Originally Posted by Clavurion (Post 1182892)

Which control arms you are talking about? Front tension strut has a separate ball joint as is but on other parts it's virtually impossible to renew the ball joints without factory tools and good quality parts are not available separately.

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1182893)

Front lower control arms and rear control arms.

Originally Posted by Clavurion (Post 1182895)

I would say that better to forget renewing those ball joints separately.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1182906)

On the arms I've replaced it was the ball joint that failed usually from the seal failing. Keep them supple with the magic transmission additive I forget the name but I have a bottle I'll look when I pass it next time.

Originally Posted by X5M-ISH (Post 1182909)

When I did the whole front end last summer I used these guys for their pressed in metal bushings on their control arms. Recommended by a friend who is an SCCA instructor and X5 enthusiast https://mooseheadengineering.com/#!/...egory=13660412


If you're going to go through the trouble to pretty much disassemble the ball joints, then go all-in so you know that every bushing is fresh.

Originally Posted by RocketyMan (Post 1182917)

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.

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1182919)

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

Originally Posted by RocketyMan (Post 1182996)

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.

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1182997)

Thanks. Were they specified as being for the BMW control arms or are they sold by size?

Originally Posted by RocketyMan (Post 1182999)

I'm not sure I exactly understand your question. They're the rear lower ball joint. Rockauto has these in a weird spot for some reason.

This is what I bought:

Originally Posted by StephenVA (Post 1183003)

This will make the conversation MUCH easier as everyone will actually know what the hell they are specifically discussing.:dunno:
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....:thumbup:

Originally Posted by StephenVA (Post 1183009)

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.

Originally Posted by StephenVA (Post 1183009)

... rear suspension forward control arm ...

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.

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

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.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183020)

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

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

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183023)

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.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183020)

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

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

Originally Posted by crystalworks (Post 1183027)

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.

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1183021)

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?

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs (Post 1183029)

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.

Originally Posted by crystalworks (Post 1183032)

Maybe I'll take a look. I don't currently have a press, though I have been wanting one to install bushings in lower control arm "lollipops" like the one on the E46 in the video. Finding a local shop to press bushings for me (at a realistic price) has been a challenge in the past. I'm sure it will have other uses as well.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1183035)

Found some bad news. This is a quote from a company that MAKES special bushing for the other side of control arms:

If a company that builds bearings for control arms moves their bushing to a new arm when the wheel side ball joint wears out it's not looking good for your prospect. Also when watching a video of meyleHD control arm fabrication they used the term "flanged" describing how the ball joint end is added this sounds like the steel of the arm is forged around the ball joint making it one with the end and not a part that can be removed and replaced.

The ball itself could be removed and replaced but are you going to get the next bigger ball?

I found examples with the aluminum arms where the ball joint can be pressed out for replacement but all signs are the wheel end is a permanent fix. Let us know if your find out otherwise and I'll cut mine in half maybe right though the middle of the ball for a post mortem that will answer at least is it possible. (eg if the steel is Forged around the ball joint forget it). My estimate is they made a trade off of size to make the end smaller made it staked on vs a pressed into solution.

I'm aiming for within a month to replace my arms with meyleHD as an upgrade to the stock arms (due to my proclivities of driving over curbs regularly).

Originally Posted by jopecasa (Post 1185155)

I've never done this...Check for snap ring on top.

Removed epoxy or glue...and years of gunk.

Let us know how you go.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn (Post 1185157)

It's as I suspected I still may saw mine in half right through the ball joint top to bottom to confirm 100%.