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The ball joint can be replaced......... (archive)
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Posted by Ziggy on May 21, 2001 at 00:05:39:

In Reply to: Ball Joint/Control Arm Hell!!!! posted by Jon on May 20, 2001 at 20:56:37:


Hey, anyone out there ever run into a ball joint on lower control arm that is frozen into the wheel assembly? I just did a few hours ago... Its takem me sometime to cool down enough to even come inside(I've invented new words tonight!) The cone shaped stud was soooo stuck I had to use a pickle fork to get it out, in doing this, yes I nicely sheared the boot on the ball joint. Now I thought, no problem, right? Just a little replaceable rubber boot, no deal. Wrong! After cleaning away the grease, I realized that I really messed it up bad. I managed to mash the retainer ring on the top of the ball joint good, so now it can't even turn around right in the socket. So I've now turned this into a nightmare of a job (was supposed to take only a few hours, right?). So I am wondering then, can I just buy a new ball joint kit and press it into the control arm, or is the Z3's control arm/ball joint assembly a permanent one where I've gotta buy a brand new control arm? I know some M3's had a control arm that had non replaceable ball joints at one time. And in anyones experience, when I go to do the other side, is the same thing going to happen over there? If so, I am going to start drinking earlier in the day so its a little more bearable. Thanks for any help! FYI... this is the front right side of a 1.9L Z3, if it makes any difference.

while the control arm is on the car. The joint is pressed in you should maybe rent a press to get it in and out. One thing to note (bentley manual) you should note or mark old ball joint so you get the new one in same position. The other side rather then use a fork disconect the ball joint nut turn the wheel so you can get a good swing at it with a LARGE hammer and hit the spindle (just below the ball joint nut)a few good wacks will usually break it lose BUT dont miss and hit threads on ball joint or brake rotor. I have changed maybe 500 ball joints in my life this is the only way I know of to get the ball joint looes from the spindle without wrecking the ball joint or ball joint dust boot. If you need any help u can e mail me.


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