1991 190E 2.6 lower control arm
 

I need new balljoints. The car has 185k miles. The control arm bushings probably need to be replaced. Can the arms be removed in the following manner which leaves the steering spindle/knuckle attached to car and basically undisturbed:

1- compress and remove spring
2- remove bolt holding balljoint to bottom of spindle/knuckle
3- Unbolt swaybar from control arm
4- knock/force balljoint/control arm down out of bottom of spindle/knuckle so the control arm swings down
5- remove bolts going through control arm bushings so control arm is completely off of car

Can it be done that way?

Do the bushings need anything special to be removed and new one's installed?
Do the new ones just slip in? I realize the balljoints need to be pressed out and pressed in.
Would it be cheaper just to buy new control arms with new balljoints and bushings for $250 for both arms?

I think the control arm is only connected at the following points, which are numbered in the picture below:

1- (2) inner bushings
2- at balljoint at bottom of spindle/knuckle
3- swaybar link

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...stanza/arm.jpg

Yes, be extremely careful with the SPRING!

Thanks! So, "Yes" to everything I asked? I've replaced shocks on a Nissan 240SX before using a spring compressor, but I will be very careful.

So, does removing and installing the control arm bushings require anything special or do they pop out and in with little effort?

Unless you have a shop press, I'd recommend just buying the complete "loaded" control arms -- that's what I did. That way, you have the parts in-hand before you tear everything apart, and there's no down-time that would be required if you had to drop them at a shop to have the press work done.

jp