Shakes so Bad when Braking - Giving up

[franccesco30]

So I decided to take the Control arms to inspect them and there seems to be a few cracks visible on the bushings and there is a bit of play as well, damn DeutschePartsUSA these are about two years old.

So thinking about getting the urethane control bushings and replace the bushings only. Which I have to buy a Hydraulic Press not big deal about 115 bucks and do it myself. Or just buy a new set of Control Arms, I'm just afraid the same cheap brands will fail again in a year or two.

Any recommendations for Control Arms brands?

Regards

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by franccesco30

So I decided to take the Control arms to inspect them and there seems to be a few cracks visible on the bushings and there is a bit of play as well, damn DeutschePartsUSA these are about two years old.

So thinking about getting the urethane control bushings and replace the bushings only. Which I have to buy a Hydraulic Press not big deal about 115 bucks and do it myself. Or just buy a new set of Control Arms, I'm just afraid the same cheap brands will fail again in a year or two.

Any recommendations for Control Arms brands?

Regards

Can't go wrong with Lemfoerder. Febi-Bilstein is probably good too.

One caution - not sure at all if this is true, but since you bought the whole thrust arm (front lower control arm + bushing) from DPUSA, you might find that a replacement bushing (e.g., Lemfoerder or BMW) may not fit in the DPUSA arm.

The bushings (PN 31-12-6-769-715) were replaced by the PO at 154k miles on my '01. I then replaced the front suspension lower ball joints on the arms, soon after getting the car, at 170k miles. I used Lemfoerder. PN 31-12-6-756-491. I replaced while I was replacing other front suspension components, and one of the ball joints tested loose, but I had no brake pulsing issues.

Looking through the records, the PO paid to have the front rotors replaced at 83k miles, 111k miles, and 154k miles. Seems like he got ripped off a lot, so I don't know which of those actually happened. Now at 192k miles, the front rotors measure thin (I will replace soon) but there is no pulsing.

So it kind of makes me wonder whether he was having thrust arm issues, "fixing" by replacing rotors, and maybe even paying for rotors and thrust arm bushings at 154k miles when all they did was the bushings.

[andrewwynn]

I would get full arms from fcpeuro. Either of the OEM brands are good and lifetime warranty. $110 should be about enough for a set of arms if you get lemfordder (sp).

Worn rear control arms are the primary cause of shaking if it's not always.

If you get 2-3 soft wiggles when you turn the wheel past center when driving 50-70 it's the best way to confirm, also soft to moderate braking at 40/50 mph also will usually cause a solid wobble.

Either of those tests produce wobble, it’s surely the control arms.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I would get full arms from fcpeuro. Either of the OEM brands are good and lifetime warranty. $110 should be about enough for a set of arms if you get lemfordder (sp)..

^ That. Meyle has been okay for me from fcp. But can't go wrong with lemforder.

[franccesco30]

Good point on the bushings not fitting the DPUSA control arms. I wished I had kept my original Control Arms, I actually did for a while and then thought, when will I ever need them again :-(

New Control Arms it is then. Thanks again for the feedback, will report back once installed.

[upallnight]

I have a set of BMW original controls arms that I am willing to sell for $50.00 plus shipping. They don't have the bushings. The other option is that I can install the polyurethane bushing into the control arms. You can buy the bushing and have it ship to my address.

If you are interested just PM me. I can provide reference with other owners on this forum.

Here's a video as to how the polyurethane bushing look installed on an original tension rod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ekrGlb6To

[franccesco30]

Urggg wish this response came earlier, as I already put in an order for new ones with FCPEuro.

Thanks for the offer, will keep this option as a back up in case the order is not confirmed for some reason

[andrewwynn]

Don, I need new arms. I'd be interested I'll send a PM.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Don, I need new arms. I'd be interested I'll send a PM.

These arms will need to have new bushing install. I bought a spare set of arms and install the bushing on them so that when I did the repair it was just a matter of swapping out the old arms for the new arms.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by franccesco30

So I decided to take the Control arms to inspect them and there seems to be a few cracks visible on the bushings and there is a bit of play as well, damn DeutschePartsUSA these are about two years old.

So thinking about getting the urethane control bushings and replace the bushings only. Which I have to buy a Hydraulic Press not big deal about 115 bucks and do it myself. Or just buy a new set of Control Arms, I'm just afraid the same cheap brands will fail again in a year or two.

Any recommendations for Control Arms brands?

Regards

I think you need to find a mechanic that isn't guessing at what the problem is. When they state that they are 90% sure it is the rotors and didn't provide the runout measurements I would have be very skeptical of their analysis. Good thing on your part to check the control arm and not buy new rotors base on their guess.