Rear Ball Joints Replaced. Wow! What a difference!

[TIATO]

Has this car seen winters/salt?

Yes. Im not the original owner. My 5/96 build date car was owned since new by 1 previous owner who lives in Mass. I bought it last September. Although he claims the car was never driven in snow, its been driven on salt laden roads afterwards. No biggie though.

The problem is not so much snow as it any water or moisture expsoure in general. Capilary action drew the water inbetween the bolt and bushing and after 10 years it just froze together.

If you look at my images, especially at the ball joints outer sleeve, one can see that the outside most edges, depsite the fit being very tight in the trailing arm, still allows water or moisture to be drawn in. The joint itself is packed with grease and sealed.

[Dukes]

Just put in the 96+ M3 upgraded ones. This is 1 of many bushings BMW made better when they realized people really wanted the e36 M3


Have not done mine yet but does anyone know if you get the victory tool can you do without removing the dust shield and ebrake etc?

I removed my ball joints without removing the rotor and dust shield and I have the Victory tool. I probably should have though because it was tight.

I still managed to get everything out without much of a problem though.

[Dukes]

Oh its a real ball joint alright. Here are my images from my multihour excercise in frustration, anger control and medieval precision and stress relief.

TIATO, did you use an impact wrench? That same bolt on the lower area was a pain too until I whipped out the impact. Looks like you will be replacing your control arms as well since it appears you sawed it off.

[rcM3]

That victory tool will be a must for any future go at this project.

[TIATO]

TIATO, did you use an impact wrench? That same bolt on the lower area was a pain too until I whipped out the impact. Looks like you will be replacing your control arms as well since it appears you sawed it off.

I used an impact wrench, breaker bar, chisel, hammer, propane torch, mapp torch..all to no avail. The trusty 'ole dremel saved the day.

All I wanted to do was install TMS rear lower control arms. The OEM control was indeed scacrifcial.

[Balthazarr]

Thanks. I did before, but it only mentioned it to be an upgrade for non M's and the 95 M3 which use a more rubber ball joint in the lower position. I have both the 33326775551 and 33321140345 in front of me, and I can't seem to discern any difference

I went to AutohausAZ and I can't see any difference either.
Just the price: $41.80 vs $38.31 each and both Lemfoerder.
the 33326775551 is
L2030-238792



Why they use their own stock number and not the BMW like they do with the other part escapes me?

[Balthazarr]

On the phone with AutohausAZ and confirmed 33 32 1 140 345, 33 32 1 138 722 and 33 32 6 775 551 are all the same bushing.
Now, the 33 32 1 136 311 for the 95 is very different and I was told by Autowerks and AutohausAZ that they weren't sure if the 311 could be replaced by the 551.
My question is, does the 551 accomodate the camber bolt and nut as it seems too short for that purpose when compared to the 311?

[acastillo]

On the phone with AutohausAZ and confirmed 33 32 1 140 345, 33 32 1 138 722 and 33 32 6 775 551 are all the same bushing.

Thank you!

[clustermonkey]

On the phone with AutohausAZ and confirmed 33 32 1 140 345, 33 32 1 138 722 and 33 32 6 775 551 are all the same bushing.
Now, the 33 32 1 136 311 for the 95 is very different and I was told by Autowerks and AutohausAZ that they weren't sure if the 311 could be replaced by the 551.
My question is, does the 551 accomodate the camber bolt and nut as it seems too short for that purpose when compared to the 311?

The '95 M3s come with 2 bushings (the 311 PN) and 2 ball joints (the 511 PN). Later M3s came with all 4 ball joints. It's an "upgrade" to switch to 4 ball joints. I replaced the 2 bushings and 2 worn balljoints on my '95 M3 with 4 of PN 33321138722 without problems.

