Is e30 ball joint replacement possible?

[nickmcc92]

I have another solution,
I froze mine for a few hours.
I then slowly heated the controll arm istelf and the ball joints slid right out.
I stuck the new ball joints in the freezer for a few and warmed the control arm up and they snugged right in.
All without a press.

Wow this is what I was looking for.
Thanks vtec

[Vtec?lol]

Wow this is what I was looking for.
Thanks vtec

They are cast I believe, so not too rapid of heat/cold or you'll have issues.

[nickmcc92]

They are cast I believe, so not too rapid of heat/cold or you'll have issues.

Did you heat up the control arm or the ball joints for them to slip out?

Planning on this job tomorrow along w/ a rented b.j. press from pepboys.

[lowsodium]

I just did mine. Tear out a 20% off coupon to harbor freight, buy the 12 ton press they sell. You can get it for $103 out the door. Use it, then sell on craigslist.

You will need various large diameter sockets, around 1.5" to the right sizes to use with the press. Then go to advanced auto and rent their U-joint kit, it has a crap load of various size tubes that work perfect to press ball joints out.

The money you will save by not buying new control arms will more than pay for the press.

[lowsodium]

This is the exact ujoint kit that advanced rents:

http://www.build.com/powerbuilt-648617-ball-joint-u-joint-service-kit/p2103622?source=gg-gba-pla_2103622____21407917279&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!!!42057231079!g!!21407917279&gclid=CN6SkZO92bUCFQXnnAodrmwA1A

Here is the bearing press:

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-shop-press-33497.html

Buy a car&driver magazine and look in the back for the coupon.

[nickmcc92]

There's no need to buy a 12+ ton press. Just use rented ball joint press and a breaker bar (pipe)

[Adrian_Visser]

I attempted a set with a 5 ton press and had no luck. In the end it would have been more cost and time effective to just buy new arms than pay shop time and waste several hours fucking around and swearing at them.

[nickmcc92]

Just finished my outer ball joints with a rented ball press from autozone ($109) Took a while but I'm happy I only spent $30.
I had to use a 1 1/16th socket, breaker bar, PB blaster, and a torch.
Let me know if you have questions.

[brent5631]

I prefer the 5 lb sledge method. works great, good workout, and wont need to hit your wife for a while.

[E-Z]

haha, i like all the pansies that say its a dick around, and also mention paying for workshops to do stuff. thats why its a dick around, do it your self and you wont have numbsculls trying to tell you its not going to work because they cant justify spending an hour or 2 for $50 work
do it yourself.

[e30mpg]

yup get a HF 12ton press and press out/in. Also you can press out/in your other new bushings too. Disassemble when not in use and it does not take up alot of space either.

[///M42 sport]

was just checking the prices on new control arm bushing vs just buying the joint. Almost the same price... or am I missing something here

[e30mpg]

http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-front-inner-ball-joint-e30-31121126253my

inner

http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-ball-joint-front-outer-e30-e36-meyle-31121126254my

outer

[///M42 sport]

holy shit thanks

[e30mpg]

holy shit thanks

np