Front Suspension - control arm/ball joint

[bmwbmwfan]

Hello everyone,

I have some play in the area indicated in the pic below (front drivers side)



I was at an independent shop today and they said that the entire arm would need to be replaced because the balljoint cannot be removed or purchased separately? Is this true??

I was looking at realoem and it appears they're sold individually than as a whole. Was the mechanic saying this because its "easier" that way??


RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 4.4i Frnt axle support,wishbone/tension strut


How hard/long of a job is this? My car is also pulling and may need an alignment after installing the part.

If they could be sold together as a whole, could someone please forward me a link??

My car is an '02 3.0

[mrbmwx5]

The balljoint can be purchase separately.The lower control arm come in one piece and the boomerang arm(strut arm)came witout the balljoint.
I just replaces the lower control arm and that balljoint last week it took me about 1.5 hours to completed the jobs .( I still have 1 spare balljoint)
You don't really need an alignment after that but i did mine anyways.
ECStuning have all the parts you need.

[jst2878]

to change your tension control arm just order new balljoints and bushings. the balljoint is bolted to the spindle and the bushings can be pressed out and arm used again. remember to load the vehicle first!!!!!!!!! then push down on the ride a few times and then tighten the tension bushing, otherwise you will have to get new ones because they will be twisted up

[bmwbmwfan]

I don;t think I would be able to do it myself. So go ahead and order the balljoint in the meanwhile?

What do you mean by loading the vehicle?


Thank you

[TurnAround]

Originally Posted by jst2878

remember to load the vehicle first!!!!!!!!! then push down on the ride a few times and then tighten the tension bushing, otherwise you will have to get new ones because they will be twisted up

Yeah, I have the same question; Jst, could you describe what you mean by pre-loading the vehicle? I presume you mean don't tighten the bushing bolt with the car jacked up, but instead assemble it all, lower the car off the lift or jack, then get under there and torque to spec??

Here's a related question; My front bushings are wearing out, which is contributing to my front end shudder when braking. Couldn't a guy just tighten the bushing bolt some to 'fatten up' the bushing.. maybe get another 30k out of them? Or is that no possible.

I was noticing how the front most bushing #11, is designed with an outer rubber, then three splines, then an inner rubber ring. You can see tiny little fracture lines in the splines when the car is jacked up (this is when the bushing is slightly twisted.. just like you're saying). BMW complaint; Engineer dudes.. this bushing certainly looks wickedly cool in design. I get it.. it does its job, but then also splines with the hollowed out sections in between fight road vibration. But.. duh.. no wonder all our bushings wear out so fast. They're not solid! :-P

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by TurnAround

Yeah, I have the same question; Jst, could you describe what you mean by pre-loading the vehicle? I presume you mean don't tighten the bushing bolt with the car jacked up, but instead assemble it all, lower the car off the lift or jack, then get under there and torque to spec??

Do that or keep the car up with stand jacks then use another jack to jack up the bushing bolt then tighten/torque to spec..

[dpgx5]

Turnaround, here is a picture of my bushing... you can see were it has come apart. I could push each end out about 1/2" with my thumb. I guess that is how you would get the vibration or shake cause the control arm has that 1/2" to play with.

[jst2878]

That pic solves a thousand E53's.

[TurnAround]

Great picture. You can really see how the under engineered it.
Oh well, look at it this way; That's why this board is so cool. You get solid information. It makes the expense more ok.. 'cuz it is what it is. They just plain wear out.

[SLX5]

Do you need a special tool to bush the existing bushing out and press th new one in? How is this done?