Xoutpost.com - Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement

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Well I was certainly confused on the question. Thanks @stephenVA for the diagram. I guess I was under the notion it was the rear ball joint that nobody ever replaces because it is so difficult because the BMW specific tool is def needed--just maybe not required.

At any rate, the "ball joints" that are in the "control arms" are usually sub assemblies that are non-serviceable. But I do think there is a way to service the rubber bushings in them sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenVA (Post 1183009)

... rear suspension forward control arm ...

Thanks for speaking up for some clarification. :thumbup: 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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldskewel (Post 1183017)

Thanks for speaking up for some clarification. :thumbup: 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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1183013)

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.

https://youtu.be/E-76vbQbodY

This is the idea just need to find the correct tool and part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketyMan (Post 1183018)

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?

I can do some destuctive testing on my old arms when I replace them. I will be ordering a new pair from fcpeuro when/if the PUA ever comes though from my self unemployment. (all my customers are either IL or WI so works been a little light since Mar 17/25.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183020)

https://youtu.be/E-76vbQbodY

This is the idea just need to find the correct tool and part.

THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183023)

That's great! I'd love to know how it works!

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183020)

https://youtu.be/E-76vbQbodY

This is the idea just need to find the correct tool and part.

That's cool. I like the idea of saving the arm itself. But for what that tool probably costs and the amount of storage space it takes up, I'd buy new arms with the 2 ball joints every 100k miles. :dunno:

Maybe for pros it makes more sense though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks (Post 1183027)

There are lots of ball joint presses out there on ebay for not much money. Guessing there might be something that works for not too much money. Hell, one of the presses I already have may work.