FCAB - what’s best?

[cmitch1000]

I recently put some Turner Monoball FCABs on my car and immediately took them off due to loud clicking. The fitment was terrible. Not trying to bash a product just sharing my experience. I think if I really wanted them to work I’d have to shave down my LCA’s to improve the fitment. Still not sure if that would have worked.

[ac427]

I've been using RE street FCAB's for the past 6 years. After a while the poly inserts do get torn up. Perhaps some red rubber grease would help here.

I noticed they have brought out version 2 of their FCAB's. These have grease nipples on them, highlighting the issue :-)


Is there any universal love for a particular brand?

[thegenius46m]

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?

Run new stock and call it a day. My car sees spirited street driving and track time majority of its usage now but I like the car to still be nice on the street. Poly was literal garbage. Noises, horrible compliance, and rough for no real benefit. I did brand new lemforder last year and it was one of the best things I did before my FCM suspension. The car no longer skips over high speed bumps, rides much nicer, and I can confidently push the car much harder on a rough road without it being sketchy.

Only a monoball is better but I haven't seen anyone make a sealed unit yet. Your compliance goes down too and honestly stock is fine if they are new. People fail to realize that the reason they are replacing stock is because its worn, not because its an inferior option.

Also poly doesn't articulate at all so it should not be used in fcabs or rtabs. New rubber is far superior.

[Norocehcap]

An update to my prior post about my Rogue Engineering poly FCAB that came on my car when purchased and were fine at the time but have now cracked, purchased OE Lemforder to replace them with from FCP. I have also put rubber Meyle HD on my 330Ci daily driver with no issues in 4000 miles so far. Never going back to poly, 10 years and 4 different e46's I have had 3 sets of poly fail, with FCP lifetime warranty even if rubber fails every year they are such an easy swap its a no brainer to run OE rubber on a street car.

[ac427]

An update to my prior post about my Rogue Engineering poly FCAB that came on my car when purchased and were fine at the time but have now cracked, phased OE Lemforder to replace them with from FCP. I have also put rubber Meyle HD on my 330Ci daily driver with no issues in 4000 miles so far. Never going back to poly, 10 years and 4 different e46's I have had 3 sets of poly fail, with FCP lifetime warranty even if rubber fails every year they are such an easy swap its a no brainer to run OE rubber on a street car.

I completely agree. I have been through quite a few poly inserts with my RE FCAB's over the years. I think their newer design with the lubrication nipple would have better longevity for road use.

I have noticed a lot of manufacturers have started putting a sleeve in their FCAB designs to stop the hex spigot on the lower arm tearing at the FCAB poly insert.

I'll be going back to OEM when i get time to replace.


I have purchased a pair of OEM FCAB rubber inserts from BMW, together with some installation lubricant. The rubber inserts were cheaper over here, than a new pair of Lemforder FCAB's, which i was initially considering.

[PSUEng]

For me, without a press, it was best to send my originals to forum member the_fly for Genuine bushings to be pressed in (I can personally recommend his service, excellent)

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-99

[Obioban]

I completely agree. I have been through quite a few poly inserts with my RE FCAB's over the years. I think their newer design with the lubrication nipple would have better longevity for road use.

I have noticed a lot of manufacturers have started putting a sleeve in their FCAB designs to stop the hex spigot on the lower arm tearing at the FCAB poly insert.

I'll be going back to OEM when i get time to replace.


I have purchased a pair of OEM FCAB rubber inserts from BMW, together with some installation lubricant. The rubber inserts were cheaper over here, than a new pair of Lemforder FCAB's, which i was initially considering.

I’m pretty convinced poly isn’t a good choice for anything, anywhere in cars, with any priority set. Rubber, monoball, or solid for all the things.

[ac427]

I’m pretty convinced poly isn’t a good choice for anything, anywhere in cars, with any priority set. Rubber, monoball, or solid for all the things.

I agree. The only place i think they may be worth it is the diff subframe to body mounts and perhaps the RTAB's

[bigjae46]

I’m pretty convinced poly isn’t a good choice for anything, anywhere in cars, with any priority set. Rubber, monoball, or solid for all the things.

100%. All of the downsides of rubber, all of the downsides of solid.

The biggest issue with poly is heat from the headers on the pass side will cause them to wear out quickly. Sometimes they will melt.