[ABOC]

I was taking a left hand turn earlier today and heard/felt a pop. It sounded and felt just like running over a large rock in the road so I didnt think much of it. Well I was driving around 65 mph and had to slow for a truck that pulled out in front of me, my car pulled hard to the left and I didn't feel like I had much control. I was almost to work and it was still dark. Once it got light I looked under the left front and the hex bolt attaching the control arm to the ball joint is gone!

Has anyone ever had this happen? I just changed the control arms about 6 months ago. Will I be okay driving the car home 10 miles slowly or should I have it towed? Turning and going straight it feels fine, its just hard stops are a little dicey.


Thanks!

 

[forzam]

I was almost to work and it was still dark. Once it got light I looked under the left front and the hex bolt attaching the control arm to the ball joint is gone!

Do you mean the bolt attaching the bushing carrier to the frame is missing?

 

[Geo31]

Uh, let's see....

One of the attachment points for a key suspension component is gone....

NO! It's NOT safe to drive.

 

[Mango]

Let me guess. You installed Meyle control arms and used their supplied Turkish nuts?

 

[moiz21]

Let me guess. You installed Meyle control arms and used their supplied Turkish nuts?

You've been very aggressive in threads lately. :eeps:

I've been running Meyle arms and don't exactly drive easy on the car. Haven't had any problems with them. Let's just wait on more details and go from there.

OP, how about some pics or a bit more specific about which part is missing. And what brand arms are the replacements you're using.

 

[ABOC]

http://realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=EW53&mospid=47726&hg=31&fg=05

Bolt 7 is gone. From middle diagram.

 

[Mango]

You've been very aggressive in threads lately. :eeps:

I've been running Meyle arms and don't exactly drive easy on the car. Haven't had any problems with them. Let's just wait on more details and go from there.

OP, how about some pics or a bit more specific about which part is missing. And what brand arms are the replacements you're using.

How is making a guess being aggressive? :lmao: I'm using Meyle arms too with Genuine BMW nuts torqued to spec.

 

[moiz21]

Just felt like I've seen you getting mad at people lately. Maybe it's from all the cooling threads lately, lol. My mistake.

OP, so you're missing one of the 2 hex bolts from the lollipop? What kind of bushings are you using? Poly or OE? If OE, did you torque it to spec with suspension loaded?

 

[ABOC]

I am using Lemfoerder control arms. I am guessing its because of a torque issue, however will I do more damage to the car if I slowly limp it home?

 

[moiz21]

Are you missing both bolts or just one? If just one, I (personally) would risk it. But driving with EXTREME caution.

 

[LeMansteve]

Is the bolt missing or did it snap off?

 

[ABOC]

Its just missing! Apparently the nut and bolt worked themselves lose and just feel out!

 

[ABOC]

Its just the one hex nut and bolt attaching the control arm itself to the ball joint.

 

[zander271]

Sounds like it wasn't torqued to spec during the install. I would get towed home. That would be cheaper than wrecking your car.

 

[moiz21]

Oh damn, I was looking at the control arm bushing. Went back and looked at your realoem link. Yea, don't drive it like that. Go get what you need and come back to your job's parking lot and fix it there, or get it towed home. But don't drive on it.

 

[ABOC]

OKay will do, thanks for the insight guys!

 

[Mango]

Definitely don't drive it. The control arm locates your wheel. No wheel, no control. No control. Die.

 

[BimmersGarage]

Definitely don't drive it. The control arm locates your wheel. No wheel, no control. No control. Die.

That's a tad bit... dramatic.
( You know you can still manage to control a vehicle even with one wheel totally out of commission. I have proof. )

However, OP it would be Wise to have your car towed/trucked home.
NOTE: If you do work on your vehicle (in the parking lot) make sure you use jack stands, Don't just rely on the silly little jack to support your car while you're under it.

I was taking a left hand turn earlier today and heard/felt a pop. It sounded and felt just like running over a large rock in the road so I didnt think much of it. ...

If you actually "heard/felt" that bolt pop, it may have snapped. You need to inspect it more closely to confirm there isn't a portion of the old bolt left in there.

NOTE: Those bolts are Stress Torqued, just FYI.

 

[Mango]

That's a tad bit... dramatic.
( You know you can still manage to control a vehicle even with one wheel totally out of commission. I have proof. )

However, OP it would be Wise to have your car towed/trucked home.
NOTE: If you do work on your vehicle (in the parking lot) make sure you use jack stands, Don't just rely on the silly little jack to support your car while you're under it.




If you actually "heard/felt" that bolt pop, it may have snapped. You need to inspect it more closely to confirm there isn't a portion of the old bolt left in there.

NOTE: Those bolts are Stress Torqued, just FYI.

It might be extreme but at speed, anything can happen. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Stinger9]

Its just the one hex nut and bolt attaching the control arm itself to the ball joint.

The ball joint is pressed into the control arm. There is no bolt holding it on. You have not described things accurately. That's why people are struggling to understand what you are talking about.