Ball joint replacement

[Rocking-M]

Well we did it. Now in addition to the Chevy Trucks, Fiat Spider, Fiat x1/9, and
Lancai Beta we now have a 318i.

I need to do a ball joint job on it first. How does the ball come out of the
lower control arm? Thanks.

PS the wife drove it home and looks like I might get to hot rod the lancia.
It was to be hers but she might like the BMW better

Robert

 

[Big Daddy]

Same way all balls come out of control arms. A pickle fork works best for the removal, this article may help Control arm replacement

 

[Rocking-M]

Thanks, but releasing ball joints is no problem.
In fact a pickel fork is not the best way, particularly on
ball joints you want to reuse. I change the springs on
the Fiat spider when I want to race and have to release the
ball joints to do so. Here's how. Where the tapered part of the
ball joint goes up through the hub rap it soundly with a good hammer.
The shock releases the taper from the hub (take the nut off first of course).
Now the inner ball joint on the BMW can't be done that way given that it
goes up through the cross member. So the pickle fork is the only way there.


The BMW ball joint is a press fit which is unusual. They press into the control arms. Which is why they say you can't rebuild the control arm or want to talk you into buying a new control arm. You can rebuild them you just need a press.
This is true for the E30 series for sure and the E36 pictures look the same.
Advance keeps the replacement ball joints and the bushings to go
on the end of the control arm (also pressed on).
The total to rebuild 2 arms is about $220 bucks in parts.
Just did mine and am ready to roll.

Regards, Robert