Control Arms Replacement

[cmar ireland]

Got this big box of parts from Germany today. I'm going to fit them this weekend. I know the final tightening of the control arm through bolts has to be done under load, but are there any other things to watch for?
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2238/ctrlqz3.jpg
The kit comes with uprated bushes, but we'll see if thats true in a few months:rolleyes. Anyway, they weren't expensive and if it sorts out the knocking I'll be happy.

[kjkurtz20]

Not really. It's fairly simply I just replaced mine on Tuesday. How much did you pay for it all? I just replaced the uppers for about $98 a piece with the new bushing already pushed into it brand new.

[moroza]

What brand are they?

[boshmark]

Need to do mine too. Please let me know how you get on, cost of parts/make etc. Good luck!

[cmar ireland]

This is the ebay item number for the set I bought, 230184611263.
The set looks very good, nice quality hardward etc... Suppose I wont know about the longevity until it's fitted for a few months. Hopefully the fitting won't be to big a deal.

[kjkurtz20]

I bought mine on www.bavauto.com part number 31 12 1 141097B. I've redone both of them now and they work great for the price. They have performance ones too but no need for me. They are about $106 with shipping a piece.

[E34N]

It's a pretty straight forward install. The hardest, or most time consuming, part would probably be removing the older arms from the mouning plate. If you can get your hands on a thrust rod removal tool.. it can make the job about 1-2 hours easier.

[kjkurtz20]

Thats exactly it. The first time I did the job it took me around 4-5 hours because of the removal of the old one. The next one I brought over to a guys house and we used an air powered hammer to get it off and had the whole job done in 30 minutes flat.

[robram12]

2hrs tops if you have either forks or ball joint press that can be rented at a local Kragen or Pep boys for $7/day. oops nevermind your from Ireland. but if your planning of buying tools best bet on the press, no need for harsh hammering.

[SchnellerE34]

Bringing this thread back from the grave.... Is installation of the control arms the same if your car has a lowered suspension? By lowering the car and putting load on them before tightening them?

I have Vogtland springs and tried installing new control arms. I put them on, lowered the car on ramps, then tightened them under load. Once done the car sat so low in the front that the wheels were rubbing on the front fenders any time I tuned the wheel. I know that most of the time they are installed with stock suspension which sits, 1.5 inches higher. Any ideas or suggestions?

[Sherman]

You load them before tightening so that in normally loaded position they are not stressed. Yes, even with a lowered front end, you want the weight on them to tighten. They shouldn't make a difference to rubbing unless the old bushings were twisting so badly they were taking weight.

[SchnellerE34]

Ok. Just checking because if you install lowering springs on a car that originally had a stock suspension, the control arms were originally tightened with the load of the car siting 1.5" inches higher. which would change the degree of where the bushing is tightened to the frame.