Delphi UCA's are in, looking pretty good

[turbodan]

I replaced them yesterday after giving up the search for Meyle or Lemforder. Delphi might be a good choice though, we'll see how they hold up. They look good and appear to be manufactured a manner similar to the higher end brands.

I read an old thread suggesting the OTC6297 ball joint tool seperator that is an excellent tool for the job. I have always hit them with a pickle fork and never enjoyed it. This tool takes all of the unpleasantries right out of the procedure. Quick and easy. You could even R&R these arms, press in fresh bushings and put them back in again without harming ball joint boots. What a concept.

[thrty8street]

Which bushings did you go with?

[turbodan]

Ordered some Meyle HD initially but the vendor canceled, said they actually didn't have them. Settled for some Febi bushes, basically same as stock.

[HayekFan]

Relevant to my interests as my car has started doing the 50 mph shake.

My impression is that replacing the bushing is pretty simple and would be all that's needed to rehab a UCA most of the time. But I guess the balljoint would also wear out at some point. I wonder how long the balljoint's lifespan usually is?

[turbodan]

I would only replace the arms if the ball joint boots are toasted. Ball joints don't really wear until they are exposed to external contamination.

[HayekFan]

That makes sense re the ball joints.

How did you press in your bushings? Do you have a CAB tool or did you take them to a machine shop?

[turbodan]

I have a press.

[HayekFan]

Wish I had a press!

I do see various CAB tools on places like eBay for around $30 but none specifically for an E28. I wonder how much potential these might have for doing the bushings in our cars?

Also, what is your sense of the quality of the ball joints on the Delphi arms?

And I wonder how the overall quality might compare to a TRW, which isn't a brand that I've sought out in the past but which I have seen some tentatively positive comments about recently.

[turbodan]

The ball joints look good. The manufacturing process appears similar to the Meyle arms I've used in the past. The machining looks good, they put a nice radius on one side of the UCA bushing bore for ease of installation. Hopefully they spent that extra 29 cents for quality ball joint boots and I can get a good run out of these.

I really like the press for these bushings. Alignment is easy, the press helps ensure that they go in square. I assume the tools they make for this would require a long, threaded rod and a couple of large diameter cylinders. Would be a lot of wrench turning to get the job done and I feel like alignment of the bushing would require more care to maintain.

TRW was an OE supplier for BMW on later models. Their stuff was good, these days though it's hard to tell, and I couldn't find e28 UCA's from them anyway. Bosch used to be good too until they started making parts everywhere but Germany. If I wanted crap made in Mexico or China I would just go to Autozone. You may have seen that thread where wkohler tipped us off on the Delphi arms being made in Turkey. Again, not my first choice for country of origin but it's better than our other options.

[HayekFan]

Thanks for your observations on the Delphis. They have sort of arrived on the scene at just the right time it seems. Your assumption about the CAB tool being a threaded rod and some cylinders is correct. I'm going to keep poking around and see if there might be an inexpensive one available that works for E28s.

[1st 5er]

I've got a press, but before that used the BFH kit, consisting of the BFH and assorted pipe pieces.

[Blue Shadow]

I've got a press, but before that used the BFH kit, consisting of the BFH and assorted pipe pieces.

Some just use a chunk of all thread and sockets of the right size.

[turbodan]

I've got a press, but before that used the BFH kit, consisting of the BFH and assorted pipe pieces.

That's gnarly.

[BMWCCA2]

My '85 has what appear to be all original control arms and the bushings and the ball-joint boots are shot. FCP is showing the complete set of four (upper and lower) with bushings installed for a fairly reasonable $200 for Meyle and about $350 for Lemforder in-stock. What is the consensus on either these days? Thanks. Whoops, looks like the set is an E34 set. No UCA shown as in-stock for E28 right now at FCP.

[turbodan]

Yeah, got to be careful there. The e34 UCA looks very similar but the arms are a different length.

[BMWCCA2]

Yeah, got to be careful there. The e34 UCA looks very similar but the arms are a different length.

The lower is the same part, but not the upper!

[Galahad]

The off brand ball joint tools (like OTC6297) work really well, I buy whatever is cheapest on amazon. Don't use an impact with the cheap ones tho, they break the screw thing

[turbodan]

I ordered this Meyle RH LCA a few days ago. I had a left side but couldn't find the other side. The part says Germany, on the ball joint and the arm itself, but the box disagrees. Might be that delphi and meyle are making these in the same factory. Definitely the same country of origin.

Thought that was interesting.

[thrty8street]

How are the Delphi UCA's holding up?

[turbodan]

How are the Delphi UCA's holding up?

I have had no problems. Haven't been under there to look at them but I believe they're doing just fine. I'll take a look at the ball joint boots next chance I get, as long as they don't dry out and crack they should last a good long time.

[HayekFan]

What vendor did you buy the Delphi UCA's from?

[turbodan]

They were from ebay. Quite a few vendors on there have them listed.

[HayekFan]

Thanks. I just ordered a pair on eBay. Also ordered a pair of Powerflex urethane bushings.

[turbodan]

Have you run urethane bushings before?

Ride can be harsh, a little compliance here is beneficial. Depends on how good your roads are and your sensibilities though. Some guys used to run spherical bearings in theirs, cant imagine the NVH from those.

[jdb]

I have used Paul's (Moosehead Enginering) Spherical upper control are bearings and they, for me, did not create a NHV situation.
They are spendy but, they keep play in upper arm at bay.
I am happy with them but I have the Meyle arms in my euro with the 750 bushing and that is a sweet setup except they seem to be made of unobtinium now.
Dan what bushing did you use in these arms??

Jeff