Just passed the MOT but with an advisory of slight play in OS ball joint and so thinking of replacing this but think I have to replace the whole control arm? If this is so then might as wells do both sides and replace the lollypop control arm bushes too. Car has 82k on the clock. There seem to be quite a few cheap kits on eBay for both control arms with bushes and link rods. Has anyone bought any of these and had a good or bad experience. Would go for the more expensive Mehle HD option supplied by B and B at around £200 for everything but this is still cheaper than original parts I think.
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Control arms replaced
- Thread starter cobra
- Start date
cobra said:Would go for the more expensive Mehle HD option supplied by B and B at around £200 for everything but this is still cheaper than original parts I think.
For control arms either go with Meyle HD or OEM bmw.
Ball joints in cheap arms often wear much faster and the work in replacing the control arms is substantial.
With the Meyle HD arms you can swap out the individual ball joints afaik.
At your mileage it's probably worth doing anyway. I found a tear in one of mine where I garage had said they were both fine. I was getting a wobble at 60 that has gone now.
Easier to replace the whole arm if you don't have a ramp and puller. You'll need a ball joint splitter, I used the fork type because access is tight on one side.
Went for Meyle HD from BandB - happy with them, good quality.
You'll also probably need a hammer!
While you're there it makes sense to do the front ARB bushes and the drop links too.
Easier to replace the whole arm if you don't have a ramp and puller. You'll need a ball joint splitter, I used the fork type because access is tight on one side.
Went for Meyle HD from BandB - happy with them, good quality.
You'll also probably need a hammer!
While you're there it makes sense to do the front ARB bushes and the drop links too.
Thanks guys. That's really useful advice. Will do both sides and replace arm bushes at same time. Got car up on some stands and started stripping it down last night. Good to hear that that Scoba Steve has used the BandB kit with Mehle bushes and is happy. They come with a 4 year warrantee so will go for those. The MOT was done by a friend and the advisory was a fair comment although I understand your scepticism Mark555. I took my Audi A6 Estate for a service with Audi when it was newer and they told me that some of the bushes needed replacement 5 years ago which I ignored. My local garage friend has serviced it since and found nothing wrong with them.
The car is particularly sensitive to these sort of things and they are perishable. You'll save a few hundred doing it yourself and it's good for many thousands of miles more.
Meyle HD arms are good and I think the individual joints are replaceable. Drop links are cheap enough, as are ARB bushes. Check your tie rods while you're under there as if they are seized you might as well replace them too - £80 a pair for inner and outer, but you'll need a big spanner for the inner.
If you need any help let me know - the inner OS wishbone bush is hard to get to due to an engine mount, could only use an open spanner (22 mm I think) which was pretty slow.
Meyle HD arms are good and I think the individual joints are replaceable. Drop links are cheap enough, as are ARB bushes. Check your tie rods while you're under there as if they are seized you might as well replace them too - £80 a pair for inner and outer, but you'll need a big spanner for the inner.
If you need any help let me know - the inner OS wishbone bush is hard to get to due to an engine mount, could only use an open spanner (22 mm I think) which was pretty slow.
Am part way through removing OSF control arm and this is turning out to be a bit of a mare. I made the mistake of not fully undoing the lock nut holding the ball joint above the chassis before separating it. This is awkward to get to with very limited access. After employing some huge force on the control arm with a ball joint separator and jack I eventually managed to separate the joint from the chassis but then I couldn't undo the last bit of the nut since the ball joint bolt just turns, even with the the full weight of the car on a jack below the ball joint. I think I will have to saw the nut or bolt to get it off. I have fully undone the ball joint nut on the king pin, but so far have not managed to separate it. I snapped the ball joint separator trying. The ball joints do not just drop out with the tap of a hammer as shown on most of the you tube videos. Hopefully the other side will be less hassle. :wink:
Wow, that's bad luck. Mine did take a lot of hitting - try shocking the socket with firm hits on that after some penetrating oil.
You'll really notice the difference, front will be much tighter. ARB bushes and droplinks too?
Got new drop links, but the ARB bushes looked fine so will probably leave them. The old drop links needed a thin spanner (18mm I think) to stop the bush turning while the nut is undone. I just ground down an old one. A few photo links below showing parts. Hope this works. It's the first time I have tried to add a photo.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsxdzm178hjqlq6/2015-11-13%2017.42.35.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dq6pfj6etvdngil/2015-11-13%2017.42.28.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bj0ei95olsqqp0r/2015-11-13%2016.14.05.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsxdzm178hjqlq6/2015-11-13%2017.42.35.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dq6pfj6etvdngil/2015-11-13%2017.42.28.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bj0ei95olsqqp0r/2015-11-13%2016.14.05.jpg?dl=0
Not sure how old this post is but I have just changed my control arms and drop links for the meyle HD set, big difference. Very difficult getting a torque wrench on the 22mm nut so I tightened mine as much as I could with the combi spanner. Pretty easy job but just a bit fiddly. Good luck
Every post has it's time/datestamp above it.Dean'o said:Not sure how old this post is ......
So this thread is about 7 years old....
(Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:45 am)
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