» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,792 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,522 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,396 Views | | | | | 04-06-2016, 02:13 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Belgium Posts: 39 | Ball joint replacement One of my outer ball joints is broken and thus needs replacement, i'm looking to buy a tool to do this. Should i go with a pickle fork or a ball joint separator, and what size do i need? I'm reluctant to go with a pickle fork as i've read some posts with people suffering with this tool, and it's not that much cheaper than a separator. I'm currently looking at this ball joint separator (22mm hole, 62mm opening): http://www.trailerandtools.nl/kogelg...r-stuurko.html As for the ball joints themselves, I was planning on buying MEYLE HD, is this a good choice or should i just go with the cheaper ones? Also, are the inner ball joints also removable? because it seems you can buy them but many sites mention they are not removable... Any comments are appreciated, thanks. | | | 04-06-2016, 02:35 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Horseheads, NY Posts: 259 | Pier, I just bought a pair of control arms & bushings (Meyle HD control arms with solid ball joints and powerflex bushings) A little more expensive but then you don't need the special tools to remove the ball joints. Just a thought. | | | 04-06-2016, 03:54 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 595 | +1 Easier to pull out and install a new control arm than just replacing the two ball joints. __________________ 1996 Ti 280k miles and still going.... 1993 964 - holding on to this one 2001 Burban, 240k miles 2018 Suburban Z71 | | | 04-06-2016, 06:32 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Belgium Posts: 39 | Quote: Originally Posted by joe1602 Pier, I just bought a pair of control arms & bushings (Meyle HD control arms with solid ball joints and powerflex bushings) A little more expensive but then you don't need the special tools to remove the ball joints. Just a thought. | Hey Joe, thanks for your insight. At first, i planned to do what you say but then the guy at the yearly car checkup told me it was fine just replacing both outer ball joints (and cheaper). My way of thinking was that since both the ball joints and bushings are made of rubber and probably have the same age/wear it's better to replace them all at once to have an even ride. The problem with this way of thinking is i can keep going and also replace the stabilizer links, tie rods, rear bushings etc which will set me back maybe 400 EU. But then again, the car is almost 21 years old so maybe it's time she's had an overhaul. I guess i'll get a control arm set and go from there. | | | 04-06-2016, 06:56 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Horseheads, NY Posts: 259 | Pier, I think that is the best way to go. You have to take the whole control arm out anyway to change the ball joint, so might as well change the whole control arm with the new ball joints already installed. You may need a pickle bar to pop off the front of the arm under the strut, but other than that, its pretty straightforward. I would also change the control arm bushings while your at it. I am doing mine next weekend so I will let you know how it goes. | | | 04-10-2016, 03:39 PM | #6 | Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Belgium Posts: 39 | Quote: Originally Posted by joe1602 Pier, I think that is the best way to go. You have to take the whole control arm out anyway to change the ball joint, so might as well change the whole control arm with the new ball joints already installed. You may need a pickle bar to pop off the front of the arm under the strut, but other than that, its pretty straightforward. I would also change the control arm bushings while your at it. I am doing mine next weekend so I will let you know how it goes. | I've ordered the control arms + bushings, they should arrive somewhere next week. Since the front tyres had cracked sidewalls i've also ordered 4 new tyres ( Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance 185/65 R15 88H), at EUR 60 / piece they'd better be sticky like glue. I hope you have an easy time replacing your control arms, gl & hf! | | | 04-10-2016, 06:56 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Once you have them out side by side you'll be glad you bought the assemblies. Good Luck! __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |