Control arm replacement - "pre-made" = better?

[E36DJ]

Just wondering if anyone on here has had experience with either of these - how much better is it to get control arms with the bushings already pressed on there? I need to replace mine really bad (lots of play on the front driver side wheel - that outer bushing is just moving all over the place) um, I think all of the DIY's I've seen have been for people that need to press-remove each bushing, correct?

I'm trying to find a diy that skips these steps - I know it should be obvious which steps to skip but making any sense out of a DIY can be a pita sometimes, especially with those pics where you can't even tell what's up / down.

I've done a lot of DIY stuff before but this project's got me a little worried for some reason.

ps: I'm also having trouble finding a diy link for an M3 - I know they're similar but removal might be difference since the M3s use solid bushings + some other differences.

edit: I've searched hardcore.
edot2: I have the pickle fork, impacts, etc.. anything special I might need that'd screw me over when I find out I don't have it?

[geoffm3]

My understanding is that the outer ball joint is the only one that's removable on the M3, and that if the outer one is bad, the inner one isn't far behind. So, it's usually better to just replace the whole control arm and be done with it.

[skratch]

I went the hard way a few years back and we took the ball joints out and it was the biggest pita.We ended up having to blow torch and basically melt the thing out.

After doing it the hard way back then,I just bought brand new control arms and off set bushings this time from bav auto and payed the 370 dollar labor to have the shop put them in.

Actually just got the car back a few days ago and feels reall solid now.I would skip the offset bushings if its a dd since mine added road vibrations to the steering wheel.

they were the street ones but still are very solid bushings

[E36DJ]

Ok good stuff thanks guys, last question - where do I find the bushing that replaces the one in that bracket that bolts to the frame (I guess the upper one?) The lollipop bracket thing (I guess the only one that DOESN'T come with the assembly)

[skratch]

Ok good stuff thanks guys, last question - where do I find the bushing that replaces the one in that bracket that bolts to the frame (I guess the upper one?) The lollipop bracket thing (I guess the only one that DOESN'T come with the assembly)

those are the bushings I was talking about.Bav auto sells them.I think I spent like 100 for the offset race ones.

[IronButt II]

BavAuto, BMP, Turner... they've all got em. I had problems with the PowerFlex bushings, but I seem to be the only one. These are the LCABs (lower control arm bushings)... the ones that go in the lollipop. :)

So I replaced the stock ones with PowerFlex... then replaced the PowerFlex with Super Pro urethane bushings. They look just like the stock ones, but with a urethane center.

Depending on how you use your car... you may just want to stick with stock replacements. They're softer, and soak up more of the road vibrations.

[E36DJ]

Ok cool, thanks.. yeah stock would be fine but the usual parts sites don't seem to have them (bimmerparts, bimmerzone, etc..) hhmm. I'm trying to go softer now, after a couple years of the intrax ARS at hardest rebound I'm sick of hitting my head on the roof (same with general steering feedback and stuff.) The roads around here are just freaky.