Quote:
Originally Posted by RocketyMan
Agreed on the nomenclature. This definitely helps! I still feel a little bit nebulous on what the OP goal is exactly. I've done pretty much everything suspension related on my SAV with the exception of a couple suspension components.
From your link, those are the REAR suspension upper control arms. Between the two, they are forward and rearward. From my experience, it's not the bushings that go out in those control arms, it's the integrated joint. Back to what stephVA was inquiring about is, what is your goal? Are you wanting specific wheel alignment?
I think adjustable rear suspension upper control arms are way more costly and less permanent than just getting proper rear suspension control arm bushings. In addition, using the upper control arm adjustments changes the offset more than making the proper corrections on the lower control arm for the rear suspension. This might pose problems for wheel offset and fender alignment. This was my ultimate deciding factor for not choosing to go with the rear suspension upper control arm correction solution. Using a poly bushing type in the rear suspension lower control arm is more of a permanent solution as opposed to the upper control arms in my opinion.
As a side note, I've always been curious if these have been compatible with E53 rear suspension control arms: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ings-spc-72185
They are definitely more affordable if you're wanting the adjustability. And the E53 rear suspension is borrowed much of the other platforms that are listed in the compatibility tables for them. I dunno...but I wasn't willing to take the chance. |
MY ultimate goal is not adjust ability. If it was I'd buy the Hardrace units and be done with it. The goal is to not be throwing away serviceable parts.
I will replace the rubber bushings with poly bushings. I will now have what amounts to a "lifetime" bushing. That bushing will be mounted in lifetime piece of metal, let's use the guide link. So the guide link and bushing are now lifetime, but the ball joint is not. I'm not aware of any ball joints being made that are "lifetime". If they do, I'd love to know about them. So, we have a lifetime bushing and lifetime link and ball joint that will wear out. My goal is to be able to keep a perfectly serviceable guide link and bushing and put a new ball joint into it instead of buy the alternative.
The alternative being buying a new guide link assembly, pressing out the rubber bushing, installing my poly bushing from my old guide link which now has a failed ball joint and throwing away a perfectly serviceable guide link. If the ball joint can be replaced, then the only thing I will ever have to replace in the future is the ball joint.
Is that making more sense?