BMW Control Arm Replacements & Upgrades for BMW E36 (1992-1998) M3

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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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ECS Tuning Performance Adjustable Rear Control Arm Set - E36 E46 Z4 E...
10X Entries Into Our F80 M3 Sweepstakes
Earn 5% back in Turner Rewards on orders placed 10/28-10/31. Redeem 11/27-12/1. Terms & conditions apply
ECS - Corporate Logo
T#:376801
Part#: 002608ECS01
In Stock
Sale - Save 25% $ 458.99

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

$ 344.24 USD
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Sale - Save 25%
$ 458.99

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

$ 344.24 USD
Free Shipping

Stock rear lower control arms offer very little adjustment for alignment, especially in lowered vehicles, due to their use of an eccentric bolt. These aftermarket performance control arms from ECS Tuning are designed for maximum adjustability, allowing you to maximize handling and minimize tire wear.

To ensure maximum reliability, ECS Tuning's control arms are constructed from strong, lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum and feature a 303 stainless steel center turnbuckle that offers over 8 degrees of fast and precise camber adjustment. The inner bushing is a stock style serviceable OEM bushing for long life and inexpensive maintenance.

Features:

Durable construction suitable for the daily driver and track car alike
8+ degrees adjustment range for dialing in any suspension and wheel/tire setup
Center located adjuster for maximum clearance during adjustment
OEM-style bushing for long life and inexpensive service
Black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum with 303 stainless steel turnbuckle
Includes new hardware
*With the exception of the stance community, most enthusiasts will need no more than a few degrees of adjustment range. Total adjustment often is dependent on wheel/tire clearances.

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ECS Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Limiter Set
10X Entries Into Our F80 M3 Sweepstakes
ECS - Corporate Logo
T#:362987
Part#: 003301ECS01AKT
In Stock
Sale - Save 5% $ 88.99

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

$ 84.54 USD
Free Shipping
Sale - Save 5%
$ 88.99

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

$ 84.54 USD
Free Shipping

The E36/E46 rear trailing arm bushings (RTABs) wear out faster than any other bushing on the car. Worn RTAB will cause excessive toe alignment change and give a 'loose' or 'floaty' feeling in the rear handling. One of the reasons for this is that they over-extend during motion, stretching and twisting the rubber in all directions. These shims sit on either side of the bushing and limit the amount of extension from the bushing. Not only will you get more life from your RTAB but these will help stiffen the bushing during cornering. But during normal driving you will still have all of the comfort of the stock rubber bushings. These part about these bushings is how easy they are to install - simply slide them in place during your bushing install. They can be added to pre-installed bushings too by dropping the trailing arm and removing the cage around the bushing.

Works with stock rubber bushings only (not urethane or Delrin).

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Race German - Corporate Logo
T#:38128028
Part#: BMWRTABRACKETS
Ships in 4 Business Days
$ 158.99 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up
Upgrade your BMW’s suspension setup with these adjustable rear trailing arm brackets, trusted by performance-driven drivers and professionals. Available exclusively from Turner Motorsport, these brackets provide superior alignment correction, ensuring a confident and controlled driving experience.
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GODSPEED - Corporate Logo
T#:600123
Part#: AK-034
In Stock
$ 180.00 USD
Free Shipping
$ 180.00 USD
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These are a cheap, performance addition that give you greater adjustment ranges and versatility as well as more positive feedback of road feel thanks to their solid design.

SPL Parts - Corporate Logo
T#:553732
Part#: SPLRLLE36
Ships in 1 Business Day
$ 404.00 USD
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$ 404.00 USD
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These SPL parts adjustable rear camber arms replace OEM part number 33326770813

SPL Parts is a performance suspension manufacturer that designs and tests their products all in-house here in the USA. Additionally, all materials used are sourced from American suppliers to ensure consistently high quality products. SPL Parts products are all constructed using 6061-T6 aluminum tubing, DOM mandrel bent tubing, and 6061 and 2024 aluminum for high strength and quality. All TIG welding and CNC machining is also done locally by professional welders and machine shops to meet exact quality standards and tolerance specifications. For anything from racing to street driven needs, SPL Parts offer an amazing line of premium quality products that are perfect to get your car back in spec.

These rear camber arms allow for significantly greater camber adjustment over stock, a major benefit to lowered cars that need their camber readjusted to prevent tire wear and poor handling. These camber arms also provide increased stability and predictability versus the stock camber arms with rubber bushings.

Technical Specifications:

  • Lightweight Aluminum, Titanium, and Chromoly construction
  • Anodized Black for corrosion protection and durable finish
  • Gundrilled center hex links for maximum weight savings
  • Teflon lined FK Rod Ends
  • Made in the USA

Fits the following BMWs:
1992-1999 E36 BMW All Submodels
1999-2006 E46 BMW RWD Models

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Fall Line - Corporate Logo
T#:5580954
Part#: FLM-E46-1BUNI
Ships in 3 Business Days
$ 408.00 USD
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$ 408.00 USD
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Fall Line’s mono ball spherical bearing conversion kit transforms the rear suspension feel of the E46 and E36 M3. The factory rubber bushing is very large, and is prone to substantial deflection under load, as the M3 is put through its paces. Deflection of the bushing can create unwanted geometry change, steering wobble under braking, and even hysteresis of the thrust arm.
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Rogue Engineering - Corporate Logo
T#:34885415
Part#: RE.ARCA.2.RE
Ships in 8 Business Days
$ 395.00 USD
Free Shipping on orders $49 and up