Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by RocketyMan

It's not easy...but I replaced my rear control arm ball joints. Definitely was needed after 186k miles. I also did the front control arm ball joints too. Tho...there's not that much rust here in the PNW.

I used this tool: https://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tool...ece/449947_0_0

If you get a "loaner tool" with an arbor that is slightly bent...it makes everything difficult. Anyway...there's a trick to it. I will say that freezing the new ball joint def helps with installation.

No rust here in California either. Where did you source the ball joints?

[RocketyMan]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

No rust here in California either. Where did you source the ball joints?

I got Delphi branded ball joints. Got them from rockauto. I can't remember how much I paid...def not the cheapest and decided to go with something name brand.

[andrewwynn]

Freeze old to remove could help also.

Steel changes size 1% per 100°F approximately so heat the outer part to 250F or so and cool the inner part to -15°F (use R134a aka canned duster).

I've measured 0.003" (0.08mm) difference in my front bearings.

Don't make the goof of freezing rear bearings on X5: oops they are bolt on but press over the hub: cold makes them tighter.

I made a kit from an R134a can valve and a shop air duster to apply cold to things. Originally so I could freeze a water pipe to change a valve downstream. I've done that a couple times.

I've used dry ice to cool a hub to remove from my front bearing but now I just needed up my bearing press to 31T capability no longer need to use heat and cold.

[StephenVA]

This will make the conversation MUCH easier as everyone will actually know what the hell they are specifically discussing.
FRONT Suspension Parts
REAR Suspension Parts
The Front Suspension has multiple "Ball Joints" some are attached to the arms, others are separate parts. The front also has BUSHINGS that are part of two arms.
The REAR Suspension has a BIG Ball Joint on the LOWER part of the hub/wheel Carrier that attaches to the lower swing arm and all X5s has few little ones in the UPPER arms that are part of the control arms (entire arm is REPLACEABLE) See Images below for details.

Now that we are shop class 101, point to the image and give us the number of said part that you are all replacing....

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

This will make the conversation MUCH easier as everyone will actually know what the hell they are specifically discussing.
FRONT Suspension Parts
REAR Suspension Parts
The Front Suspension has multiple "Ball Joints" some are attached to the arms, others are separate parts. The front also has BUSHINGS that are part of two arms.
The REAR Suspension has a BIG Ball Joint on the LOWER part of the hub/wheel Carrier that attaches to the lower swing arm and all X5s has few little ones in the UPPER arms that are part of the control arms (entire arm is REPLACEABLE) See Images below for details.

Now that we are shop class 101, point to the image and give us the number of said part that you are all replacing....

I am talking specifically about the ball joints located IN the front lower control arms, the rear front control arm and the rear, rear control arm (sometimes called the wishbone). These control arms come with the ball joints installed IN them. For example, the ball joint in item 6 in your diagram. I am NOT talking about the ball joint that mounts to the steering knuckle or the ball joint that goes in the rear wheel carrier. The ball joints IN the control arms I'm asking about do not show as separate parts on RealOEM.

My question is/was if anyone has replaced the ball joints that come IN the control arms.

I hope that makes it clearer. Sorry for any confusion.

[StephenVA]

Item #6 in the rear suspension forward control arm (Upper Guide Link) has a small swivel joint (ball shaped) that only comes with the arm. Their average life span is 100K, so one replacement in 200K for the 3.0 applications, longer than most owners' ownership. In the large V8 they last approx 60K depending on driver and road conditions.

Unless your needs are such and you plan on HEAVY modifications, it works as designed.

The next question just for curiosity, Why would you want to? What performance, adjustment advantage are you seeking?

There was a company that made adjustable length units many years ago. Are they still around? Who knows. Use the search function on this site to find the postings.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

Item #6 in the rear suspension forward control arm (Upper Guide Link) has a small swivel joint (ball shaped) that only comes with the arm. Their average life span is 100K, so one replacement in 200K for the 3.0 applications, longer than most owners' ownership. In the large V8 they last approx 60K depending on driver and road conditions.

Unless your needs are such and you plan on HEAVY modifications, it works as designed.

The next question just for curiosity, Why would you want to? What performance, adjustment advantage are you seeking?

There was a company that made adjustable length units many years ago. Are they still around? Who knows. Use the search function on this site to find the postings.

I'm interested because I will be changing the bushing to poly which is essentially a lifetime bushing. So the ball joint is likely to wear out before the poly if the poly ever does. The existing arms have about 60,000 miles on them, so they've got maybe 40,000 miles left in them. I have 250,000 miles on this truck and I am shooting for 350,000. That means those ball joints will need to be replaced sometime before I ever have to replace the bushing. Since the arms themselves are essentially a lifetime part and a poly bushing is a lifetime part I'm curious to know if it is possible to replace the one piece of the arm assembly that's not lifetime. Especially since if the ball joint can't be replaced I will need to order a complete new arm, press out the rubber bushing to install poly and throw away the rubber bushing. Along with throwing away a perfectly good control arm that comes off with the worn out ball joint. Make sense?

Adjustable are still available from Hardrace: https://hardraceusa.com/collections/x5-e53-2000-2006

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

... rear suspension forward control arm ...

Thanks for speaking up for some clarification. I actually typed in a much shorter, similar request that would have been post #2, but decided to delete it.

BTW, everyone, please note that diagrams are great, part numbers great too (for google purposes so others can find your great info months or years down the road), and also that

"rear suspension forward control arm" is far clearer than something like
"rear front control arm"

See the difference?

Also many of these arms have their own special names, such as the "guide link" there. BTW, my guide links are still truckin' along at 192+k miles.

Carry on.

[RocketyMan]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

Thanks for speaking up for some clarification. I actually typed in a much shorter, similar request that would have been post #2, but decided to delete it.

BTW, everyone, please note that diagrams are great, part numbers great too (for google purposes so others can find your great info months or years down the road), and also that

"rear suspension forward control arm" is far clearer than something like
"rear front control arm"

See the difference?

Also many of these arms have their own special names, such as the "guide link" there. BTW, my guide links are still truckin' along at 192+k miles.

Carry on.

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.

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

I'm interested because I will be changing the bushing to poly which is essentially a lifetime bushing. So the ball joint is likely to wear out before the poly if the poly ever does. The existing arms have about 60,000 miles on them, so they've got maybe 40,000 miles left in them. I have 250,000 miles on this truck and I am shooting for 350,000. That means those ball joints will need to be replaced sometime before I ever have to replace the bushing. Since the arms themselves are essentially a lifetime part and a poly bushing is a lifetime part I'm curious to know if it is possible to replace the one piece of the arm assembly that's not lifetime. Especially since if the ball joint can't be replaced I will need to order a complete new arm, press out the rubber bushing to install poly and throw away the rubber bushing. Along with throwing away a perfectly good control arm that comes off with the worn out ball joint. Make sense?

Adjustable are still available from Hardrace: https://hardraceusa.com/collections/x5-e53-2000-2006

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.

[Fifty150hs]

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?