Do you need an alignment after replacing lower control arms

Replacing both control arms and bushings. Do I need alignment after?

Absolutely. I just did mine and my alignment was totally messed up afterward

Replacing both control arms and bushings. Do I need alignment after?

I recently changed mine. If I recall from my research here it is not always that you will need alignment after changing them. However I went ahead and got it done since I also installed all new tires etc.

It is recommended. (as with a lot of things on BMW)

What about after changing just the bushings?

Absolutely. I just did mine and my alignment was totally messed up afterward

Absolutely not. Replacing the control arms will NOT affect the alignment. The only reason you would need an alignment from replacing worn control arms and/or bushings is if you had an alignment done with very worn parts.

However, an alignment is a maintenance item often overlooked or blown off. The cost of an alignment, just for easing your mind, will pay for itself in the long run. Replacing just one worn tire from a misaligned vehicle will easily cost double of the out the door cost of an alignment will cost you.

When I had mine replaced, the steering wheel was off center but no pull was detected. They did an alignment because of my concern and the front toe was slightly (.07) off. Tech said that most times nothing changes, but sometimes new parts can cause some very minor movement due to manufacturing variances. Or the alignment was off due to worn parts and the new ones caused a need to bring things back to spec. Either way, replacing CAs and CABs should have little if any effect on an already good alignment.

My alignment was done with CA's and CAB's in good shape. When I recently changed CA's from Lemforder (left) and Febi (right) to Meyle, my alignment drastically changed. Both of my front wheels were toed out and my steering wheel was off center

Absolutely not. Replacing the control arms will NOT affect the alignment. The only reason you would need an alignment from replacing worn control arms and/or bushings is if you had an alignment done with very worn parts.

Not necessarily true.

When you consider the amount of banging on a pickle-fork often required to free up ball joints and so on required by this repair, the likelihood that you'll knock something out of alignment seems pretty high. I'd suggest anytime you do major front end work you include an alignment afterward.

I replaced control arm bushings and my alignment was messed up...Alignment was mandatory

dont forget...you might need to ask them to re-calibrate your steering angle sensor too if your steering wheel is off-centered...which might cause the dsc/abs/brake like to be on (yellow).

it happened to me, so just to give a friendly reminder here.
TL

I'll be checking by steering column rubber guibo too since the steering wheel still has some play after the replacement LCABs

Not necessarily true.

When you consider the amount of banging on a pickle-fork often required to free up ball joints and so on required by this repair, the likelihood that you'll knock something out of alignment seems pretty high. I'd suggest anytime you do major front end work you include an alignment afterward.

You are one of the guys on the board that believes everything you read. Now all you are going to do by making stupid statements like this......is to make everyone who is as gullible as you believe they need an alignment after getting a window regulator replaced.

For one........if you are replacing a control arm, the ball joints are part of the arm. You bring me an E46......I'll knock the old control arm out with a bulldozer. Its not going to affect the alignment in any way, shape, or form. The adjustments for an E46 are in the shock tower and with the tie-rod ends. The control arms just hold the front end together and keep the geometry correct during vehicle operation.

To make it clear......you do NOT need an alignment after front lower control arms and/or bushings. The only reason you would HAVE to do an alignment would be if for some reason.....you had an alignment done with worn components.

Changing arms/bushings can absolutely change the alignment! Especially toe! This is clear from the comments about the steering wheel moving off center. If an alignment is not done after changing these pats, just when should it be done, never? Tires are too expensive to risk destroying them! Anyone who would advise not getting an alignment is full off base.

You are one of the guys on the board that believes everything you read. Now all you are going to do by making stupid statements like this......is to make everyone who is as gullible as you believe they need an alignment after getting a window regulator replaced.

For one........if you are replacing a control arm, the ball joints are part of the arm. You bring me an E46......I'll knock the old control arm out with a bulldozer. Its not going to affect the alignment in any way, shape, or form. The adjustments for an E46 are in the shock tower and with the tie-rod ends. The control arms just hold the front end together and keep the geometry correct during vehicle operation.

To make it clear......you do NOT need an alignment after front lower control arms and/or bushings. The only reason you would HAVE to do an alignment would be if for some reason.....you had an alignment done with worn components.

Gee, I wonder what it must be like to know everything with such certainty and clarity. Kinda reminds me of Don Rumsfeld, another know-it-all who consistently got it wrong, but will go to his grave convinced he was right.

i just replaced my control arms and bushing and the alignment is slightly off center. Going for alignment this weekend.

Yes, you NEED an alignment. I ate through $500 worth of tires in 2 weeks because I didn't get an alignment after my CA install.

its true! u dont need an alignment if u replace d fcab UNLESS theres more worn parts after u replaced d fcabs, my friend is a master tech at bmw for 10yrs and for marketing purposes they recommend alignment but in reality u dont except (ill b repeating my self 2x) u have other worn parts thats related to the suspension geometry or alignment of d car. we just replaced my fcabs with uuc fcabs and handles like a dream, no need for alignment coz everythings in good condition except my worn fcabs w/c gives me a bad understeer, bumpsteer and steering jerks during braking. Do an alignemnt if ur replacing suspension parts like springs or coilovers, rcabs, arms or camber plates, also check for subframe mounts and bolts for torque settings coz they loosen up for some reason... My experience: after replacing my fcabs w/ uuc, i started hearing creeking or clunking noise in my suspension but i spent d whole day figuring it out then started torquing each bolts under d front of d car and found subframe and steering rack bolts are not properly tight. After triple checking, put it all together and test drove my car and everythings secured and handles very well with no noise or vibration...