Center drag link removal DIY.

[dragon850]

Wanted to put together a quick DIY on center drag link removal, specifically from the pitman arm. Did some searching and most threads recommend taking it in to the shop where they would use a giant fork with a giant hammer to separate. This can't be good for steering box!
I had some sloppiness in the steering so decided to tackle this today. I bought new BMW center draglink, new Delphi idler arm and Karlyn tie rod links.
I have a high quality ball joint separator that I used to remove tie rod links, however it was waay to thick to fit in between pitman arm and draglink! I did some research and found a thinner separator at harbor freight tools for $23.


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It still did not fit in all the way!!
I grabbed a grinder and cut apart the draglink housing in 2 places, then removed it using pliers.


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Additional space allowed me to insert the separator all the way!


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After a gunshot like pop!


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Idler arm is held in by 1 bolt, in order to remove the bolt from the top heat shield needs to be moved to the side, another 3 10mm bolts and the center drag link was dragged out from underneath the car!


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Time for a beer!

[dragon850]

BTW, $200 for only available center drag link is stupid imo when BMW part has clear TRW stamped in it! But TRW does not sell this to consumers, we have to buy BMW part...

[BMSman]

I'm not following this... I was able to separate the ball joints at the steering box arm and idler arm with that same Harbor freight ball joint tool easily, without having to grind down anything. This was to replace the steering box. The harbor freight tool is ideal for this and avoids damage to the ball joint rubber seals.

[dragon850]

I'm not following this... I was able to separate the ball joints at the steering box arm and idler arm with that same Harbor freight ball joint tool easily, without having to grind down anything. This was to replace the steering box. The harbor freight tool is ideal for this and avoids damage to the ball joint rubber seals.

I tried using a hammer to bang the HF tool into the clearance to no avail, possibly in my case I had much tighter clearance than you did... this explains the pop sounded literally like a gun shot after tightening the bolt almost to the point where I could not twist it by hand!
So before cutting the housing off try out the HF tool to see if it will fit in all the way.

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[CaifanSC]

BTW, $200 for only available center drag link is stupid imo when BMW part has clear TRW stamped in it! But TRW does not sell this to consumers, we have to buy BMW part...

Arg...thanks for this info. I still have to get this to do my front end on the Csi and was wondering if it was cheaper anywhere....sux!

[toomanyparts]

I bought a second TRW branded center link some time back, forgetting that I had already changed it until I found my prior receipt. I'll let it go for what I paid: It was closer to $150 on sale.

[olinjohnston]

I was able to get a TRW one for a lot less as well, but it was a few years ago.

[dragon850]

Yeah I heard TRW was available once upon a time, I searched high and low recently... No luck. Purchased OEM bmw part$$$, what arrived was TRW stamped part!

[bmw528e11]

Wow! n/e, only dealer.. ran it through my suppliers, only dealer.. 221 list.. for e38 list 297 (trw-135). so for us e31 owners is still reasonable for genuine center tie rod assembly

[CaifanSC]

this is weird...did a quick search for "e31 center link" on ebay and two kits show same picture but one is supposedly "Bilstein" and one "OEM". I wasn't aware Bilstein made these parts for our cars...other than strut inserts.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e31-91-9...BVl4MI&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e31-91-9...9WDjVd&vxp=mtr

Olin may have to reach out to you about that center link.

[Fatandre]

Are you running slicks on the 8 Dragon?

[dragon850]

ForumRunner_20151214_180806.png

No just regular performance 275/40zr18

[shogun]

this is weird...did a quick search for "e31 center link" on ebay and two kits show same picture but one is supposedly "Bilstein" and one "OEM". I wasn't aware Bilstein made these parts for our cars...other than strut inserts.
Olin may have to reach out to you about that center link.

I installed Febi Bilstein center link on my E32 750, did not want to buy a cheapo no name one, works well since 1 years, nothing to complain and the price was fine.

[dragon850]

When Bilstein expanded their manufacturing facility into China they began making quite a bit of parts for our cars. I have purchased a boat load of Bilstein E31 of parts from ECS like fan clutch, blade, hoses..ectr.., most of them had made in China stamped or stickered on them, however I was not disappointed with quality... well except for their tie rod links, did not look too hot. I purchased Karlyn this time around, they turned out to be less than desirable quality as well, one of the adjustment bolts stripped with minimal torque..WTH! Karlyn use to be made in USA and top notch quality, not anymore..
The TRW/OEM BMW drag link looks very solid and high quality! Also the idler arm I got was made by Delphi and looked very solid construction with nice packaging...

this is weird...did a quick search for "e31 center link" on ebay and two kits show same picture but one is supposedly "Bilstein" and one "OEM". I wasn't aware Bilstein made these parts for our cars...other than strut inserts.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e31-91-9...BVl4MI&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e31-91-9...9WDjVd&vxp=mtr

Olin may have to reach out to you about that center link.

[CaifanSC]

When Bilstein expanded their manufacturing facility into China they began making quite a bit of parts for our cars. I have purchased a boat load of Bilstein E31 of parts from ECS like fan clutch, blade, hoses..ectr.., most of them had made in China stamped or stickered on them, however I was not disappointed with quality... well except for their tie rod links, did not look too hot. I purchased Karlyn this time around, they turned out to be less than desirable quality as well, one of the adjustment bolts stripped with minimal torque..WTH! Karlyn use to be made in USA and top notch quality, not anymore..
The TRW/OEM BMW drag link looks very solid and high quality! Also the idler arm I got was made by Delphi and looked very solid construction with nice good packaging...

Interesting...what made me weary about those two links was....same seller, same exact picture, two different products? One claiming to be OEM....so there is potentially a big difference between both advertised items. This is of particular interest to me since the last pieces I need for a complete front end steering/suspension build (sans shocks/springs) are center link, tie rods & sway bar links.

[dragon850]

Interesting...what made me weary about those two links was....same seller, same exact picture, two different products? One claiming to be OEM....so there is potentially a big difference between both advertised items. This is of particular interest to me since the last pieces I need for a complete front end steering/suspension build (sans shocks/springs) are center link, tie rods & sway bar links.

Don't forget the idler arm since you're in there. As far as links concerned I went ahead and installed Karlyn since I had them after changing stripped bolt... I would not recommend Karlyn or Bilstein for these, judjung from center link maybe TRW are better quality..

[CaifanSC]

I tried using a hammer to bang the HF tool into the clearance to no avail, possibly in my case I had much tighter clearance than you did... this explains the pop sounded literally like a gun shot after tightening the bolt almost to the point where I could not twist it by hand!
So before cutting the housing off try out the HF tool to see if it will fit in all the way.

-

Do you happen to have the PN for that tool? Need to get it, should be doing my front end soon...just gathering the last parts

[dragon850]

Do you happen to have the PN for that tool? Need to get it, should be doing my front end soon...just gathering the last parts

Harbor Freight ball joint separator, I think they only make one kind.

[adamnur]

Came in very handy when removing mine, one pop and it was over.

[CaifanSC]

FYI Gents, this is the item number for the tool referenced above. Stopping by harbor freight tomorrow to pick it up but wanted to post the info.