Replacing lower control arms

[jog5000]

Hi all...

Has anyone replaced their lower control arms themselves? Or is it a job for the mech?

Does anyone perhaps have somewhere I could go to have it done, that WONT cost me an arm and a leg - I'm looking at about R5000 now...

 

[DonovanPorter]

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=2190

 

[Julz]

To take the lower control arms out is very easy but to replace the bushes and ball joints is quite a mission.you will need a press!i replaced my bushes and ball joints myself.cost me a grand in total for both sides.i decided to also replace the balljoints on the steering rack.after doing the alignment the car feels so solid.it feels new again

 

[jog5000]

Julz, where did you get the parts from? And how did you go about replacing the bushes and joints??

 

[Hellas]

Buy complete joints from Supa Quick. I had mine changed for something like R2500 in total there.

 

[Julz]

Hey sorry for the late reply.the lower control arm consists of one bush and two balljoints.the bushes you must get from the agents and the baljoints you can get at Suburban Spares(maybe even midas) if cash is tight.i used a 10 ton press.i must say it can be quite tricky without various fittings to squeeze it out.my advice would be to get the bushes and suspension tested(its free) and then source the parts yourself(to save some bucks) and then let them fit it,let me know if you dont come right,cheers

 

[cdr693x]

On an E46 I bought silicone compound bushes from INTO Cars which is in Benoni - Tom Jones Ave. To replace them is easy or thay can also do it. I paid R800 for two bushes.

 

[Hellas]

That's a good price! Got a number for those guys?