lower control arms. I can move the control arm both vertically and horizontally with reference to the ground.
If you can move them just by rocking them by hand, they are toast. If it takes a good size pry bar or big screwdriver, then some play is okay. With a prybar, generally you shouldn't be able to move them enough to touch the top or bottom of the subframe when it sits in.