BMW Control Arm Replacements & Upgrades for BMW E34 M5 S38 3.5L

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Control arms, and their integrated ball joints, are some of the most crucial components on a BMW suspension. The control arms literally control the wheel and suspension as they go through their range of motions. They do more than just keep the alignment in a constant spec - they are a vital locating component for the suspension itself. A faulty or worn control arm or ball joint is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening problem so make sure they are inspected and replaced at regular intervals.

Most control arms for BMWs consist of an inner and outer ball joint made of plastic, rubber, Delrin, or metal and covered in grease with a rubber boot to seal it from the outside. The ball joint rotates and spins as the control arm goes through its movements and that will wear the ball joint and make it loose. The grease inside the housing can also get used up, evaporate, or become contaminated from moisture and foreign particles. As the ball joint becomes worn it can result in excess movement within the housing. Your steering and handling will become less precise and there is usually a light clunking or clicking sound. In rare and extreme cases the ball joint can separate from the control arm completely, leading to a total loss of suspension and steering control. You should have the ball joint play checked annually and replace them every 3-4 years. Most track organizations will not allow a car if they are older than three years.

Control arms also take abuse from impacts and handling forces. Aluminum control arms will generally bend and prevent an accurate alignment. Steel control arms will crack and fracture and require close inspection annually and replacement every 3-4 years.

We sell OE BMW, OEM, and performance upgrade control arms from proven manufacturers. The control arm is so important to a BMW suspension that we insist on only top quality brands and designs and will never sell a control arm based on price alone. We also have upgrade packages with superior designs and better bushing options and we have bundled these together with valuable package savings.

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Rear Trailing Arm - Priced Each
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T#:372963
Part#: 33321126476
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$ 23.99 USD
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If the rear of your car is steering itself, you might need new rear pitman arms
Turner Spherical Monoball Thrust Arm Bearing Upgrade - Pre-Installed ...
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Turner Motorsport - Corporate Logo
T#:397174
Part#: 022013TMSE34KT
In Stock
Sale - Save 15% $ 553.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
06-13-2026

$ 470.89 USD
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Sale - Save 15%
$ 553.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
06-13-2026

$ 470.89 USD
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BMW’s are known to have failure prone front thrust arm bushings.  The flexible rubber bushings, even those found in M performance models, allow significant movement of the front wheels to maximize daily driving comfort, but also allow considerable alignment change.  This results in a disconnected and numb road feel, standing between you and a confidence inspiring driving experience.  Eventually the fluid filled rubber bushings fatigue and crack due to continual deflection and ozone degradation, and eventually the damping fluid leaks out resulting in complete failure. 

For the enthusiast looking for superior performance and longevity with a crisp, confidence-inspiring driving experience, our sealed ball joint monoballs are the best solution available!  Our experience with spherical front control arm ball joints go back to those we designed and used in our IMSA E90 328i and E92 M3 racecars (GS class Champions in 2011).  We wanted to offer E31, E32, E34, E38, E39, E53, E60, E63, E64, and E83 owners similar levels of handling precision and control for the track and street. 

The bearing housing is precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 anodized aluminum and features a knurled OD to ensure a perfect press fit, and utilize a sealed OEM BMW ball joint for exceptional quality and durability, making them completely at home on both the street and track with no compromise.  We have done extensive street, autocross, and track testing to ensure the ball joint used in this bushing design excels in each setting.  The advantage of a sealed ball joint is that it eliminates all unwanted deflection while still allowing complete bind-free movement throughout suspension travel, resulting in exceptional control of wheel alignment.  What you get is superior steering precision, turn-in response, direct braking feedback, and better handling.

In short, if you're seeking the ultimate in precise, predictable handling and control, with crisp braking response and a long service life that’s equally at home on the street or track - look no further. We have you covered.

 

 

 


We offer these thrust arms with the monoball bushings pre-installed for your convenience. Since BMW recommends the control arms be replaced for every other bushing change, we prefer to sell these as a pre-assembled set. The bushings are also available separately if you wish to source your own control arms.

 

Features:

Bearing housing

  • Precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 blue anodized aluminum
  • Knurled OD to provide the perfect fit for the wide range of thrust arm bore diameters among brands.
  • CNC machined 304ss ball joint sleeve inserts, providing a precision fit between the ball joint and the subframe. 

Bearing

  • OEM BMW sealed and greased ball joint for exceptional durability and service life.

Performance

  • Nearly instantaneous, crisp steering and braking response.
  • Maintenance free, long lasting performance. 
  • Improved road feel without undesirable NVH.

