BMW Control Arm Replacements & Upgrades

Ball joints begin to pop and rattle after a long period of wear and tear. An OEM Lemforder ball joint is the perfect replacement to ensure complete reliability eliminate any noises from the suspension.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

Our sealed Monoball Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (RTAB) are the best solution for completely eliminating deflection and unwanted toe changes on the rear of the E36, E46, and Z4. While rubber and urethane bushings flex during load, the toe can change widely giving you nervous and unpredictable handling. These RTABs have a solid aluminum housing with a high-quality sealed OE bearing. These bushings were developed from years of competition use in various racing and HPDE events. There is simply no better RTAB unless your racing class rules prohibit the use of mono or spherical bearings.

The rear trailing arm bushings take a lot of abuse from acclerating, braking and cornering. The stock rubber bushings are just not up to the task of keeping rear wheel alignment in spec for very long, especially if you have upgraded to stickier tires and a better suspension. The pliable rubber flexes and twists which slows down reaction time and leaves you with a car that feels nervous and 'tail happy'. Urethane helps to control the alignment but issues with fitment, maintenance, and longevity keep us from recommending urethane on anything but a street car. We also offer a Delrin RTAB for cars that must conform to certain racing class rules. These sealed spherical bearings are the best at controlling rear toe alignment.

Our aluminum RTABs are very well made - high grade aluminum alloy and steel CNC'd out of a billet by an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, each component is either hardcoated or nickel plated. While multiple manufacturers offer two piece designs, our research showed that a one piece bushing is a better design featuring a sealed bearing to keep contaminants out extending the life of the bearing.

Features:

Key Benefits:

• Rear Trailing Arm Monoball eliminates unwanted deflection, maintaining alignment settings and minimizing wheel hop.
• Allows full rear trailing arm articulation for low friction movement and eliminates binding found in rubber and poly bushings.
• Completely streetable: utilizes an OES Lemforder brand sealed, greased ball joint for an extremely long service life with no increase to NVH.

Design Features:

• Housing: Billet CNC 6061-T6 aluminum, type II anodized for exceptional durability and corrosion resistance
• Bearing: OE Mercedes/lemforder 2043520027 Sealed ball joint
• Bearing inserts: CNC machined 303 stainless steel.
• Rebuildable

Clickhere for installation instructions.

This item fits the following BMWs:
1992-1998 E36 BMW 318i 318is 318ic 323is 323ic 325i 325is 325ic 328i 328is 328ic M3
1999-2005 E46 BMW 323i 323ci 325i 325ci 325xi 328i 328ci 330i 330ci 330xi M3
2003-2008 Z4 BMW Z4 2.5i Z4 3.0i Z4 3.0si Z4 M Roadster M Coupe

Enhance your driving experience with our premium suspension upgrade for your BMW. Over time, the road can take a toll on your suspension, leading to a sloppy and weak feel while driving. Our solution? Replace the control arm – a critical component that, after years of service, may wear out. Boost safety and ride comfort with this easy upgrade.

• Improved driving experience
• Enhanced safety
• Better ride comfort
• Extended service life of replacement parts

If you're considering replacing any part of your front or rear suspension, opt for doing it in pairs (both left and right sides). This ensures optimal performance and longevity of the replacement parts. In the BMW world, it's often referred to as a wishbone.

For non-M3 models, this isn't just a replacement – it's a performance upgrade. These heavy-duty components are recommended to be replaced in pairs to maximize their efficiency and provide a seamless driving experience.

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.

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: 
2004-2010 E83 X3 X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i
2000-2006 E53 X5 X5 3.0I, X5 4.4i, X5 4.6is, X5 4.8is
1997-2003 E39 5 series 540i, 540iT (sedans and touring wagon) 
2000-2003 E39 M5 sedan 
1995-2001 E38 7 series 740i, 740iL 
1995-2001 E38 7 series 750i, 750iL 

This sealed ball joint is in the lower rear outer control arm (swing arm) and is the primary weak point of the rear suspension. This one ball joint takes a lot of twisting and deflection so this is usually the first bushing to wear out. When it does, you have a 'loose' or disconnected feeling in the rear alignment. You can restore your car's stability by replacing this ball joint and also evaluating the other components in the rear suspension (upper wishbones and guide links). This part is made by Lemforder, the Original Equipment Manufacturer, and is a perfect fit and excellent quality. A new snap ring is included for your convenience. Beware of non-OEM brands at cheap prices that will not perform at the same standards as BMW intended.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
1997-2003 E39 BMW 525i 528i 530i 540i M5
2004-2010 E60 BMW 525i 525xi 530i 530xi 528i 528xi 528i xDrive 535i 535xi 535i xDrive 545i 550i M5
2004+ E63 BMW 645ci 650i M6
1995-2001 E38 BMW 740i 740il 750il
2000-2006 E53 BMW X5 3.0i X5 4.4i X5 4.6is X5 4.8is
2000-2003 E52 BMW Z8 E65 BMW 745i 745li 750i 750li 760i 760li

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.

Sold as a pair for RWD models only.

Click here for installation instructions.

This item fits the following BMWs:
2008-2012 E82 BMW 128i 135i 1M Coupe
2006-2011 E90 BMW 325i 328i 330i 335d 335i M3 - Sedan
2006-2012 E91 BMW 328i - Wagon
2007-2013 E92 BMW 328i 335i 335is M3 - Coupe
2007-2013 E93 BMW 328i 335i M3 - Convertible
2009+ Z4 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Z4 sDrive30i Z4 sDrive35i Z4 sDrive35is

Stock rubber front control arm bushings are designed to allow significant fore/aft movement of the front wheels to help absorb road impacts.  This soft flexible design maximizes daily driving comfort and helps to add the “luxury” feeling to your BMW, but it is far from ideal for the performance or racing enthusiast that is looking for optimal handling and braking performance.  Being a bonded rubber bushing that is constantly twisting and deflecting when in use, stock rubber bushings really take a beating and often fail prematurely, resulting in further degraded handling, braking shimmy or even clunking felt under your feet.

