I took my 2015 Suburban in for an oil change last Friday (130,000 miles). The service rep stated that the upper ball joints needed replacing, which will require new upper control arms. He was going to order the parts. Today (Monday) he informed me that upper controls are not available at all from GM and that there is no estimated date of availability.

What is the deal? Has GM run out a what should be a standard part that does not involve a computer chip?

 

get aftermarket parts. then get an alignment

2015 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 5.3L V8 Control Arm | RockAuto

 

That looks like the plan--if the dealer will install them.

As a GM retiree of 37 years I am surprised that the control arms are not available. Is this due to the recall of 2016 and later control arms?

 

Name brand aftermarket control arms are just as good as factory parts and are much cheaper if bought online.

 

covid, canal blocked...who knows...part shortages are very common for all makes.

 

Or was the service rep just trying "upselling" ????? With synthetic oils, longer-lasting coolants, fewer if any transmission fluid changes, folks don't take their vehicles in as often. So - as the local shop owner/radio show host says: they're doing "wallet flushing", trying to sell services not really needed.

 

If a suspension part is worn would you not want to be informed about it? If i had a worn part that is a safety issue; I would want to know. Ever seen the aftermath of when a ball joint fails at highway speed?

Finding worn parts is what should happen when a good tech does an oil change. quick lube shop that just drop the oil and don't check suspension don't do anyone a service.
if you are referring to selling parts that are not required; there are thieves out there but you must trust someone.

 

I'd want to know too; I'd go underneath the vehicle with the mechanic to physically see for myself, or take it to an independent ASE shop I know to get a 2nd opinion. I do 95% of my own work, but like my independent ASE mechanic way more than the lottery system for "techs" at a dealership could have. Maybe I'm burned and turned off by dealerships as the only experience we had with our now-sold 2005 Yukon Denali (2010 to 2021) was the GM dealer's inability to repair or diagnose the intermittent non-closing of its sunroof, and then their reluctance to return the $250 I had paid them; a refund was finally issued a few months later as we'd discussed in advance that I'd pay for a fix, but not for guessing.....anyway, got the sunroof closed then removed its fuse so it couldn't get stuck open, and the new buyer was OK with that.