Similar with e46, lower arms Ball joint cant be replaced but the aftermarket replacement arms comer replaceable, so definitely possible.Like Joe said, It can be done as long as you find a ball joint with the correct measurements. Those are far cheaper than getting new LCAs but I feel for a ball joint, it is expensive. If someone has a bad LCA, they can cut the ball joint out, take ID and height measurements of where the ball joint used to be, and post them so we can find a Universal press fit ball joint
Then we can narrow down which ball joint has the correct taper to fit into the spindle (may be trial and error).
Like Joe said, It can be done as long as you find a ball joint with the correct measurements. Those are far cheaper than getting new LCAs but I feel for a ball joint, it is expensive. If someone has a bad LCA, they can cut the ball joint out, take ID and height measurements of where the ball joint used to be, and post them so we can find a Universal press fit ball joint
Then we can narrow down which ball joint has the correct taper to fit into the spindle (may be trial and error).
Same as E9X and all the newer ones, but I haven't seen an aftermarket arm with replaceable for them, maybe why they went to 2x front arms instead, or just to screw the aftermarket due to their size lol. Cant think of any later than E46 apart from minis that have a single front arm.
I've spent ages on one of these, ordered loads of ball joints and have taken it to a machinist who would cut a thread in the arm.
That sounds like a solid solution, crack on man lol
Well, those LCA arms that were posted by @Caine_1989 are pretty much pressed in and only secured with that thin nut. I’ve seen some generic ball joints do something similar, but my guess is that quite a few other cars (mustangs over here) use press in ball joints
