Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 12:47:57 -0500
From: "David Kroth" <davidk_at_lpa.com>
Subject: [E36M3] E36 control arm replacement

I changed out the control arms on my car this past weekend. It has 74000 miles and had developed a "click" in hard right turns.

Got new control arms and busings from Stephen for about $225, delivered.

The job was straightforward and took me about 7 hours total:

1.75 hours : old part removal
3.5 hours : R/R control arm bushings, including tool fabrication 2.0 hours : new part installation

I pressed the new bushings into the carriers with my bench vise and some soft jaws. I pressed the bushings onto the arms with a tool made from 1.5" angle iron and some threaded rod.

There's two things I'd like to pass along to anyone who is going to do this job:

• Consider a stubby 22mm box wrench to handle the inner ball joint nut. I could only get about 4 clicks on my Facom 3/8" rachet when removing/installing the nut.
• The old outer ball joint was held on by a nut that needed a 19mm wrench for removal. The new nut (purchased specifically as the outboard ball joint retaining nut) was 18mm.
  • -- David Kroth davidk_at_lpa.com