Control arms and ball joints

[e30ticket]

I need to replace the ball joints (torn boots) on the e30 M3 CA's installed on my '90 325i. I see that Bav Auto seems to sell the ball joints separately, but everything I've read says I have to replace the whole CA. What am I missing?

[Mike325]

Replacing just a ball joint is a bitch to do unless you have a press. It is best to get a whole new arm.

[StereoInstaller1]

I went through the same thing. I got my ball joints from discountimportparts.com, which was local to me at the time. 4 joints was around $80, $20 and a cold 12 pack of Pepsi got them pressed in at the repair shop next door.

Lowest price I could find locally on full CA's was around $170/ea. Screw that!

Do your CABs at the same time too, especially if you are gonna go rubber. I love my AKG soft urethane CABs...truly awesome improvement.

If you haven't done CA's before, I suggest you go buy a cheap 22mm wrench, and a matching 22mm stubby. Makes life much easier in there!

Luke

[e30ticket]

All good info...

I went through the same thing. I got my ball joints from discountimportparts.com, which was local to me at the time. 4 joints was around $80, $20 and a cold 12 pack of Pepsi got them pressed in at the repair shop next door.

<I have a press in my workshop, so I may try to replace the ball joints myself.>

Lowest price I could find locally on full CA's was around $170/ea. Screw that!

<Yeah, and since I already have M3 CA's I really don't want to toss them at $268 each>

Do your CABs at the same time too, especially if you are gonna go rubber. I love my AKG soft urethane CABs...truly awesome improvement.

<I already have offset M3 CAB's. If they are shot, I may upgrade to the urethane blue from Bav Auto.>

If you haven't done CA's before, I suggest you go buy a cheap 22mm wrench, and a matching 22mm stubby. Makes life much easier in there!

<I have a 22mm box/open end, the stubby I'll need to get.>

Luke

[StereoInstaller1]

an alternative to the stubby is to set your cheap-o 22mm on a curb and whack it with a big ass sledge, making it into a taco.

Even if it does not bend perfectly, it is a hell of a bunch of fun.

(boring people, use a vise to bend it)

Luke

[Mike@PureMS]

If you have the aluminum E30M3 arms you can't replace the ball joints separately. You need to have the cast steel arms in order to replace just the ball joints.