ball joints vs. control arms

[operaflute]

I needed new front shocks/struts, tires and alignment on my 1998 ti (along with a zillion other things). My husband and I did the shocks, brought the car into Costco for tires, and then brought the car to an indepentdent BMW shop for the alignment.
They said the alignment wouldn't stick because there is play in the ball joints. They want to replace the lower control arms (does that include the ball joint?), replace the bushings (had that done 2 years ago) and then align. Estimate is $758.98.
What would cause the control arms to go bad? Or is it just easier than doing only the ball joints?
How long can this wait? I'm leaving town and probably won't be back until mid-August, and need to drive the car to and from northern utah (round trip almost 2000 miles) towing a 500 pound trailer.
I also need a clutch, and was thinking that was priority number one.
Opinions?
Thanks!

[cali-ti]

how bad is the clutch and what indicators do you have? hauling a trailer will definitely cause added wear so if your current clutch would survive the trip, i might be tempted to install the new clutch afterwards.

how do the control arm bushings look? which ball joints need to be replaced (there are multiple)?

[jkilla71]

Originally Posted by operaflute

I needed new front shocks/struts, tires and alignment on my 1998 ti (along with a zillion other things). My husband and I did the shocks, brought the car into Costco for tires, and then brought the car to an indepentdent BMW shop for the alignment.
They said the alignment wouldn't stick because there is play in the ball joints. They want to replace the lower control arms (does that include the ball joint?), replace the bushings (had that done 2 years ago) and then align. Estimate is $758.98.
What would cause the control arms to go bad? Or is it just easier than doing only the ball joints?
How long can this wait? I'm leaving town and probably won't be back until mid-August, and need to drive the car to and from northern utah (round trip almost 2000 miles) towing a 500 pound trailer.
I also need a clutch, and was thinking that was priority number one.
Opinions?
Thanks!

I think it would take some guts to go on a trip with worn ball joints a bad clutch while towing a trailer.

To check the control arm bushings lift up the front end and shake the wheel, while doing this look at inner control arm bushing if it is moving it is a good indication it is time to replace.

All this work you need will be a good opportunity to buy quality aftermarket upgrades for less than or equal to the cost of stock parts. I would suggest buying your parts from a place like bavauto.com.

If Costco made airplanes would you ride in one? Just kidding

[dodj]

i recently had the outer ball joints replaced and the bushings. i think from reading it is easier to replace the whole arm at once with the ball joint already in.

after i replaced my parts and tightened up that area, it made the movement in the steering rack and tie rods to be noticed more at highway speeds so im lookinag at 1000 to fix all that. yay.

[evalha007]

I had nearly the same thing a few months ago... I went to get an alignment and the mechs told me that there was no point to it unless my ball joints were replaced...it was going to cost 700+

I nearly paid it, but thought better of it and went to a friend of mine who is a mech; he said that is a common trick places pull to get you to spend $$. The put the car up on the lift and shake the wheels and show you the play in the ball joint. My friend said that method won't work if the entire front end of the car is off the ground... He checked it and said the only thing that needed replacing on my car was a control arm which was about 150 w/labor. He also said that ball joints seldom go bad on BMWs...

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9302

[cali-ti]

i somewhat disagree, i think the stock ball joints we have on our ti's suck. they're rubber mounted and tend to go bad. that said, have you noticed any shaking in the wheel or anything else with the steering that might indicate they're bad? wobble, tracks poorly on grooved pavement, that sort of thing?

[operaflute]

Well, yes, the car was shaking like crazy and pulling to the right. That's why I replaced the front shocks (the passenger side one was indeed bad). Needed new tires, too, since they had worn unevenly. (Yes, I got the tires at Costco. My motorcycle gets the expensive tires, the car does not! ) Now it drives fine, although I've yet to be on the highway. The alignment was supposed to be the last bit in the process, but... well, you know the rest of the story!
I'm so glad I posted up - keep the opinions coming!

[cali-ti]

do you have time to take it to another shop for a second opinion? if you do have to replace ball joints, i would recommend just getting the meyle control arms with solid metal ball joints already pressed in. you may want to do control arm bushings again at the same time, i know they have to more or less glue them in.

[operaflute]

You know, I really don't have any time at all. I was planning on pulling out Saturday, and not getting back til mid-Aug. I could get work done while up in Utah - in fact I was planning on doing the clutch while there. Guess I was just wondering if the suspension stuff will make it to Utah, whether or not all those parts do indeed need replacing, what should come first (clutch or front end) and the like... Ideally, we could do the job ourselves in August, if it indeed needs doing. Perhaps I could get the second opinion in Utah while getting the clutch done.

I should say that the car will first be sitting for two weeks up in Phoenix, while I am out of the country, before I continue to Utah. If it MUST be done before I drive to Utah, I COULD have the dealer in Phx do the job while I am away, although I am reluctant, for $ reasons...

It's nice to get everyone's thought on all this! I'll feel better making a somewhat informed decision.

[cali-ti]

well, i've never heard of a ball joint flying apart. if everything feels pretty good yet, i would guess you'd be ok.

[dodj]

i suggest taking it on the highway, befor ei replaced the ball joints an dbushings it was getting to the point of impossible to keep it in a straight line.

after i replaced the ball joints and bushings it was alot better control but the wheel shakes because there is movement in the tie rod ends and in the rack.

[operaflute]

Well, I towed the bike (with the car) up to Phoenix eysterday, and it felt reasonable OK, so I guess I'll chance it and go to Utah as is. Then decide from there what to do next. Thanks to all!