balljoint help - Page 2

KIRASIR · 07-31-2003, 03:58 PM

http://www.koalamotorsport.com/tech/...balljoints.htm

I have personally taken both of my controls arms out, and there is no way INNER ball joints can be replaced.

1) they are not available from the dealership
2) they are part of the control arm, and cannot be removed.

SL

Quote:

Originally posted by Furious325is
to clarify the whole balljoint issue, ive been told that the inners dont go as easy as the outters do, and they can just replace the inner balljoint without having to replace the whole control arm. if you have to replace the whole thing its because its recomended (or maybe its a way to get more money) ive personally seen the inners replaced on both an e30 and e36.

Autotechnica · 07-31-2003, 04:50 PM

Still confused..

KIRASIR · 07-31-2003, 04:53 PM

Which part you don't understand?

From the link posted above:

]There are two ball joints on each control arm of a 3 series car.
If you have a bad ball joint on an E30 you will need to replace the control arm as a
complete unit, this does not come with a new rear bushing or bracket, so now is the time
to change your bushings also.
E36 vehicles do not require replacement of the control arm if the outer ball joint is bad,
if the inner one is bad, you must replace the complete control arm, again, the rear
bushing and bracket are separate.

[quote]Originally posted by Autotechnica
Still confused.. [/QUOTE

Autotechnica · 07-31-2003, 05:01 PM

[quote]Originally posted by KIRASIR
Which part you don't understand?

From the link posted above:

]There are two ball joints on each control arm of a 3 series car.
If you have a bad ball joint on an E30 you will need to replace the control arm as a
complete unit, this does not come with a new rear bushing or bracket, so now is the time
to change your bushings also.
E36 vehicles do not require replacement of the control arm if the outer ball joint is bad,
if the inner one is bad, you must replace the complete control arm, again, the rear
bushing and bracket are separate.

Quote:

Originally posted by Autotechnica
Still confused.. [/QUOTE

Gotcha, perhaps some people are confusing the inner control arm bushing with the inner control arm balljoint. Control arms are a pain in the ass. If you have the money and don't want to bother replacing things seperate, just buy the whole control arm. Or better yet, a LTW Aluminum control arm

Bry

Furious · 08-01-2003, 01:11 AM

my fault i was thinking outside , yes ya have to replace the whole arm. i had to get under to check myself, thanks for the correction KIRASIR

bimmersport · 08-02-2003, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KIRASIR
http://www.koalamotorsport.com/tech/...balljoints.htm

I have personally taken both of my controls arms out, and there is no way INNER ball joints can be replaced.

1) they are not available from the dealership
2) they are part of the control arm, and cannot be removed.

SL

You are correct in saying that they are NOT available from the dealer BUT wrong in saying that they are not removable. You can buy the inner ball joints seperately aftermarket(around $30each). I have replaced them many times (without replacing the complete arm), and most recently on the control arms for notjoe's car.

Autotechnica · 08-02-2003, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bimmersport
You are correct in saying that they are NOT available from the dealer BUT wrong in saying that they are not removable. You can buy the inner ball joints seperately aftermarket(around $30each). I have replaced them many times (without replacing the complete arm), and most recently on the control arms for notjoe's car.

Awesome! Thanks Charlie

Bry

notjoe · 08-02-2003, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bimmersport
You are correct in saying that they are NOT available from the dealer BUT wrong in saying that they are not removable. You can buy the inner ball joints seperately aftermarket(around $30each). I have replaced them many times (without replacing the complete arm), and most recently on the control arms for notjoe's car.

This i can vouch for! I watched him torch it off and put on the new one myself. I too was sure that they could not be replaced since it was exactly that which everyone was telling me, until i saw it.

KIRASIR · 08-02-2003, 04:02 PM

Hey Charlie,

You should visit this board more often. We need this kind of inside information once in a while.

OKay, I stand corrected.

However, when I replaced mine, I actually went to a parts supplier and they had no ball joints at all for e36 in their database (This was a pretty big wholesale parts distributor.). So I ended up buying a set of outer ones from the dealer.

Could you be more specific about the actual procedure?
How are they removed and what tools are required? Also how are the new ones installed?

When I installed mine I read every single peice of info on the net about replacing balljoints, and this is the first time I hear about inners being replaced.

I might as well replace them now on my car.

Thanks

SL

PS One a side now, Charlie, how much do you charge for clutch replacement?

Quote:

Originally posted by bimmersport
You are correct in saying that they are NOT available from the dealer BUT wrong in saying that they are not removable. You can buy the inner ball joints seperately aftermarket(around $30each). I have replaced them many times (without replacing the complete arm), and most recently on the control arms for notjoe's car.