Front Control Arm Questions

[aweather]

Couple questions:

When you buy new front control arms do you return the old ones like a core charge kind of deal? If not what do you do with them?

Building on this thread a bit more:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ht=control+arm
I'm aware that the 95 control arms are different than the 96+ control arms as this thread states, but what is actually different? The location of the outer ball joint? Along with that, just to verify the 95 control arm is meant to work with an offset LCAB where as the 96+ is meant to work with a centered LCAB right? Is there anything in the 95 LCAB "lolly pop" that locates the LCAB in the correct orentation?

TIA.

[SG_M3]

There isn't a core charge on M3 control arms.

The 95 arms gain caster using the control arm and bushing. The 96+ gain caster by the strut bearing. 95 = offset, 96+ = centered. There is a little nub on the bushing that aligns with the line on the lollipop.

[M3 Pete]

Is there any advantage to using the 95 strut bearings (hats), control arms and bushings on a 96+ car?

I know different springs are required to fit the 95 bearings. I'm going to replace my springs anyway, so I'm wondering if a bearing/control arm swap would yield any improvements.

[dak656]

The 95 arms gain caster using the control arm and bushing. The 96+ gain caster by the strut bearing. 95 = offset, 96+ = centered. There is a little nub on the bushing that aligns with the line on the lollipop.

The caster gain from the strut hat is the same for '95 and '96+ units. '96+ will give less camber than the '95 if installed as labeled, and more camber than the '95 if installed reversed.

I don't know about the control arms, if there is a different included angle for the '95 and '96+ units. I've never seen them laid on top of each other.

[Stinky]

When you buy new front control arms do you return the old ones like a core charge kind of deal? If not what do you do with them?

Paper weight, heavy ass boomerang....
Of course I just dumped mine when I changed them.