Quality of Replacement Ball Joints?

#1

I’m finally getting around to replacing my entire suspension.

I see on RockAuto’s website, you can get the front arms loaded with what appears to be “standard” ball joints, or you can also buy a stand-alone “heavy duty” ball joint and put those in. Does it matter? How do I check to see if my ball joints are bad? They may be one of the few things that were actually changed before I got the car.

#2

OEM is the only thing permitted under the rules. Buy the control arms with ball joints already pressed in. I hear folks talking about periodic replacement of the control arms as preventive maintenance. I’m not convinced it is necessary, but I’ve done it.

#3

Steve D wrote:

+1 for buying control arms with ball joints already pressed in.

I’ve had to replace a control arm every other year because a balljoint started getting stiff and clunky. If I made more money I might replace all balljoints, bearings, and shocks every 2 years like the natty CR boys do.

Heck, if I could just get my wife to turn off lights and turn down the heat, my racing budget would double.

#4

Use Lemforder parts. They have the highest quality.

#5

I bought a set of replacement front control arms with the balljoints already in them from Pelican Parts and the boot on them cracked in less than 6 months. I just hope the grease stays in there and the balljoint stays working.

#6

Lemfordor arms arms are the ones to use. Control arms are as important as tie rods and aren’t a place to try to save money. They should be inspected for wear before every race weekend and replaced if there is any wear at all in the ball joints.

To check for ball joint wear pry on the joint with a 2-3’ prybar and squeeze the joint with a large (as in 24") pair of channel locks. It there is any motion at all, replace the control arm.

#7

+1 for Lemfordor. Just put a set in my car last winter. Seems to be the best on any car that used them as original equipment.

The arms I replaced were getting loose in their sockets and were worn.

#8

Where do you get lemforder? Rockauto doesn’t have it.

#9

Call Bimmerworld and/or Bimmerparts. Both are sponsors.

All: Meyle ok? That’s what BW seems to carry.

#10

BigKeyserSoze wrote:

[quote]Where do you get lemforder? Rockauto doesn’t have it.[/quote]Pelican carries Lemfoerder and Febi.

#11

Ranger wrote:

[quote]Call Bimmerworld and/or Bimmerparts. Both are sponsors.

All: Meyle ok? That’s what BW seems to carry.[/quote]

The Meyle arms are a quality part!!