In the past, the only upgrade option to improve handling of your E46 M3 was to replace the stock rubber with poly bushings, or delrin bushings that wear prematurely and are not serviceable or rebuild-able.  While well-designed poly bushings can vastly improve handling characteristics and offer good road feel with minimal increase to NVH, they are still a compromise when it comes to ultimate handling and braking performance.

Introducing the new Turner Front Control Arm Spherical Bearings!  The Turner engineering team set out to design a no-compromise solution that requires no modification and offers instantaneous cornering and braking response.  Our control arm bearings utilize a unique grease-able spherical bearing that is both serviceable and replaceable, with integrated dust seals to help keep dirt and moisture out.  This bearing offers considerable improvement in both precision and durability compared to other unsealed poly and delrin bushing inserts previously available, which can wear prematurely due to contamination.  The bearing assembly utilizes the highest quality materials, precision machining quality, and components to ensure a perfect fit and longest lasting component life possible.

The result is the ultimate in terms of low friction, no binding, and no unwanted deflection, as well as exceptional steering precision, turn-in response, and direct braking feedback with minimal increase in NVH.  These spherical bearings are a must have for any track car, but are also completely street-able and are a great upgrade for any enthusiast that enjoys spirited driving.

Features:

Bearing

• Extremely robust, greaseable, double lip sealed spherical bearing (Rated for 20,000lbf Dynamic, 90,000lbf Static). 

Housing

• 6061-T6, anodized housing with needle grease zerk for easy maintenance. 
• In house designed knurled OD to provide the perfect fit for the wide range of housing diameters among brands. 

Bearing Insert Arm adapter

• Precision CNC machined Delrin, providing a tight fit between the bearing and the control arm. 

Performance

• Instant, crisp steering and braking response.
• Easy to maintain, long lasting performance. 
• Improved road feel without undesirable NVH.

Grease before installation and with each oil service with high quality Moly grease for maximum service life.  Need a Grease tool?

This steel E30 front control arm is a direct replacement for the original part and is the OEM Lemforder brand.

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. 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. For a street-driven car we advise yearly inspection and a full replacement every 3-4 years. For track-driven cars these should be inspected before every event and replaced every two years.

We also recommend replacing the bushings when changing the control arms. The bushings are mounted at the back of the control arm and located the arm to the frame rail on the car. The stock bushings are rubber and will wear out sooner than the control arms themselves. With the control arm off the car now is the perfect time to also replace the bushings.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
1984-1991 E30 BMW 318i 318is 318ic 325e 325es 325i 325ic 325is M3

This steel E30 front control arm is a direct replacement for the original part and is the OEM Lemforder brand.

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. 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. For a street-driven car we advise yearly inspection and a full replacement every 3-4 years. For track-driven cars these should be inspected before every event and replaced every two years.

We also recommend replacing the bushings when changing the control arms. The bushings are mounted at the back of the control arm and located the arm to the frame rail on the car. The stock bushings are rubber and will wear out sooner than the control arms themselves. With the control arm off the car now is the perfect time to also replace the bushings.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
1984-1991 E30 BMW 318i 318is 318ic 325e 325es 325i 325ic 325is M3

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.

The front control arm bushings are a key piece of the suspension. They are constantly in motion and take abuse from impacts, potholes, rough roads, and general cornering/wheel motions. To give a quiet and smooth ride, the bushings are made of rubber with a metal sleeve insert. But the rubber can only withstand so much abuse before they become loose and spongy. This results in vibrations and possibly a shimmy when driving. A visual inspection will usually confirm that there is too much flex in the rubber or the rubber has cracked and torn. And if you're installing new control arms, always install new bushings to avoid duplicating labor costs.

This is a replacement stock LEFT FRONT (Driver's side) control arm bushing with the mounting bracket.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3

Upgrade your vehicle's performance with our replacement rear lower control arm inner bushings. These bushings feature a low-friction, PTFE-lined spherical bearing, enhancing cornering grip and dynamic geometry. By eliminating OEM bushing deflection and binding, our product preserves camber and toe geometry during bumps. Enjoy improved stability and handling precision, thanks to the maintenance-free FK bearings with PTFE linings. Crafted from high-quality materials including 6061-T6 aluminum and FK PTFE-lined spherical bearings, our bushings ensure durability and NVH reduction. Experience the benefits of enhanced performance and reliability with our premium upgrade.

Key Advantages:

Enhanced Rear Cornering Grip Elimination of OEM Bushing Deflection and Binding Improved Dynamic Geometry, Stability, and Handling Precision Maintenance-Free FK Bearings, Manufactured in the US, with PTFE Linings Materials Used:

6061-T6 Aluminum Bearing Shells and Spacers FK PTFE-Lined Spherical Bearings (F1 Specification, Self-Cleaning)

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).

This is the rear pitman arm that mounts between the trailing arm and the rear axle. It is also referred to as the "dog bone" or the "drop arm". Over time this, wear and tear will necessitate its replacement. OEM Lemforder's replacement will replace everything back to new condition.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
1982-1988 E28 BMW 524td 528e 533i 535i 535is M5
1983-1989 E24 BMW 633csi 635csi M6
1983-1987 E23 BMW 733i 735i