[Dukes]

On the phone with AutohausAZ and confirmed 33 32 1 140 345, 33 32 1 138 722 and 33 32 6 775 551 are all the same bushing.
Now, the 33 32 1 136 311 for the 95 is very different and I was told by Autowerks and AutohausAZ that they weren't sure if the 311 could be replaced by the 551.
My question is, does the 551 accomodate the camber bolt and nut as it seems too short for that purpose when compared to the 311?

Umm, I'm pretty sure 551 isn't a bushing at all. It's a ball joint. The rest should be bushings though. I've had them in my hands. And yes, they're all interchangeable.

[Balthazarr]

Umm, I'm pretty sure 551 isn't a bushing at all. It's a ball joint. The rest should be bushings though. I've had them in my hands. And yes, they're all interchangeable.

It's both a bushing and a ball joint. The bolts pass through them.
As long as the camber bolt works with the 551, then best to use the 551 at all 4 points.
The 311 is still available according to stealer.

[Johno]

My clunky noises turned out to be a bad exhaust hangar. Swinging exhaust was the culprit.

[m3j0n]

so you need 8 per vehicle?

[clustermonkey]

so you need 8 per vehicle?

No, only 4 rear outer ball joints per vehicle (2 per side, one upper, one lower).

[99MPower]

another suspension bushing I will be changing when I get back from deployment damnit.. more work

[JClark]

Bushing replacements on this car suuuuuuuuuuck.

[wheresmym3]

Your telling me

[Balthazarr]

For the 95's 33 32 1 136 311 is not interchangeable with the 33 32 6 775 551 according to what the stealer told me again today; 2nd one to say so.
Do so at your own risk.

Anyone done this and has several years of routine driving or track with them?

[mikea128]

For the 95's 33 32 1 136 311 is not interchangeable with the 33 32 6 775 551 according to what the stealer told me again today; 2nd one to say so.
Do so at your own risk.

Anyone done this and has several years of routine driving or track with them?

since when do parts guys know anything that's not in the ETK? Much less anything at all? I don't think there's any difference in the rest of the rear suspension design, so I don't see why these wouldn't be interchangeable as well.

[Balthazarr]

since when do parts guys know anything that's not in the ETK? Much less anything at all? I don't think there's any difference in the rest of the rear suspension design, so I don't see why these wouldn't be interchangeable as well.

Y'athink maybe, just MAYBE, some of these guys do their own work like most of us here do?
I mean, I know it's a stretch that they are capable and informed, but hell, they only help hundreds of customers and no chance will they pick up any
understanding of what they're working with, right?

[bmwpowere36m3]

Trust me the parts guys only know what's in the ETK and some not even that...they won’t recommend anything that’s not in the ETK, because if you install that part and it fails, they'll be responsible because they gave you a part that’s not for your car, so they’re worried about lawsuits.

They will only give you what the ETK tells them. Since BMW didn’t supercede the old part with the “new” ball joints, it doesn’t come up in the ETK as fitting the 95’s.

[Dukes]

jeez guys.... It fits 95s OK? Is that clear enough?

[mikea128]

Y'athink maybe, just MAYBE, some of these guys do their own work like most of us here do?
I mean, I know it's a stretch that they are capable and informed, but hell, they only help hundreds of customers and no chance will they pick up any
understanding of what they're working with, right?

sure, there's a chance, just not a very good one.
even then, as noted by another poster, they'll never recommend anything that isn't recommended officially by BMW (ie what's in the ETK) due to liability concerns. even if there is no real concern.

[328iJunkie]

hate to bump this thread but im about to buy these from pelican parts and it calls them all 'bushings'
This P# 33321138722
came up with this bushing: 33-32-1-140-345

[ceegeezM3]

hate to bump this thread but im about to buy these from pelican parts and it calls them all 'bushings'
This P# 33321138722
came up with this bushing: 33-32-1-140-345

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...ID=33326775551


Also, it looks like Victory is out of business. Anyone have a picture of the tool, or better yet... anyone want to sell or rent me theirs?