Control Arm Bushes - Concentric and solid rubber?

[clipper]

I need to change both lower arms on my car, and I currently have solid concentric bushes.

I was convinced that these were E46 parts, but am I getting confused with the rear shock top mounts?

Can someone please confirm which model's CABs I need to keep my car as it is?

I have been through several search results but not got clear confirmation.

Thanks.

[steve_k]

you dont want e46 CAB's as they have a hexagon shape mounting hole & wont fit e30/36 wishbones.

the one's you want are e30 m3 eccentric CAB's, either rubber or poly.
prices depends on were you get them from.

[jimmyspeed]

search febi 26080 on eBay

[Brianmoooore]

OP states he wants concentric solid bushes, not eccentric. E36 M3 bushes come in either flavour, and fit E30 lollipops and arms.

[jimmyspeed]

opps- just assumed he was after the usual upgrade !

[steve_k]

opps- just assumed he was after the usual upgrade !

Same as me, will teach me to skim read

[clipper]

Thanks all (but mainly to Brian ! )

[DanThe]

If you need to change the arms then just transfer the bushes/mountings over to the new arms, I doubt they will be worn if they are the solid type

[Brianmoooore]

If you need to change the arms then just transfer the bushes/mountings over to the new arms, I doubt they will be worn if they are the solid type

Alternatively, if it's ball joint problems that are requiring the control arm change, the ball joints are available (after market) on their own. They are ideally changed using a hydraulic press, but it can be done using a grinder, a couple of wooden blocks and a large hammer.

If you want to remove the bushes from the arms for reuse, push a very small screwdriver partly between the bush and the pin at various points around its circumference, letting lubricant flow into the gap created as you do so. It's important that the lubricant is thoroughly cleaned off before the bush is reused, and it is refitted using a temporary lubricant only.

[clipper]

Some good advice here!

I have decided this morning that I will keep the arms and the good CABs, and change the ball joints as Brian suggests.

Where I live (central Madrid) it is difficult to work on any vehicle because the parking is either in undergound private garages (as is my case), or on the street. It is forbidden to work on cars in either locations, so there is a good availability of DIY workshops available. These are fully equipped with all tools like presses and it still works out at about half the price of taking it to a mechanic (plus I know that the work is my own!), so I have ordered a full set of ball joints (Febi Bilstein) which should be with me next week.

I have read however, that only the outer ball joints can be pressed in and out... is that the case?

It doesn't really matter as it is the outer ones which have the play, but I hope I haven't wasted money buying the inside ball joints...

[Brianmoooore]

I don't think I've ever changed an inner ball joint, because it's the outers that usually fail, and in the case of an arm where both require replacement, the economics of changing them, rather than fitting a new arm complete begins to get shaky.
The inner joints are available, so presumably they can be changed. I can think of no reason why they shouldn't be.

[clipper]

I don't think I've ever changed an inner ball joint, because it's the outers that usually fail, and in the case of an arm where both require replacement, the economics of changing them, rather than fitting a new arm complete begins to get shaky.
The inner joints are available, so presumably they can be changed. I can think of no reason why they shouldn't be.

Cheers Brian. I will see how the inners are when I get it all off the car, and if not required, I'll try to return the inners, but TBH for 20€ its probably more hassle than its worth!

[clipper]

Got the arms off this weekend and set about changing the ball joints, on the "worst" side, both were bad, the outer one loose and dry, the inner one very stiff and notchy (evidence of an impact from underneath, luckily localised to the joint, no damage to the arm itself).

The inner one is a bitch to press in!

The other side however couldn't be completed because some moron in the past has put an E36 arm on my car... different outer ball joint! Luckily, we realised before pressing out the existing one, and as it isn't too bad, we just refitted it.

[Brianmoooore]

The E36 arm is interchangeable with the E30 version, but it's the knowledgeable E36 owners who upgrade their cars with the superior E30 one, not the other way around.

[clipper]

The E36 arm is interchangeable with the E30 version, but it's the knowledgeable E36 owners who upgrade their cars with the superior E30 one, not the other way around.

Hence my use of the word "moron" !

Thanks for your help on this one!