Rear Upper/Lower Ball Joint Replacement

[George Hill]

Is this cheating? lol https://youtube.com/shorts/1gKEkC7Qv...fvMNuMdNSkZ0Qs

IMO its more work up front, but easier work once you get there. Pull the parking brake shoes and unbolt the dust shield, gives you a ton more access to the area around the ball joints.

You CAN get the UCA bolts out with the diff in but you have to unbolt it. At that point its not a "ton" more work to get the diff out. If you go back together with bushings then those need to be tightened at ride height. So I'll measure the ride height before I disassemble replace the arms and then jack that corner up until I simulate ride height and then tighten the inner control arm bolts, super easy with the diff out of the car.

[fattycharged]

What Eacman posted is almost identical to what I used. ECS sells them too, so when you break them…
I ordered an extra set of these as well



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[eacmen]

Link?

This is what I used:

https://a.co/d/5js2KyM

[LSB__M3]

Did this with them on the vehicle, using N rtab removal tool from Amazon…took no time


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Link?

[fattycharged]

Did this with them on the vehicle, using N rtab removal tool from Amazon…took no time


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[CrookedCommie]

Back on topic, I'm not sure orientation of removal matters, but there is a beveled edge on the back side of the trailing arm towards the brakes that will assist in installation, I would pull the new ball joints back in from there.

[eacmen]

I thought the inners (upper and lower) were bushings.

BMW calls the outers a ball joint so you used the correct term.

You're right the stock lower control arm inner busing is rubber. I've never worked on a car that still had the stock lower control arm.

[bigjae46]

Maybe I used the wrong term, there are spherical bearings on the outer trailing arm in the rear and also on the lower inner rear control arm.

I thought the inners (upper and lower) were bushings.

BMW calls the outers a ball joint so you used the correct term.

[fattycharged]

Maybe I used the wrong term, there are spherical bearings on the outer trailing arm in the rear and also on the lower inner rear control arm.

I'd have called them the same, because they're ball joints


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[eacmen]

For a moment I was a bit confused. There are no ball joints on the rear suspension, but they are bushings.

Maybe I used the wrong term, there are spherical bearings on the outer trailing arm in the rear and also on the lower inner rear control arm.

[sapote]

Quick question. Has anyone done replacement of the upper and lower outer ball joints on the rear trailing arm? Do they only come out one way?

For a moment I was a bit confused. There are no ball joints on the rear suspension, but they are bushings.

[CrookedCommie]

Just did this with the advanced auto rental tool and a $5 copper pipe cap from Menards, pushed them out pretty easy with the impact.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/powerbuilt-tools-loaner-tool-ball-joint-u-joint-service-set-23-piece-648617/9150043-P?selectedStore=6325&searchTerm=9150016+OR+9150017+OR+9150001+OR+9150011+OR+9150015+OR+9150008+OR+9150006+OR+9150043&selectedFulfillment=store_pickup

[bigjae46]

Then if like me you install the CMP sub-frame bushings and have another WTF moment when you go to torque check the front diff bolt lol

Damn...I'd invent at least 3 new cuss words if that happened to me.

[oceansize]

lol...And I always think I can get it out without dropping the diff until I get under the car and try. Its literally 1/4" too long but you can't shorten the bolt because it will be a 1/16" too short and makes getting the nut back on a total nightmare. I've tried. I believe BMW said "fuck those DIY'ers, watch this" when they designed that.

Then if like me you install the CMP sub-frame bushings and have another WTF moment when you go to torque check the front diff bolt lol

[bigjae46]

bigjae is correct, you drop the diff. For every e46 m3 owner it truly is a WTF moment.

lol...And I always think I can get it out without dropping the diff until I get under the car and try. Its literally 1/4" too long but you can't shorten the bolt because it will be a 1/16" too short and makes getting the nut back on a total nightmare. I've tried. I believe BMW said "fuck those DIY'ers, watch this" when they designed that.