Toe Arm Bushes with Fitting Position Rear Axle for MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 7, 8, 9

A toe arm is a short link in an independent rear suspension that controls which way the rear wheel points. Its bushes decide how well it holds that direction once the vehicle is loaded, cornering or braking. Most bakkies and many touring 4WDs run a live rear axle and have no toe arms at all. Plenty of four-wheel-drive SUVs with independent rear suspension do, and on those vehicles worn toe arm bushes can make the rear end feel loose, wear the rear tyres unevenly and leave the vehicle less settled with a trailer behind. Use the vehicle search to find toe arm bushes to suit your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER.

What EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bushes Actually Do

Toe is the angle of the wheel when viewed from above, whether the front of the tyre points slightly in or slightly out. On an independent rear suspension, a dedicated link called a toe arm, toe link or toe control arm sets that angle. It usually runs from the subframe or chassis out to the rear hub.

The bushes sit at each end of the arm. They let the hub move up and down with the suspension while holding the arm's length and position as steady as possible. That is what keeps the rear wheel pointing where the alignment set it.

When the bushes wear, the rear wheel can steer slightly on its own as loads change. Under braking, cornering or acceleration, the toe angle shifts, and the rear of the vehicle responds in ways the driver did not ask for.

What Bushes Do and Do Not Do

New toe arm bushes reduce unwanted movement. They do not set the alignment. The toe angle is set by adjusting the arm, usually with a cam or threaded adjuster, during a wheel alignment. Fitting new bushes restores the arm's ability to hold that setting, but the setting itself still needs to be checked and adjusted afterwards.

Does Your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Have Toe Arms?

It depends on the rear suspension.

Most bakkies, and many touring 4WDs, use a live rear axle, either on leaf springs or coils with trailing arms and a panhard rod. A live axle holds both rear wheels in a fixed relationship, so there is no separate toe arm. Rear toe on those vehicles is set by the axle itself.

Many four-wheel-drive SUVs use independent rear suspension. Each rear wheel is located by several links, and one of them is usually a toe arm. These vehicles use toe arm bushes.

On the front of most 4WDs, toe is set by the tie rods and tie rod ends rather than a toe arm.

If you are not sure which rear suspension your vehicle has, the vehicle search shows which parts suit it.

Signs Your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bushes Are Worn

Uneven rear tyre wear is often the first clue. Worn toe arm bushes let the toe angle change, which tends to wear the inner or outer edge of the rear tyres faster than the centre.

The rear can feel loose or vague, especially through corners, over uneven roads or when changing lanes. Some drivers describe it as the rear of the vehicle steering itself or following road ruts.

Knocks or clunks from the rear over bumps can point to an arm moving in worn bushes.

Towing often shows it up. A trailer or caravan adds side forces and changes the load on the rear wheels, and worn toe arm bushes can let the vehicle feel less stable and more affected by crosswinds.

On inspection, look for cracked, split or torn rubber, bushes that have separated from their sleeves, or obvious movement at either end of the arm when it is levered.

Worn control arm bushes, wheel bearings and subframe bushes can cause similar symptoms, so a full rear suspension inspection is worth doing first.

EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Loaded and Towing Considerations

Towing With Your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER

Towing is where toe arm bushes matter most on a 4WD. The trailer pushes and pulls through the rear of the vehicle and adds side loads in corners and crosswinds. Worn bushes let the rear wheels steer slightly under those forces. Fresh bushes help keep the rear tracking straight with a load behind.

EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Heavy Rear Loads

Touring gear, drawers, fridges and water in the rear compress the suspension and increase the load on every rear link. On an independent rear, that changes the geometry and puts more force through the toe arm bushes. Loaded vehicles can wear them faster.

Lifted EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER

A lift on an independent rear suspension changes the angle of the toe arm and the other links. That can change toe and put the bushes under a different load. After a lift, the bolts should be tightened at the new ride height and the alignment checked.

EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Rough Roads

Corrugations and rough tracks put constant small cycles through the toe arm bushes. Over a long trip, that adds up, particularly on rubber bushes that are already ageing.

Rubber or Polyurethane EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bushes?

Factory toe arm bushes are usually rubber. Rubber isolates noise and vibration, but it deflects under load, which lets toe change as the vehicle corners and brakes. As the rubber ages, that deflection grows.

Polyurethane toe arm bushes are generally firmer and hold the arm more precisely. That tends to keep the rear toe more stable under load, which can improve tracking and reduce uneven tyre wear. The trade-off can be a little more noise and vibration reaching the cabin.

What Comes in a EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bush Kit

Kits vary by vehicle. Some cover the inner bush only, some the outer bush, and some both ends of the arm on one or both sides. Sleeves and lubricant may or may not be supplied. Check the product details for which positions the kit covers and what is included.

Replace the EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Bushes or the Arm?

New bushes are usually the fix when the toe arm is straight, its adjuster works freely and the mounting points are sound.

The arm needs replacing when it is bent from an impact, when the adjuster has seized or stripped, or when corrosion has weakened it. A bent toe arm changes the toe angle and cannot be corrected by bushes. Where the adjuster has seized, replacing the arm is often simpler than trying to free it.

Fitting EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bushes

Replacing toe arm bushes is a job for a qualified technician. The vehicle is supported on rated stands, and the rear hub is supported so the arm can be unbolted safely. The arm is removed, the old bushes are pressed out, and the new bushes are pressed in.

The arm is refitted and the bolts are tightened with the vehicle at ride height, so the bushes are not preloaded in a twisted position. All fasteners are torqued to specification. A wheel alignment is required afterwards, since the toe setting has to be checked and adjusted once the new bushes are in. A road test confirms the vehicle tracks straight.

How Formula 4x4 Can Help With Your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER

Formula 4x4 works across the whole 4WD suspension, which helps on a part that only some vehicles have. If you are not sure whether your vehicle has a live rear axle or independent rear suspension, the team can help identify it and point you to the right parts. Rear tyre wear and a loose rear end can come from several places, and looking at the whole rear suspension helps make sure the right part gets replaced.

Find the Right EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER Toe Arm Bushes with Formula 4x4

Use the vehicle search, then confirm your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER has independent rear suspension with a toe arm. Identify which end of the arm needs bushes, and check the product details for what is included, and book a wheel alignment for after fitting.

Independent rear 4WDs that wander under load often need new toe arm bushes, found in our suspension bushes range.

If you are unsure what your EVO 7, 8, 9 LANCER needs, contact the Formula 4x4 team.