Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

[cwlacey64]

Had this advisory and wondered what part(s) are needed to make the repair?

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

 

[enuff_zed]

Had this advisory and wondered what part(s) are needed to make the repair?

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Find out if it means the lower wishbone or the anti roll bar drop link.

 

[j3nks79]

That’s the lower arm

 

[enuff_zed]

That’s the lower arm

Suspected so. So OP, fairly easy to fit a new lower arm. I would recommend buying one with the lollipop bush already fitted. Saves a bit of faffing about.

 

[cwlacey64]

Forgive my ignorance but is that any of these parts?

 

[enuff_zed]

Item 11. With item 8 already fitted to it. Car Parts in Motion on eBay sell Febi Bilstein ones at a good price. Make sure you get the correct side and that it is the complete assembly

 

[cwlacey64]

Lovely thank you I will take a look at the weekend.

 

[Zedebee]

Take “fairly easy to fit a new lower arm” with a pinch of salt.

It is in fact fairly easy to fit a new lower arm, but only once you have got the old one removed. If it’s never been removed before it could be a challenge. You’ll need a good ball joint splitter, a big hammer, and potentially a long afternoon of swearing.

 

[enuff_zed]

Take “fairly easy to fit a new lower arm” with a pinch of salt.

It is in fact fairly easy to fit a new lower arm, but only once you have got the old one removed. If it’s never been removed before it could be a challenge. You’ll need a good ball joint splitter, a big hammer, and potentially a long afternoon of swearing.

Yes, apologies, I wasn’t allowing for experience levels.

 

[Rockhopper]

I also wouldn’t recommend Febi Bilstein from what I’ve read recently I’m afraid. Meyle HD are the ones or if you are feeling flush go for Lemforder.

 

[cwlacey64]

I’m slightly confused is item 8 the ball joint? I thought they were called control arm bushes and I have replaced both sides of those no more than a couple of months ago could they have gone again and not sure I would describe them as dust covers?

 

[j3nks79]

I’m slightly confused is item 8 the ball joint? I thought they were called control arm bushes and I have replaced both sides of those no more than a couple of months ago could they have gone again and not sure I would describe them as dust covers?

Item 8 are indeed control arm bushes.
Ball joint dust covers are what I’ve circled on the lower arms.

 

[cwlacey64]

That makes sense thanks for taking the time to explain. The control arm bushes were a challenge to change to put it mildly!

 

[enuff_zed]

I also wouldn’t recommend Febi Bilstein from what I’ve read recently I’m afraid. Meyle HD are the ones or if you are feeling flush go for Lemforder.

What have you heard?
Used them many times over the last three to four years and never an issue.

 

[Rockhopper]

There were several threads on the Facebook Z4 group recently with quite a few people saying quality is poor and they needed changing after a year or so.

 

[j3nks79]

I’d say most problems on suspension ball joints/ bushes wearing early are people fitting them and not putting the arms under load before torquing up.
They tighten the nuts with the wheels still in the air and then when the car goes onto its wheels it puts the ball joints/ bushes under stress which causes early failure.
I’ve never had a problem with any febi suspension parts.

 

[enuff_zed]

I’d say most problems on suspension ball joints/ bushes wearing early are people fitting them and not putting the arms under load before torquing up.
They tighten the nuts with the wheels still in the air and then when the car goes onto its wheels it puts the ball joints/ bushes under stress which causes early failure.
I’ve never had a problem with any febi suspension parts.

Agreed.
However, unless I missed it I couldn’t find anything in NewTIS saying the torquing should take place with weight on wheels?
I do it anyway.

 

[cwlacey64]

I have just had wheel alignment done, will this need to be done again after replacing the wishbone?

 

[enuff_zed]

I have just had wheel alignment done, will this need to be done again after replacing the wishbone?

Ideally yes