FCAB Install level?

unluky · 07-01-2014, 08:22 PM

Going to do my FCABs this weekend. I see that you do not have to have the wheels off the ground (unloaded) but can it be done with them on a ramp? I was not sure if the uneven f to b position would not allow me to get them off or back on?

As in drive it up on a ramp to get the skid plate off and then do them from there with the tires on the ramp?

Karacticus · 07-03-2014, 07:42 AM

My recollection is that it's going to be easier if you can get the front wheels off and in the air. That will make it a little easier to shift the control arm around to get the brackets off of the pins that hold it in position and then to get the bracket back in place.

Before I had the lift, I remember getting the skid plate bolts replaced and installed was not a lot of fun while on my back on a creeper. They are torqued + 90 degrees of twist, so had to have both feet braced against jackstands to keep from sliding around.

unluky · 07-03-2014, 08:38 AM

My plan was to put the front wheels up on ramps and then jack the side I was working on up slightly and take that wheel off. I have a lip out of my garage and it falls way, so if I leave my rear wheels in the garage and put the ramps on the apron, I get a very stable place to lift it and the lip and falling apron exaggerate the space under the car giving me more room to work. I took the tranny out of my 300 like this, so I should have room to do it, even though the skid plate might be fun to get back in by myself. Worst case, I toss my neighbor a beer and he will help me get the first bolts started!

Thanks for the advise.

DreamTheater · 07-08-2014, 02:56 PM

I did mine about 2 months ago and would definitely recommend having the wheel(s) off the ground, it'll make it much easier.

unluky · 07-15-2014, 03:04 PM

Thanks for the tips - I got her up in the air and the wheels off and it was a breeze - worked perfect even for replacing the sway bar bushings.

donoman · 08-08-2014, 03:07 AM

I had to grind my FCAB's off... they were like melted onto the control arm. Anyone else have this problem? They did not come off with a gear puller... they simply tore. What I was left with was the part of the bushing with a metal tensioning ring...

Still, once I surrendered and pulled out the grinder, it was easy going

unluky · 08-20-2014, 11:13 PM

Nope - mine came right off. 2004 with 70K. Gear puller tugged at them a bit, but then they both popped and came right off.

StickMon · 08-23-2014, 11:52 PM

Just did mine using the Koch Tools kit from BavAuto.
Easy-peasy. Mine were pretty loose. Spritzed some Simple Green into them before I started pulling.
The first one came off mostly by turning the bolt on the puller by hand.
The second one popped off while I was still trying to get the puller situated.
The hardest part for me was getting them lined back up to get the bolts through.

07-01-2014, 08:22 PM	#1
unluky Major 7519 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 04 z4 3.0 Sport & 15 X5 35i XD Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sedalia, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 XDrive 35i [0.50] 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Spo ... [0.00]	FCAB Install level? Going to do my FCABs this weekend. I see that you do not have to have the wheels off the ground (unloaded) but can it be done with them on a ramp? I was not sure if the uneven f to b position would not allow me to get them off or back on? As in drive it up on a ramp to get the skid plate off and then do them from there with the tires on the ramp? __________________ 2015 X5 XDrive 35i - 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport
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07-03-2014, 07:42 AM	#2
Karacticus Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe Join Date: May 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	My recollection is that it's going to be easier if you can get the front wheels off and in the air. That will make it a little easier to shift the control arm around to get the brackets off of the pins that hold it in position and then to get the bracket back in place. Before I had the lift, I remember getting the skid plate bolts replaced and installed was not a lot of fun while on my back on a creeper. They are torqued + 90 degrees of twist, so had to have both feet braced against jackstands to keep from sliding around. __________________ 2007 3.0si Coupe Dinan Stage I Suspension (Shocks, Struts, Springs), Ground Control Front Camber Plates, Treehouse Racing Front Control Arm Bushings, RTAB Bushing Limiters
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07-03-2014, 08:38 AM	#3
unluky Major 7519 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 04 z4 3.0 Sport & 15 X5 35i XD Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sedalia, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 XDrive 35i [0.50] 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Spo ... [0.00]	My plan was to put the front wheels up on ramps and then jack the side I was working on up slightly and take that wheel off. I have a lip out of my garage and it falls way, so if I leave my rear wheels in the garage and put the ramps on the apron, I get a very stable place to lift it and the lip and falling apron exaggerate the space under the car giving me more room to work. I took the tranny out of my 300 like this, so I should have room to do it, even though the skid plate might be fun to get back in by myself. Worst case, I toss my neighbor a beer and he will help me get the first bolts started! Thanks for the advise. __________________ 2015 X5 XDrive 35i - 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport
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07-08-2014, 02:56 PM	#4
DreamTheater Enlisted Member 2 Rep 46 Posts Drives: E85 Z4 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I did mine about 2 months ago and would definitely recommend having the wheel(s) off the ground, it'll make it much easier.
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07-15-2014, 03:04 PM	#5
unluky Major 7519 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 04 z4 3.0 Sport & 15 X5 35i XD Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sedalia, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 XDrive 35i [0.50] 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Spo ... [0.00]	Thanks for the tips - I got her up in the air and the wheels off and it was a breeze - worked perfect even for replacing the sway bar bushings. __________________ 2015 X5 XDrive 35i - 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport
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08-08-2014, 03:07 AM	#6
donoman Rookie 31 Rep 379 Posts Drives: 03 Z4 2.5i 5MT Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (1)	I had to grind my FCAB's off... they were like melted onto the control arm. Anyone else have this problem? They did not come off with a gear puller... they simply tore. What I was left with was the part of the bushing with a metal tensioning ring... Still, once I surrendered and pulled out the grinder, it was easy going __________________ 2003 Z4 2.5i 2013 FR-S 1990 911 C2 1983 Wife
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08-20-2014, 11:13 PM	#7
unluky Major 7519 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 04 z4 3.0 Sport & 15 X5 35i XD Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sedalia, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 XDrive 35i [0.50] 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Spo ... [0.00]	Nope - mine came right off. 2004 with 70K. Gear puller tugged at them a bit, but then they both popped and came right off. __________________ 2015 X5 XDrive 35i - 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport
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08-23-2014, 11:52 PM	#8
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Just did mine using the Koch Tools kit from BavAuto. Easy-peasy. Mine were pretty loose. Spritzed some Simple Green into them before I started pulling. The first one came off mostly by turning the bolt on the puller by hand. The second one popped off while I was still trying to get the puller situated. The hardest part for me was getting them lined back up to get the bolts through. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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