iX Control Arms... Help please!

[ringmeister81]

To all the iX owners on here, I have a question... I'm in need of front control arms! My outer ball joints are torn and shot.. Bushings are probably bad.. Crazy scary on the highway, and clunking around the city... OEM is pretty expensive and best I've found is $181 per arm, which I cannot afford right now.. Any experience with this?? What solutions are out there? Anyone ever replace just the bushings and outer ball joints, and if so, where could I get them pressed in? Thanks in advance!

[slayback]

go to advanced auto parts believe it or not they can order complete front arms with ball joints for both sides around 140 bucks for the pair i got some from them in march been riding them with no issues . also picked up some treehouse racing offset bushings and loving the set up

[nomansland92]

Check out pelican parts, they usually offer a few different brands. I personally hate advanced auto/ auto zone parts, there just aren't the same quality in my opinion. How ever you can rent a ball joint press from them that will probably do the job or take it to a local shop and they can press them in for you.

[spdracrm3]

NAPA/Altrom lemforder

you can get lemforder (factory brand) inner and outer ball joints thru NAPA ,they get them from Altrom. have local machine shop press in and out

http://www.altrom.com/cgi-bin/altapp.sh?&PGM=altapp~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&CIN=00000000&YEAR=1989&MAKEID=00000006&MODELID=00000095&CARID=69541262119881991&APPID=00002300&PF=&MEM=0000000::C:0:N&CD=:99

[Dirty325ix]

I thought you couldn't replace the outer ball joint?
I have the same problem

[spdracrm3]

sure can . done all the ball joints on my IX's control arms (inner/outer/m3 bushings) with over 10k on them now.....

[ghatid]

I thought you couldn't replace the outer ball joint?
I have the same problem

Yep, you can replace them. You just need to figure out how to pop them out. I used a screw press. The inner one is too long and you need to cut it short unless you use a real press.

[Dirty325ix]

You kinda already answered this bit I different part number on bluntech
Is this right for the outer one?
W0133-1623357
If so I'm going to order this and finally get on this

[ringmeister81]

Thanks for the great replies... So far, here's where I've done. I had a friend who was partying out his iX, so I made a deal for his control arms, $50. Unfortunately, one of the ball joints was spinning and we couldn't unscrew it from the upright, so we had to cut it off. All other joints seem good.

I ordered Leomfoerder outer ball joints from FCP Euro for $41 a pair. They should come in this week, and I'll have them pressed at a local shop. Also, I ordered m3 offset bushings. My mechanic is a bit uneasy about pressing the joints in, otherwise I'd take it to him for the whole job.

So, I saved a little bit on this job compared to the OEM arms. I didn't check out Advance Auto, but maybe I should have. How'd i do?

[nando]

be sure they are ix ball joints. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold you RWD parts.

too bad you cut one off. to keep the joint from spinning put a jack under it and jack it up a little to put pressure on it.

[ringmeister81]

They should be the correct joints, and they said iX specifically. Part #L1054402
(OE 31121701077).

I would have used a jack, but the upright assemblies were already off of the car. No other way, and yes, it sucks.

[ForcedFirebird]

be sure they are ix ball joints. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold you RWD parts.

Blunt knows the difference, I have purchased ix-specific parts on more than one occasion. Get the Moog if you can, they have all steel construction, the other makers are hit or miss with the sockets being plastic.

[Wishno87]

be sure they are ix ball joints. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold you RWD parts.

too bad you cut one off. to keep the joint from spinning put a jack under it and jack it up a little to put pressure on it.

+1 this happened to me.

[ringmeister81]

I already ordered them, but thanks for the info. I went with Leomfoerder.

[fight4life28]

Thanks for the thread OP, I'm currently replacing mine too and had the same issues with spending lots of money on two front control arms.