Front lower control arm play

wootloops · 01-02-2021, 05:09 PM

I know the front lower control arms use spherical bushings that can move pretty easily, but is the video below normal?

It feels like they are a little too easy to rotate but I'm not sure.

Car is a 2008 with 57k miles. New ones are cheap but just wanted to make sure these are toast before I replace them for nothing.

Both sides are the same.

ha9981 · 01-02-2021, 05:16 PM

LOL not normal at all. That is toast.

Mine took a bit of work to fit it back in when I was reinstalling because it was tight and firm fit with bushing movement.

wootloops · 01-02-2021, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ha9981

LOL not normal at all. That is toast.

Mine took a bit of work to fit it back in when I was reinstalling because it was tight and firm fit with bushing movement.

Ok, I'm actually relieved to hear that they are toast... easy fix to tighten up the front end

Thanks for the reply!

ha9981 · 01-02-2021, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wootloops

Quote:

Originally Posted by ha9981

LOL not normal at all. That is toast.

Mine took a bit of work to fit it back in when I was reinstalling because it was tight and firm fit with bushing movement.

Ok, I'm actually relieved to hear that they are toast... easy fix to tighten up the front end

Thanks for the reply!

Just for sanity before you order wait another confirmation.

But I really doubt any suspension part should have that much play in it. Good news is your car will feel a lot better after the change.

tdott · 01-02-2021, 05:52 PM

It's the inner/outer play you need to check not that side to side play. That is not a normal range of motion for that arm.

Bartledoo · 01-03-2021, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wootloops

I know the front lower control arms use spherical bushings that can move pretty easily, but is the video below normal?

It feels like they are a little too easy to rotate but I'm not sure.

Car is a 2008 with 57k miles. New ones are cheap but just wanted to make sure these are toast before I replace them for nothing.

Both sides are the same.

That looks completely normal to me. That arm has spherical bearings on both ends so it should rotate freely. Doesn't look like it has any play from the video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ha9981

LOL not normal at all. That is toast.

Mine took a bit of work to fit it back in when I was reinstalling because it was tight and firm fit with bushing movement.

If you are referring to your 328, that arm has rubber bushings on yours, right? Then it would not rotate freely.

wootloops · 01-03-2021, 01:05 PM

Ok, thanks for the input.

I had a feeling it was due to the spherical bushings but wasn't sure. I'll try testing in the other direction to make sure there is no side-to-side play before I make a decision on replacing them or not.

ha9981 · 01-03-2021, 02:40 PM

Bartledoo sorry I was totally wrong. It was from when I did my RB job I'm pretty sure mine felt firm in both directions. I'll have to check again when I get under as I was inspecting them but undoing them.

wootloops sorry for confusing you. Stupid of me to comment without knowing better.

Denny347 · 01-04-2021, 07:40 PM

I just had mine up in the air today and mine do the same thing. 64,000 miles.

tlrid3r · 01-23-2021, 07:23 PM

That looks like a healthy spherical bearing. No play. Articulation is great.

I have upgrade all my busking with spherical bearing and all of them do that

Redd · 01-23-2021, 07:51 PM

Timely feedback. My Dinan rear toe links were doing that and I was wondering if the sphericals were worn out. Looks like I don't need to worry now.

01-02-2021, 05:09 PM	#1
wootloops First Lieutenant 354 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Lime Rock Park Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Jupiter, Florida iTrader: (0)	Front lower control arm play - is this normal? I know the front lower control arms use spherical bushings that can move pretty easily, but is the video below normal? It feels like they are a little too easy to rotate but I'm not sure. Car is a 2008 with 57k miles. New ones are cheap but just wanted to make sure these are toast before I replace them for nothing. Both sides are the same.
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01-02-2021, 05:16 PM	#2
ha9981 Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 2007 328i e90 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area iTrader: (0)	LOL not normal at all. That is toast. Mine took a bit of work to fit it back in when I was reinstalling because it was tight and firm fit with bushing movement.
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01-02-2021, 05:52 PM	#5
tdott Brigadier General 3941 Rep 3,986 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South FL / 6ix iTrader: (4)	It's the inner/outer play you need to check not that side to side play. That is not a normal range of motion for that arm. __________________ N/A S65 Headers Before/After Dyno Results
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01-03-2021, 01:05 PM	#7
wootloops First Lieutenant 354 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Lime Rock Park Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Jupiter, Florida iTrader: (0)	Ok, thanks for the input. I had a feeling it was due to the spherical bushings but wasn't sure. I'll try testing in the other direction to make sure there is no side-to-side play before I make a decision on replacing them or not.
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01-03-2021, 02:40 PM	#8
ha9981 Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 2007 328i e90 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area iTrader: (0)	Bartledoo sorry I was totally wrong. It was from when I did my RB job I'm pretty sure mine felt firm in both directions. I'll have to check again when I get under as I was inspecting them but undoing them. wootloops sorry for confusing you. Stupid of me to comment without knowing better.
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01-04-2021, 07:40 PM	#9
Denny347 Major 347 Rep 1,076 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 E90 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (0)	I just had mine up in the air today and mine do the same thing. 64,000 miles.
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01-23-2021, 07:23 PM	#10
tlrid3r just another M3 514 Rep 1,150 Posts Drives: e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Jose, ca iTrader: (6)	That looks like a healthy spherical bearing. No play. Articulation is great. I have upgrade all my busking with spherical bearing and all of them do that __________________ ///M3... Don't want more power, Just want it to turn sharper one step closer each time. -Ohlins TTX Raceline, PolePostions seats, Akrapovic EVO, ARC-8, 1/2 Cage, Seat Delete, Stoptech BBK, solid Subframe and diff bushing, spherical bearing on everything. Last edited by tlrid3r; 01-25-2021 at 07:26 PM..
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01-23-2021, 07:51 PM	#11
Redd Brigadier General 3897 Rep 4,160 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Timely feedback. My Dinan rear toe links were doing that and I was wondering if the sphericals were worn out. Looks like I don't need to worry now.
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