» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,823 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,601 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,431 Views | | | | | 06-01-2008, 08:53 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Arlington Texas Posts: 48 | Urgent Suspension Question - Control Arm I had to get under my '98 318ti today to address the issue of a plastic skid plate that has become detached on the right side and is dragging on the ground when I noticed something more alarming... About 10 days ago, I had the control arm bushing replaced on the right side. Today, I glanced over at the control arm and noticed that where it attaches to the wheel (ball joint, perhaps?) there appears to be a bracket or thin plate that attaches to the bottom side of where the control arm slides into. It is only attached on one side and is bent slightly away from the other attachment point. Over on the left side it's all nice and snug, so I know this is jacked up. My question is... is it safe to drive, or is that little bracket an essential component that could cause major failure of that joint if it's not fixed immediately? | | | 06-01-2008, 10:37 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | What part? __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 06-02-2008, 06:19 PM | #3 | Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Arlington Texas Posts: 48 | Quote: Originally Posted by 1996 328ti What part? | In the first diagram you posted, it appears to be on the bottom of part #19. In the diagram it doesn't look like it is a separate piece, so maybe the piece is not actually on the diagram... I'll try to post a pic. | | | 06-02-2008, 06:27 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | hmm, the balljoint itself is pressed in , but it sits tight due to that bracket arrangement you mentioned. Not good that its only fixed at the one side Strange that your mechanic didnt see it when u were having the controll bushes swapped.. If you are thinking replacement arms then get E30 items. The balljoints are pressed in just like the E36 M3 items, but are actually cheaper than the E36 regular arms.. Ball joints are an E36 weakness. __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 06-02-2008, 07:11 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Arlington Texas Posts: 48 | Here is the piece in question... Right front wheel.... | | | 06-02-2008, 08:51 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | yep looks fubar´d __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 06-02-2008, 10:01 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | all sorts of wonky __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 06-02-2008, 11:44 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | I wouldn't even drive it. FUBAR is the right word. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 06-12-2008, 11:36 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Arlington Texas Posts: 48 | Quote: Originally Posted by 1996 328ti I wouldn't even drive it. FUBAR is the right word. | I've been up under there for a better look and it appears to have no structural value. It looks more like some sort of guard for the bolt under it. It slides off and on too easily to be something holding back a catastrophic failure. I think the kid who did the work a couple of weeks ago didn't put it back on properly but it's all good now. No little flap of iron will keep me from driving my car for long | | | 06-13-2008, 12:12 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | looking at your picture, I'm guessing they had a hard time getting it off and bent the end that the flap is supposed to go into. Then they put it back thinking you wouldn't notice. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |