Turner Motorsport BMW Suspension Parts

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 e30, e36, and e46 owners similar levels of handling precision and control for the track and street, but weren’t satisfied with the other options out there.  Instead of a Delrin® bushing or unsealed spherical bearing alone, we selected an oversized sealed greaseable spherical monoball to offer unparalleled durability and precision, but designed a Delrin® adapter sleeve to help isolate the added noise, vibration, and harshness that a full solid monoball bearing will have. While race-ready, our hybrid Delrin®/monoball control arm bearings are more at home on the street than other kits that are advertised as “race-only” bearings. We did extensive street, autocross, and track testing to ensure the spherical bearing used in this bushing design excelled in each setting.

The stock rubber bushings, even those found in the M3, allow significant fore/aft movement of the front wheels to help absorb road impacts, especially when being pushed hard.  This soft flexible design maximizes daily driving comfort, but also allows considerable alignment change.  This unwanted deflection stands between you and a crisp, confidence-inspiring driving experience.  The advantage of a monoball bearing is that it will not deflect under load, eliminating all unwanted deflection while still allowing complete freedom of movement in the desired angles. What you get is superior steering precision with better handling from more consistent alignment and direct braking feedback, with exceptional service life.  Thanks to the Delrin® insert and double lip seals, there's none of the extra noise or reduced service life often found on other spherical bearings.

In short, if you're seeking front control arm bushings that offer precise, predictable handling, crisper braking feel, with a long service life free from noise - look no further. We have you covered.

Watch to learn more about Turner Monoball Bushings

Features:

Bearing housing

• Precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 blue anodized aluminum with a pre-installed grease fitting and grease distribution channels making this a serviceable design
• Knurled for smooth press fit in a wide variance in “lollipop” dimensions. Want front control arm monoballs pre-installed in lollipop brackets? Click here. 

Bearing

• A high quality sealed bearing with Delrin® inserts. Delrin® was chosen due to durability under pressure, while still soft enough to create a perfect play-free fitment on the control arm.
• Replaceable for infinite service life - no need to replace the entire mount in the event a bearing happens to fail.

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

Installation is relatively easy - see our instructions here.

This item fits the following BMWs that use a centered-style bushing: 

1984-1991 E30 BMW 318i, 318is, 325, 325e, 325es, 325i, 325is 
1992-1999 E36 BMW 318i 318is 318ti 318ic 323is 323ic 325i 325is 325ic 328i 328is 328ic
1996-1999 E36 BMW M3 S52
1997-2002 Z3 BMW Z3 1.9 Z3 2.3 Z3 2.5i Z3 2.8 Z3 3.0i MZ3 M Coupe M Roadster 

Building on years of building some of the most used (and talked about!) Street and Race camber plates for the E46 M3 has brought us to the next iteration of this key suspension component. Introducing the Turner Motorsport Hybrid Street/Track Caster/Camber Plate designed exclusively for the E46 M3. 

Front caster/camber plates play a key role in suspension configuration - providing a point to adjust alignment in the front of the vehicle. Without camber plates, it is not possible to dial in proper street and track alignment specifications to maximize handling and tire wear. A properly configured alignment is frequently the difference between a good car and a great car, trailing the pack and pace-setting lap times, frustrating tire wear and long tire life, or exhilarating handling and a car that fights through the turns. 

Understanding the needs of a track enthusiast, our Race camber plates allow for zero deflection and are ideal for a dedicated track vehicle. For a dedicated street vehicle, our Street camber plates are another tried-and-true option that are comfortable and perform very well. Hearing the call from customers that don't fall cleanly into one of these groups, we've designed the best of both worlds - a rebuildable polyurethane-isolated spherical bearing, or as we call it, a "hybrid" design. These camber plates deliver exceptional lifespan, high performance, with excellent road manners. 

We paid extra attention to the bearing we selected, knowing we needed a bearing that would not only be quiet, but reliable. Tens of thousands of street and track miles on a variety of applications yielded zero failures of the high quality PTFE-lined, maintenance-free stainless steel monoball spherical FK bearing. One of our secrets in enabling this high-performance bearing to function to its full potential is the 80a polyurethane isolation bushing. We identified just the right material density to allow for absorption of road noise while allowing dampers to articulate precisely and predictably. This tiny bit of cushion takes the brunt of potholes and rough roads, protecting the bearing from wear which may otherwise lead to premature failure. Equally critical to maximizing bearing life is the addition of dust seals to prevent moisture and dirt contamination.  To top it all off, the entire assembly is rebuildable in the event that, over the years, a component does wear out. 

By re-using the OEM spring perch and radial bearing, we've avoided supporting the weight of the vehicle on the strut shaft monoball - further extending the life of the bearing and mimicking a well-designed factory element. Spring perches for 60mm or 2.5" springs are also available; use of factory-style springs requires no additional perch. Inspect the shocks you plan on using these with, measuring the shock diameter (16mm or 14mm) and inspecting the seat (square or tapered) to ensure you select the correct kit for your application. Not sure which you need? Give us a call, we're happy to help. 

• Adjustable camber (3+ degrees of adjustment) and caster (2.5+ degrees of adjustment) without removing strut from the vehicle
• Wide plate assembly offers excellent load distribution to address concerns with strut tower deformation
• Compatible with factory-style springs, or with the addition of available 60mm or 2.5" perches, race-style springs as well
• Maintenance free, PTFE lined, stainless steel monoball spherical bearing for full shaft articulation
• 80A polyurethane isolation bushings for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) control
• Rebuildable bushing/bearing assembly with individually replaceable components

Turner Motorsport Hybrid Street/Track Camber Plates: content on the street, ready to rip on the track.

Click here for installation instructions.

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