Lower Control Arm

#1

Sorry if this as been covered before (searched to no avail…), but what is the consensus on how often the lower control arm should be replaced? Every season, every other?

Our E30 team had the main ball joint fail on the right side at Nelsons Ledges last October (Chumpcar) about 12 hours into the race and would like to avoid another DNF. The control arm probably had 40 hours on it (which is obviously too much).

Thanks

#2

My rule of thumb has been every 2 years.

#3

And use only Lemforder.

#4

How many hours of track time is that?

Any chance anyone saw the show Legendary Motorcar on Velocity Channel this week? It was about their E36 build and race at the same Chumpcar event at Nelsons Ledges. Their new f/r lower control arm broke at the ~ 22 hour mark, the same ball join failure ours. But they were properly equipped with a spare and still finished 6th overall. Good episode. Look for it.

Here is a trailer for the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmqXua6MV0Y&feature=share&list=PLQcELFkO9eWWrlZIAR99FklTdAGoxgC39

#5

How many hours, for me? I don’t keep records, but spitballing 10 events/year, 3 hours/weekend, on the high side, for me, but YMMV.

The point of a replacement interval for a critical safety item is to pick one that isn’t too long. The problem of course, is that you don’t really know how long too long is.