How to Replace Front Lower Ball Joints 2003-10 BMW X3

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Modern suspensions combine a number of moving parts for safe and stable handling. The ball joint is the crucial moving component that ties those parts together. The ball-in-socket joint can wear out and loosen over time. Or, the rubber protective boot can tear, allowing contaminants to seize the joint. Bad ball joints are a common failure point on vehicle inspections because they lead to unsafe driving conditions. Fortunately, they are relatively easy to replace with the right know-how. This video shows you how to install new, quality TRQ ball joints on your 2003-10 BMW X3.

This repair was done on a 2007 BMW X3 3.0si 3.0L and the process should be similar on the following vehicles:
2004 BMW X3
2005 BMW X3
2006 BMW X3
2007 BMW X3
2008 BMW X3
2009 BMW X3
2010 BMW X3

Tools you will need:
• 16mm Wrench
• 21mm wrench
• 22mm Wrench
• 18mm Socket
• 21mm Socket
• 36mm 12-point socket
• Torque Angle Gauge
• E12 Inverted Torx Socket
• Anti-Seize Grease
• Copper Anti-Seize
• 6mm Hex Socket
• 7mm Hex Socket
• Hammer
• Sledge Hammer

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⚠ DISCLAIMER:
While TRQ strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. TRQ is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

[TRQ]

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[anselmagarcia]

Easy to follow and very clear instructions. Thanks a lot.

[PABU]

You made that ball joint on the spindle look so easy.

[juand.gonzalez]

Another way to take off the ball joint without using a chisel or disconecting the axel is by putting back the old control arm on the ball joint and smacking the control arm with a hammer.

[jonathandacostasilva]

I just completed this job and man was it a pain. Everything was siezed axle, ball joint, tie rod end, control arm I couldn't get nothing off. Even the jack trick for the axle nut did not work. In the end I bought 2 bolts 3½inch long the same size as the e12 for the ball joint Then got a half inch flat steel bar 4inch long and drilled a hole through the center the size of the ball joint threads. I screw the 2 bolts in the hole for the e12 till they topped out then put the steel bar over the ball joing threads.Put the bolt on then ram that sh#% and watch it start coming out. Wish I had thought of it earlier and it would've made the job easy peasy. Hopefully I can save someone else the time.

[mikegsgr]

A small company called crunchysann makes a puller just for this bmw ball joint, it's not cheap at $130 but it got my 20 yr old Wisconsin rusty ball joint out without having to undue the axle and all that, which can be a nightmare in itself if you're unlucky.

[mannyg.campos]

Thank you so much for your help and good ideas

[benberk]

How many hits with the hammer did it take to break the axle free @4:10 the video gets cut so I am worried it was a lot

[kevinhousand]

Just use a air hammer and a chisel. It will come right out. Won't ruin the axle boot. I just did one and it will save you all from taking anything else apart

[benberk]

I need to do this right now but I dont have an impact and im scared to try to take out the axle nut with only a breaker bar

[andrews]

Never hit the stud on the balljoint. Always the knuckle which it goes into.

[matthewnicholas]

On that tricky seized ball joint, could you take the bolt's and screw them from the top down and wedge something flat between the knuckle and the the tabs?
Like a built-in bearing press?

[geotronicsllc]

Heat it up with a torch and it will come out without needing to remove the axle

[FloridaBikeSupplyOnline]

AMAZING video broski! You went over every part of this, a lot of people leave out the lower ball join removal. I left mine in, but still struggling to get the thrust arm off the joint. I got the kit with all the arms and links, but the thrust arm was the worst of all, so I'm just doing that for now (plus the ball joint seems in decent shape from what I can tell with the arm still on). I might end up just doing the full job now that I watched your video :D Once again, great job man 3 cheers and 5 stars.

[martindorsey]

What was the PSI of the air compressor that you used?

[isrealperez]

some one sell a tool to remove the ball joint so you dont need to remove everything out

[avvisual]

I cant get the lower arm off I've hit but nothing any tips ?

[sjoel]

Lol, I had to rent an sds max jack hammer just to hammer the bj out, have to remove cv axle. Van island wet salty sea air