Front End Suspension: Control Arms

tonycajjo · #1 10-05-2009, 05:11 PM

So one ball joint is shot and i can only assume that the rest of the control would not mind if i replaced them...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...21&hg=31&fg=05

can i buy Item's 10 with item 11 already pressed into it? (or is item 11 just behind?)

Can i buy item 6, with items 7(thrust bushing) and 15(ball joint) already pressed in?

i've been looking and searching the site. i currently plan on getting the parts and having a local shop press them in for me. (if i continue down this route i will reuse the upper arms)

it would be nice if i can get all the parts, and just swap em out, go get an alignment and be done.

jaybo12 · #2 10-05-2009, 09:55 PM

10 usually comes with 11 pressed in. You can get 6 with 7 pressed in, but I haven't seen it come with 15.

can't remember where I got them from, but it was one of these:
ECS tuning
Bimmerspecialists
Bavarian Autosport
or carpartswholesale.com (careful with these guys, they like to tell you items are in stock and then refund you a week later cause they don't have it)

Sorry I can't remember which one it was

CharlieHustleX5 · #3 10-08-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

can i buy Item's 10 with item 11 already pressed into it? (or is item 11 just behind?)

Can i buy item 6, with items 7(thrust bushing) and 15(ball joint) already pressed in?

it would be nice if i can get all the parts, and just swap em out, go get an alignment and be done.

Yes, you can buy the control arm with bushing and ball joint already pressed in, ready to swap out. ( Item 10 and 11)

And Item 6 and 7 do come set and ready to simply swap out with your old ones. One suggestion is to use your old thrust arm and purchase a Powerflex Thrust Bushing replacement. Then get your old ones pressed out and press the new ones in. They last longer than OEM and dont feel worn out as quickly.

tonycajjo · #4 11-16-2009, 08:40 PM

is the powerflex bushing a two part piece?

i went with the OEM ones and the driver's side bushing for the front control arm is moving away from the center. maybe my control arm is bent?

wallyx5 · #5 11-17-2009, 12:49 AM

I just bought the Powerflex ones. I hope to have them installed this week.

themoth · #6 11-17-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

is the powerflex bushing a two part piece?

i went with the OEM ones and the driver's side bushing for the front control arm is moving away from the center. maybe my control arm is bent?

was the arm bent?

CharlieHustleX5 · #7 11-17-2009, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

is the powerflex bushing a two part piece?

i went with the OEM ones and the driver's side bushing for the front control arm is moving away from the center. maybe my control arm is bent?

The powerflex bushing for the thrust rod is a 2 piece bushing with a collar in the middle.

Regarding your bushing issue, is the new bushing pressed in place correctly? it has to be exactly where the old bushing was or else they'll sit off or prematurely wear out. I dont think the ball joint on the hub carrier would cause the arm to move the way you describe. Did you tighten the bolts down with the car on the ground with a load on the suspension or up in the air with the wheels off the ground?

tonycajjo · #8 11-17-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieHustleX5

The powerflex bushing for the thrust rod is a 2 piece bushing with a collar in the middle.

Regarding your bushing issue, is the new bushing pressed in place correctly? it has to be exactly where the old bushing was or else they'll sit off or prematurely wear out. I dont think the ball joint on the hub carrier would cause the arm to move the way you describe. Did you tighten the bolts down with the car on the ground with a load on the suspension or up in the air with the wheels off the ground?

i did all that... i dunno why it moved. car rides straight and everything. the arm must be bent.

do you need a press to get that two piece part in?

tonycajjo · #9 11-17-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

i did all that... i dunno why it moved. car rides straight and everything. the arm must be bent.

do you need a press to get that two piece part in?

nevermind. its 2 pieces, one bushing and one collar.
i will need a press. i thought it may be two piece bushing and just slide in from each side.

i think i should dump the stock ones that i just bought

Wrscott · #10 11-17-2009, 11:18 AM

I just did mine.. bought lower control arms on ebay for like $100 bucks for the set (bushings already pressed in). Also replaced the thrust rod bushings, had to have a shop press the bushings in. what a difference it made.