Replace front control arm DIY?

[2002Silver4.6is]

Roger, Do you have Sears over there??? Treat yourself to a mechanics tool set!!!! Best thing I ever bought!!

How did the install go???

[rogerkiu]

I failed to replace the control arm myself. I unscrewed the two screws, but I was not able to get the control arm off from the rotor side, it was so damn tight, I tried to use hammer to tap it, no use, still very tight. After about 2 hours trying to get it off, I gave up becuase I did not want to damage anything else. I reinstalled the wheel. I will go out to find a garage to complete the work. Very frustrated.

[alpac]

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

I failed to replace the control arm myself. I unscrewed the two screws, but I was not able to get the control arm off from the rotor side, it was so damn tight, I tried to use hammer to tap it, no use, still very tight. After about 2 hours trying to get it off, I gave up because I did not want to damage anything else. I reinstalled the wheel. I will go out to find a garage to complete the work. Very frustrated.

2h to get the ball joint out with no success does not make sense to me. Are you sure you unscrewed the right nut? I never had to change my control arm myself on my X as it is still under warranty but I did on many other cars. I usually use a puller to get the ball joint out. With a puller it should pop up like a charm assuming you have unscrew the right nut. You can buy a ball joint puller for about $25 at Autozone or even loan it for 6 or 7$.

[rogerkiu]

I do not have the special tool or a ball joint folk, so it is not easy to get it off. I unscrewed all screws, there are only two screws, one is on the rotor side (18mm), the other one is on sub-frame side (22mm). I just tried to tap it off or just use hand force to get it off. That is wahy I failed. Someone here said that it was very easy to get it off by using a hammer, but not for me. Can anyone tell me that how to use the puller or the ball joint folk to get the control arm off? Thanks a lot!

[alpac]

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

I do not have the special tool or a ball joint folk, so it is not easy to get it off. I unscrewed all screws, there are only two screws, one is on the rotor side (18mm), the other one is on sub-frame side (22mm). I just tried to tap it off or just use hand force to get it off. That is wahy I failed. Someone here said that it was very easy to get it off by using a hammer, but not for me. Can anyone tell me that how to use the puller or the ball joint folk to get the control arm off? Thanks a lot!

Look at the third pic of the article. It shows exactly how to place a ball joint puller.
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/s...trol-arms.html

[rogerkiu]

Originally Posted by alpac

Look at the third pic of the article. It shows exactly how to place a ball joint puller.
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/s...trol-arms.html

Yes, I saw the pic, but what should I do after I place the puller/ball joint folk to get it off?

[alpac]

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

Yes, I saw the pic, but what should I do after I place the puller/ball joint folk to get it off?

Here is a better pic of how to place and use a ball joint puller. The image is for removing an e39's ball joint but the placement and use of the ball joint puller for the X is the same.

[chubyball]

Rogerkiu,

Why are you replacing the Arm control? What the cause? Can we just replacing the bushing itself instead of replacing the whole Arm Control?

I having with a slight vibration at steering when the car is driving on the new smooth road. I thought the smoother the ground is then your car must be drive smoother, apparently not for my X5. I don't know that I should replace the Lower Arm Control yet, right now my X5 has 67K miles and it's never been replaced before. Any suggestion? Thanks

[alpac]

Originally Posted by chubyball

Rogerkiu,

Why are you replacing the Arm control? What the cause? Can we just replacing the bushing itself instead of replacing the whole Arm Control?

....

The control arms come with the bushings installed.

[chubyball]

I just got a quote for OEM Suspension/Control Arm is made from Bilstein fro $69.99 (part #311226760275 Left, 311226760276 right). Anyone knows the quality of this parts?