Aluminum Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement?

[namsayin]

Does anyone know if its possible to buy replacement ball joints for the e30 m3 aluminum control arms i that i have? i have seen replacement kits for the steel arms but not the aluminum arms and i dont feel like dishing out the massive amount of cheddar on entirely new aluminum arms.

Please post any links to companies that sell them if you know of any.

thanks!

[bmws50b30]

i'd like to know this too. i have a pair of aluminum CA but i heard they should be replaced every couple of years

[whiltebeitel]

I'm trying to confirm this, but Bimmerforums rumor is that you AREN'T supposed to replace just the balljoints. You are supposed to replace the whole arm.

All I can find is the Pelican article that states only the non-M E36 ball joints are replaceable.

[namsayin]

I'm trying to confirm this, but Bimmerforums rumor is that you AREN'T supposed to replace just the balljoints. You are supposed to replace the whole arm.

All I can find is the Pelican article that states only the non-M E36 ball joints are replaceable.

damnnnnn the e30m3 aluminum arms are a couple hundreds dollars per side :(

[whiltebeitel]

The E30 M3 arms and '95 E36 M3 arms are the same, iirc. Check that, price-wise for comparison.

FWIW, a lot of racers don't bother with the aluminum control arms, so there may not be a really good reason to run the super-expensive E30 M3 arms.

[Spaz]

The E30 M3 arms and '95 E36 M3 arms are the same, iirc. Check that, price-wise for comparison.

FWIW, a lot of racers don't bother with the aluminum control arms, so there may not be a really good reason to run the super-expensive E30 M3 arms.

Lots don't bother with the aluminum arms because they flex under high load cornering. I'm fairly certian the ball joints are the same between both arms, but i'd just go with putting in new steel arms.

Cam

[whiltebeitel]

When I was looking for a specific reason to the "don't replace" mantra, I also came across assertions that M3 control arms had heat-treated balljoints and no rubber in the joint, like on non-m cars.

[namsayin]

^ thanks for all the info guys! i think i might just go with steel replacement arms as i dont plan on tracking the car so i the extra 2kg per side wont affect me much.

So i guess ill post up the extra e30m3 5 lug setup i have for sale with the aluminum arms that are attached.

[clarkson]

Thread necro....

Has anyone successfully done this? My touring has shot aluminium control arms (yes factory fitment same as e30 m3) and I am swapping them out for lemforder steel ones. Just wondering if I can rebuild the alloy ones or scrap them.

[estoguy]

I thought about trying aluminum ones too, but my research found that you can't rebuild.

Just go with the steel ones.