Front ctrl arm removal...

#1

I have a weird request. I need advice on how to remove my front control arms without damaging them… I have 2 E30s and need to basically swap control arms between them (in order to get the Treehouse bushings off of my race car). I don’t want to use the "BMW Pitchfork" to remove them because that damages them, but I can’t get them to drop out of the subframe with just a deadblow hammer.

Any advice? I was thinking of wedging a 2X4 above the arm and trying to pound on it that way, but I thought yall might know a better way.

Thanks in advance as always.

#2

You might be able to find a ball joint press at an autoparts house that will fit. Generally they have you pay for the tool and then refund the cost (or most of it) when you return it. I use the fancy BMW tool ($200, but worth every penny and then some). Crank that sucker down and then smack the stud end and the joint virtually explodes.

#3

jlevie wrote:

Thanks Jlevie. Just to clarify: are you talking about removing the bushing (lollipop) or the entire arm from the front subframe? I’m hoping to do the latter, without damaging it.

#4

I’m talking about the ball joint where the control arm attaches to the strut housing. To free the arm from the crossmember, thread a nut on the end of the stud and thwack with a BFH

#5

The tool you want is to seperate the ball joint from the strut is one you can get from JC Whitney. http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2004158/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2004158/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=balljoint&reviewflag=1#review. It’s not an easy job. Sean has done it several times with the JCwhitney tool, I believe.

#6

I’m pretty sure Advance or AutoZone will let you use it for free. A deposit is required but you’ll get 100% back upon return.

No need to buy a tool that’s free.

#7

scottmc wrote:

[quote]I’m pretty sure Advance or AutoZone will let you use it for free. A deposit is required but you’ll get 100% back upon return.

No need to buy a tool that’s free.[/quote] The one they have doesn’t fit right…the Whitney one is a lever arm. It works well, and will not destroy the ball joint boot. BMP sells a different style for about 40 Bux also. The trick with these is to leave the nut on the stud so it doesn’t get mushroomed. slowly apply the pressure and whap it with the hammer but look out!! when it pops free it can be pretty violent so keep soft parts clear.

#8

Advance Auto parts has a "Front end kit" that has a number of different tools that will work. I just did this this weekend and got mine out fully intact. However, to use the tools, the factory dust shields must me removed. Mine were already coming off so no biggie.

Can’t beat free loaner tools.

JP

#9

bmwbadboy wrote:

That’s what I have as well.
Igor

#10

Long punch or steel rod and Air hammer.

Couple of sharp raps with the air hammer and it will drop off. Same with the tie rods.

#11

30SpecE30 wrote:

[quote]Long punch or steel rod and Air hammer.

Couple of sharp raps with the air hammer and it will drop off. Same with the tie rods.[/quote] Only if you are really Lucky. Some of those have been on there since birth and are very stuck.

#12

And sometimes the path of least resistnace is to drop the cross member and deal with the center bolt of the control arm with then. I wound up having to do that last night since work on the car at some point in the past had rounded off the nut on the right side. Getting the cross member out is easy (gravity works). Getting it back in by yourself isn’t so easy, but hydraulic jacks can work wonders. You can really smack the stud with the cross member out.

#13

What I do is keep around some spare nuts that fit on the ball joint. I remove the existing nut and put the "beater" nut on. Just engage a few of the threads, but not so much that the ball joint stud sticks through the nut. Then beat the crap out of the nut until the control arm falls out. Unscrew the nut and you’re good to go. Keep the nut for the next time you need to remove the control arm.

#14

Thanks to everyone for the great, diverse advice. :wink:

#15

Cliff Notes:

Overcome the resistance with force