What in the world is the "upper control arm" in the FRONT of the car that the shop is telling me I bent and need replaced (I hit a pothole the size of a small wading pool)? I know about the A-frame piece, is there something ELSE? I thought just 93+ had upper and lower ones?

 

You are correct. Have them show it to you. They could be referring to the upper spring perch, strut bearing, etc. but there is no upper control arm.

When you find out, come back here and we can probably help you save money on replacement.

 

what a dicklick. i called up. i was right abotu the piece he says is bent. now he's going to charge me less and get it done faster. even yet, i'm asking it be given to me when they replace it, because i find it hard to believe the car hit hard enough to bend that huge thing. they're getting me a new one and putting it on moday, and being at college, and having to get home for christmas i'm just going to have to pay. i dont have time to find a replacement myself, and i need my car. thanks.

 

So what was bent?

 

It could be a tie rod.
Be very very carefull with these people or better yet report them to the better bussness bureau.
Tell the BBB the garage told you that they needed to replace a part that your car didn't even have.