This item is an upgrade to the following rear wheel drive BMWs: 
1989-1995 E34 BMW 525i 530i 535i 540i M5 

 

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Turner Spherical Monoball Thrust Arm Bearing Set - E31, E34, E32 ...
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
Turner Motorsport - Corporate Logo
T#:397171
Part#: 022013TMS01
In Stock
Sale - Save 20% $ 385.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
06-13-2026

$ 308.79 USD
Free Shipping
Sale - Save 20%
$ 385.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
06-13-2026

$ 308.79 USD
Free Shipping

BMW’s are known to have failure prone front thrust arm bushings.  The flexible rubber bushings, even those found in M performance models, allow significant movement of the front wheels to maximize daily driving comfort, but also allow considerable alignment change.  This results in a disconnected and numb road feel, standing between you and a confidence inspiring driving experience.  Eventually the fluid filled rubber bushings fatigue and crack due to continual deflection and ozone degradation, and eventually the damping fluid leaks out resulting in complete failure. 

For the enthusiast looking for superior performance and longevity with a crisp, confidence-inspiring driving experience, our sealed ball joint monoballs are the best solution available!  Our experience with spherical front control arm ball joints go back to those we designed and used in our IMSA E90 328i and E92 M3 racecars (GS class Champions in 2011).  We wanted to offer E31, E32, E34, E38, E39, E53, E60, E63, E64, and E83 owners similar levels of handling precision and control for the track and street. 

The bearing housing is precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 anodized aluminum and features a knurled OD to ensure a perfect press fit, and utilize a sealed OEM BMW ball joint for exceptional quality and durability, making them completely at home on both the street and track with no compromise.  We have done extensive street, autocross, and track testing to ensure the ball joint used in this bushing design excels in each setting.  The advantage of a sealed ball joint is that it eliminates all unwanted deflection while still allowing complete bind-free movement throughout suspension travel, resulting in exceptional control of wheel alignment.  What you get is superior steering precision, turn-in response, direct braking feedback, and better handling.

In short, if you're seeking the ultimate in precise, predictable handling and control, with crisp braking response and a long service life that’s equally at home on the street or track - look no further. We have you covered.


We offer these thrust arms with the monoball bushings pre-installed for your convenience. Since BMW recommends the control arms be replaced for every other bushing change, we prefer to sell these as a pre-assembled set. The bushings are also available separately if you wish to source your own control arms.

 

Features:

Bearing housing

  • Precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 blue anodized aluminum
  • Knurled OD to provide the perfect fit for the wide range of thrust arm bore diameters among brands.
  • CNC machined 304ss ball joint sleeve inserts, providing a precision fit between the ball joint and the subframe. 

Bearing

  • OEM BMW sealed and greased ball joint for exceptional durability and service life.

Performance

  • Nearly instantaneous, crisp steering and braking response.
  • Maintenance free, long lasting performance. 
  • Improved road feel without undesirable NVH.

This item is an upgrade to the following BMWs: 
1988-1994 E32 BMW 735i 735il 740i 740il 750il
1989-1995 E34 BMW 525i 530i 535i 540i M5 
1990-1999 E31 BMW 840i 840ci 850i 850ci 850csi

 

 

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Aluminum Front Lower Control Arm - Left
Aluminum control arms were found on certain models throughout production, but will work...
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
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URO - Corporate Logo
T#:377323
Part#: 31121139987
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 49.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
$ 49.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
Includes bushing and ball joint

Front Upper Control Arm - Right
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2X Entries For Our G87 M2 Sweepstakes! We Price Match - Give Us A Call or Chat!
URO - Corporate Logo
T#:341190
Part#: 31121141098
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 50.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
Pot holes, speed bumps, and road hazards all contribute to a sloppy, weak suspension. To give a better feel to your driving experience, change components as they wear to improve safety and ride comfort.
Show More Show Less
Aluminum Front Lower Control Arm - Right
Aluminum control arms were found on certain models throughout production, but will work...
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
2X Entries For Our G87 M2 Sweepstakes! We Price Match - Give Us A Call or Chat!
URO - Corporate Logo
T#:377292
Part#: 31121139988
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 51.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
$ 51.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
Includes bushing and ball joint

Front Upper Control Arm - Left
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
2X Entries For Our G87 M2 Sweepstakes! We Price Match - Give Us A Call or Chat!
URO - Corporate Logo
T#:341189
Part#: 31121141097
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 50.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
Over the years, the road takes a serious toll on your suspension. Pot holes, speed bumps, and road hazards all contribute to a sloppy, weak suspension. To give a better feel to your driving experience, change components as they wear to improve safety and ride comfort.
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URO Suspension Kit - E34
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T#:593538
Part#: E3416PCKIT
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 452.99 USD
$ 452.99 USD
Comes with everything needed to refresh the front and rear end!

Rod End Boot (14-18mm) - Priced Each
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Turner Motorsport - Corporate Logo
T#:599632
Part#: RERS3
In Stock
$ 27.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
03-27-2026

$ 19.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
$ 19.99 USD
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Extend the life of your heim joints with this flexible rubber protective boot. Designed to fit 14mm–18mm spherical bearings and rod ends, it shields critical components from dirt, moisture, and road debris. Keeping contaminants out helps ensure consistent performance and reduces wear over time.
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