Control arm balljoints

[Venatus 2]

Could anyone give me an idea of what it would cost to replace the outer balljoints on the control arms? the ones that attach to the strut?

The self locking nuts had been loctited, so the entire balljoint would just rotate. Heat wouldnt make the loctite let go, so the nut had to be ground off, but the balljoint is pretty much stuffed and theres a lot of play in the wheel because its impossible to tighten it back properly.

I havent checked but id say that the other side is the same, so could anyone give me an idea of what it should cost to get these replaced, Ill just have to take it to the mechanic at the top of the street seeing as its probably unsafe to drive it round like it now.

Thanks.

[tibbs.james 1]

In my E30

I removed both front control arms myself,

Bought both inner and outer ball joints for each side $150 exc gst ( mates rates cash deal )

and cost $80 to have them all pressed back into the control arms for me to re assemble.

took me a 40 mins to remove each side

and took me about the same to re assemble.

Ireland Engineering have a pretty good deal for a complete control arm in ball joints ect too.

Might be worth checking out.

Hope this helps

James

[nz320i 0]

You can get new c-arms with ball joints for $130 new, not OEM however, slightly lesser quality.

[Venatus 2]

jeez, by the looks of the price of things, my cars gonna be off the road for a couple weeks...

And I cant work out how youre supposed to be able to tighten them up properly, wont the ball joint just spin with the nut while youre tightening it?

Edited April 19, 2008 by Ven

[tibbs.james 1]

The shanks on each ball joint is tapered so once its sitting in place correcty it just tightens up.

[Venatus 2]

Ah, thats cool, thanks for that.

And if I go with replacing the entire control arm, are you able to get the old bushings back on or is it new bushing time too?

[nz320i 0]

what bushings?? the only ones i can think of the sway bar mounts??

[tibbs.james 1]

He means the the circular rubber bushing that the control arm piviots on thats at the opposite end to the inner ball joint.

I did read somewhere that you are not supposed to use an old bushing on a new arm.

[Venatus 2]

the big ones that bolt to the chassis at the back of the control arm

EDIT: oops someone already said that

Where can you get just the balljoints? both repco and supercheap apparently dont supply them, and Ive heard BMW dont sell the balljoints seperately from the arms either

Edited April 20, 2008 by Ven

[gmccormack 0]

The very earliest E30s had control arms in which both ball joints could be replaced seperately if needed, later the design was changed slightly and only one ball joint could be replaced. I think it is the inner that can be replaced, so if the outer was worn you had to replace the whole arm ( or I could have that the wrong way around) I wouldn't bother replacing either ball joint no matter which arm design you have as the complete arm with two brand new ball joints is so cheap. The last time I got an arm from the dealer ( about 1 year ago) it was only $160+gst.

[Venatus 2]

Alright, got all the struts off and stuff today with advice found on here, ie. jacking up the bottoms of the ball joints to lock 'em.

I dont think the actual ball joints will need replacing, probably just the boots. Im guessing that boots are relatively universal and just able to get generic ones?

For now I think just new boots will have to suffice until I have money to get another pair of arms

That sounds like a good price graeme, seeing as repco told me their control arms are 200 each.

Edited April 20, 2008 by Ven

[tibbs.james 1]

Where can you get just the balljoints? both repco and supercheap apparently dont supply them, and Ive heard BMW dont sell the balljoints seperately from the arms either

Import Part specialist from Chch has them in stock, thats where i got mine.

The very earliest E30s had control arms in which both ball joints could be replaced seperately if needed, later the design was changed slightly and only one ball joint could be replaced. I think it is the inner that can be replaced, so if the outer was worn you had to replace the whole arm ( or I could have that the wrong way around) I wouldn't bother replacing either ball joint no matter which arm design you have as the complete arm with two brand new ball joints is so cheap. The last time I got an arm from the dealer ( about 1 year ago) it was only $160+gst.

Graeme

On my 1990 Facelift E30 both ball joints pressed out and were replaced fairly easily.

But yeah next time i would have gone with the complete arm for the hassle of having them pressed in/out- Guy that did it for me said it was an ass of a job to do.

[Mike 1]

SAS sell replacement ball joints, but unless its just one thats stuffed I'd buy new arms as the cost difference is negligableby the time you suss someone to press the ball joints out an in again