» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 476,863 Views | | | | | 08-07-2009, 07:13 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Weston,FL,US Posts: 73 | What tools do i need to install the left and right control arms i bought the left and right control arms for the 97 318ti but idk what tools i need to install them. | | | 08-07-2009, 07:34 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 245 | Ball joint remover (aka pickle fork), a good 1/2in drive metric socket set(I prefer 6 point), 1/2in breaker bar. Optional: torque wrench. | | | 08-07-2009, 07:43 PM | #3 | Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Weston,FL,US Posts: 73 | thanks | | | 08-07-2009, 10:11 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 | You'll want to make the tool in this article to pull the control arm bushings on. http://www.understeer.com/lcab.shtml __________________ ~Dave~ 98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop 11 128i space gray slicktop 13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry Search | RealOEM | | | 08-07-2009, 11:29 PM | #5 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | It all depends on what parts you've purchased. Do your new control arms have ball joints already pressed in? If so, all you need is a wrench or socket to loosen the nuts on the upper and lower ball joints and a big ass hammer. If the new control arms don't have ball joints, you should purchase new ones and have a shop press them in. Never reuse old ball joints. The ball joints are pressed in the control arm so tight, there's no freakin way a pickle fork will pry them out. You might be able to use a pickle fork to separate the ball joints from the kingpin and front subframe, but you're not getting the ball joints out of the control arms without a press. As for control arm bushings, are you replacing them? You should, they're pretty cheap. They now sell control arm bushings already pressed into the lolipops, but if you happen to purchase just the bushings you could either make the tool that spidertri linked or simply have the shop press the old ones out and new ones in while they're doing the ball joints. Of course, you may want to have an alignment done after you replace any suspension components. | | | 11-30-2009, 02:35 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Bay, Northern California Posts: 251 | Ya I'm in the process of replacing mine and didn't anticipate needing a press for the bushings... | | | 12-03-2009, 07:57 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 245 | I didnt have a press and it was getting dark, so i used a floor jack underneath the F-250 framerail and sandwiched bushing/lolipop between. That and ALOT of dish soap! and yes, the pickle fork is for removing joints from the knuckle/subframe. I didnt think people even bought e36 control arms w/o ball joints these days?? | | | | 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 | | | |
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