FCAB - what’s best?

[Obioban]

Wow! those are both quite the premium over OEM. dont think I would have splurged either way.

Perhaps, but every RTAB replacement necessitates and alignment, and these should last 2-3x longer than stock. Probably cheaper/mile if you're keeping your car a while.

Plus they significantly improve rear end precision.

[slavik1988]

Perhaps, but every RTAB replacement necessitates and alignment, and these should last 2-3x longer than stock. Probably cheaper/mile if you're keeping your car a while.

Plus they significantly improve rear end precision.

x2

[Norocehcap]

I have had the cheap MTC poly bushings fail after 1 week on my 330Ci, replaced with Powerflex poly and have had no problems. On my M3 I have Rouge Engineering poly and have no problems.

Pic of failed cheap MTC poly bushings

[Obioban]

Many, MANY people have had the powerflex FCABs fail.

[Albino09]

Assuming the FCABs in your car are original, new OEM Lemforders from FCPEuro will be a huge improvement over 100k mile rubber pieces. Unless you're tracking the car, I think your money will go further in other mods to improve steering feel (if that's something you're even concerned about).

[the_fly]

In case it helps anyone, I pre-press OE rubber into good used housings for folks. Been doing this for many years and had a thread like a dozen pages long until M3Forum died.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/classifieds/members-parts-for-sale-wtb/e46/44209-fs-pair-of-new-oe-fcab-front-control-arm-bushings-already-pressed-in-89

[eacmen]

In case it helps anyone, I pre-press OE rubber into good used housings for folks. Been doing this for many years and had a thread like a dozen pages long until M3Forum died.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/c...-pressed-in-89

+1 for the_fly. Bought his prepressed Turner monoballs. we Had to work through Turner QC issues and he's handled it very well.

Even though I ended up with factory rubber, it was not the_fly's fault. The Turner monoballs had too many gremlins to deal with and I got fed up with it.


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[S14]

Oe or lemforder rubber for street car. Solid kills the steering for me. Poly will shake/vibrate you to death. You'll feel everything, good and bad. With rubber, the bad is isolated and you just get that beautifully sweet bmw steering.

There are many good mods to do for better grip and behavior up front imo.

Like what?

[eacmen]

Like what?

Proper alignment.

Better tires.

Better dampers.

Refreshed LCA.

Refreshed Tie rods.

In that order.


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[Tbonem3]

More neg camber (alignment was said ^)

Wheel width changes

Steering rack - zhp/zcp/csl

Swaybar and/or "setting" choice

Strut bar, if older model

Less weight, esp strategically removed (location wise)

[sev]

not a huge fan of the powerflex FCABs. I installed a set, hit the track and they blew on my second session, completely melted and extruded themselves from the end of the lolipop. Went back to OE and its held up

[clawhamm3r]

I said it in other FCAB thread here recently, look into Whiteline FCABs if you're leaning OE. Would not go back to poly. Curious about monoball but so far it seems the reviews are mixed.

[Mspir3d]

I have a turbo next to my passenger fcab and the poly ones don't last long at all. The Turner monoballs have been great so far.

[S14]

Proper alignment. ✔

Better tires. ✔

Better dampers. ✔

Refreshed LCA.

Refreshed Tie rods. ✔

In that order.


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More neg camber (alignment was said ^) ✔

Wheel width changes ✔

Steering rack - zhp/zcp/csl

Swaybar and/or "setting" choice

Strut bar, if older model ✔

Less weight, esp strategically removed (location wise)

Cool thanks guys, looks like I'm on the right track so far.

What strategic weight loss are you referring too?

[BMWahba]

I have a pair of rogue poly FCABs sitting in a box, I am undecided if I will run those or stick with OE. Who has run these and can provide any feedback on the street variant?