LCA options

[E30andy]

Hey Guys,

My driver front LCA needs replacing (outer ball joint is shot). I’m considering having a new ball joint pressed in, but saw this on eBay. Appears to be the cheapest LCA out there. It says OEM BMW, but looks like it’s almost $100 less than everyone else. Anyone purchased from this eBay vendor before?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/99?loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fp%2F1917879510%3Fiid%3D140731478291

[Chrisbike]

just get a ball joint for $30, I got new ones pressed in for free.

[E30andy]

Thanks for the reply Chrisbike.....
So any shop with a press can do this? Nothing specific they need to know to do it correctly?
I hate to trust someone else with my car, especially if they screw it up and I have to do the labor all over again!

Also, what brand ball joint do you recommend? Looks like Moog and Lemforder are the 2 brands out there.

Thanks!!

[fresh_TD]

just get a ball joint for $30, I got new ones pressed in for free.

Chrisbike, where did you source the inner ball joints? They're almost impossible to come by.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Chrisbike]

Thanks for the reply Chrisbike.....
So any shop with a press can do this? Nothing specific they need to know to do it correctly?
I hate to trust someone else with my car, especially if they screw it up and I have to do the labor all over again!

Also, what brand ball joint do you recommend? Looks like Moog and Lemforder are the 2 brands out there.

Thanks!!

Just remove the control arm and pretty much any shop will have a press, especially 4x4 shop. I got lemforder and they’re holding up nicely.

[Chrisbike]

Chrisbike, where did you source the inner ball joints? They're almost impossible to come by.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

He’s asking about replacing the outer ball joint. Never needed to replace a inner because they don’t go bad often. But I think someone on here found a source, you might need to do some digging...

[AWDBOB]

Altrom makes the ones Napa had. Same p/n as Lemofoerder. If I remember correctly you can still get them, it's just hard to find somewhere that sells them.

http://www.altrom.com/cgi-bin/altapp.sh?&PGM=altapp~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&CIN=00000000&YEAR=1989&MAKEID=00000006&MODELID=00000095&CARID=69541262119881991&APPID=00002300&COMPID=00000275&PARTID=00130870&MPCCID=00062561&PF=&UPL=&AUPL=&NPL=&NPS=&PS=&RAS=&CS=&CT=&MEM=0000000000::C:0108:N&CD=0108

Looks like they're "in stock" here. Donno if you'll get one if you order it though.

http://catalog.supraz2000.com/catalog-1/itemdetail/altrom/l1054301

In regards to the OP, just be very cautions removing the inner ball joint when you pull the CA off the car. Don't use a pickle fork or you'll likely trash the joint if you're trying to only replace the outer.

[E30andy]

Awesome, great info, thanks guys!
AWBOB, good advice re: inner ball joint removal. Hopefully it wont put up a fight!

[nando]

for the inner ball joint, get the harbor freight 3/4" ball joint separator. works perfect for the ix.

[bankrupt]

I used lemforder obj works great. It must be lined up correctly before pressed in. It required awful lot of pressure and broke some tools. My socket moved and ripped the joint boot. :(