For those that track..do you change lca's

[JRKOUPE]

every 2 yrs or so.......or?. Many Hardcore racers do every 2 yrs .

[Charlie]

If you've got the Lemforders, I'd just keep an eye on them with the bushings and such. 3-4 years would probably be my limit, as they're not expensive, and swapping them out frequently would make them less of a PITA to remove. Obviously if you like to curbhop and such, then 2 year interval would be smart. This is with the steel arms - no clue on the alus.

-Charlie

[matt]

I'll let mine go for 2 or 3 years. I don't do many events and almost no street driving.

[blunttech]

i wouldnt swap steel ones but yes to the aluminum. i have aluminums and they are overdue

[JRKOUPE]

lca

Makes sense fellas.........I agree.


Blunt..."you wouldn't swap steel ones"....explain?

[blunttech]

Makes sense fellas.........I agree.


Blunt..."you wouldn't swap steel ones"....explain?

i just meant id feel more comfortable running the steel ones longer than the aluminums

[JRKOUPE]

i just meant id feel more comfortable running the steel ones longer than the aluminums

got it

[ctbimmer]

I have always heard (and followed the advice) that a tracked E30 should have the control arms replaced every 2 years or so. They aren't that expensive nor hard to change, and a broken one at wrong place/time can really ruin your day and more.

This advice was in regard to steel arms and 325s. I can't comment on the aluminum M3 parts.

[cwsqbm]

My three year old E46 has 22k miles and 7 weekend of tracking. It needs new front arms, although I do drive by the braile method - if you can't feel the curb, you're not using the whole track :) Talking with our tech inspectors, its normal for all tracked BMWs. I'll be putting new arms under my E30 too when I put the new suspension in over the winter.

[BrandC]

Can somebody explain to me why BMW control arms need to be changed at all? I thought control arms were the longest lasting part on the suspension, sans bushings.

[JRKOUPE]

[QUOTE=BrandC;830363]Can somebody explain to me why BMW control arms need to be changed at all? I thought control arms were the longest lasting part on the suspension, sans bushings.[/QUOTE




AT ALL?


metal fatigue, stress, //////// blah blah blah

for a street car...its not a big issue.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Can somebody explain to me why BMW control arms need to be changed at all? I thought control arms were the longest lasting part on the suspension, sans bushings.

Non-servicable ball joints... ???

[Stu]

The ball-joints wear out which will become noticeable on rough roads. My arms are 3-4years old, and immediately after my last track event the front end began to clunk and feel sightly disconnected. It's good to replace the arms and tie-rods + ends every few years, 2 years sounds about right if you're aggressive on-track.

From what I've heard from racers/vendors, the ball joints are stronger on the aluminum control arms. They may have more metal fatigue in the arm itself but the balljoints are the real wear item. I don't have any conclusive data to confirm this--I guess you'd have to look at the joints themselves

[02stu]

I can't see the metal failing, if you don't have a cage I would bet on the the body/ shock towers failing before the control arms go.

[matt]

I can't see the metal failing, if you don't have a cage I would bet on the the body/ shock towers failing before the control arms go.

Ball joints fail relatively commonly. I have never seen a broken control arm, but I'm sure that's happened also.