[pauli18c]

Originally Posted by SuperLomi

Millway now offers pre/installed option for both Thrust and LCA.

Also, due to the euro tanking, they are significantly cheaper than VAC currently if you’re excluded from VAT (US buyers).

$39?

[SuperLomi]

Originally Posted by pauli18c

$39?

Better deal for LCA, but still $39 is $39. Also not sure what's up with the shipping from VAC. They charge for LCA, but not UCA.

For pre-installed parts shipped to me:

For LCA:
Millway: $442.55
VAC: $585.52

For UCA:
Millway: $511.03
VAC: $549.95 (for whatever reason VAC's site doesn't charge shipping for the UCA, but does for the LCA)

[alohasurftoad]

if you get VAC, ordering from Kies is better

johnung hooked me up with Bryan@KiesMotorsports

[paimon.soror]

Originally Posted by SuperLomi

Better deal for LCA, but still $39 is $39. Also not sure what's up with the shipping from VAC. They charge for LCA, but not UCA.

For pre-installed parts shipped to me:

For LCA:
Millway: $442.55
VAC: $585.52

For UCA:
Millway: $511.03
VAC: $549.95 (for whatever reason VAC's site doesn't charge shipping for the UCA, but does for the LCA)

Strange, Millway only shows 2wd assemblies using standard bushings. Can you confirm they have 4wd monoballs?

Anyone know which is "better" - my head says Millway because of some of their other products ive seen reviewed.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

Strange, Millway only shows 2wd assemblies using standard bushings. Can you confirm they have 4wd monoballs?

Anyone know which is "better" - my head says Millway because of some of their other products ive seen reviewed.

Kies Motorsports ships for free in US 48 states.

I only have first hand experience with VAC but they have been absolutely perfect in every way. Zero downside.

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

Anyone know which is "better" - my head says Millway because of some of their other products ive seen reviewed.

millway has a quality appearance and i don't recall reading anything negative about them, so i'm sure it's a great product and they've recently begun to offer them pre-installed in oem arms.

i can only comment what i have, which is VAC. at the time, VAC was the only ones offering it pre-installed in OEM arms with new ball joints and I wanted it "plug and play". johnung advised me that he had been to the VAC factory and watched the "how it's made". i know johnung is very meticulous with everything he purchases and does and we sort of think alike, so i trusted his recommendation about getting VAC, without doubt. i also appreciate and support a quality product made in the USA, which is rare for me, nowadays.

there are also Dinan, Turner, and other brands of monoball options but VAC or Millway is what i'd get personally. of course i am biased to VAC since i have it. i recommended the millway to FastFrog(in France) because it would be easier to get and cost less for shipping.
.

[paimon.soror]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

millway has a quality appearance and i don't recall reading anything negative about them, so i'm sure it's a great product and they've recently begun to offer them pre-installed in oem arms.

i can only comment what i have, which is VAC. at the time, VAC was the only ones offering it pre-installed in OEM arms with new ball joints and I wanted it "plug and play". johnung advised me that he had been to the VAC factory and watched the "how it's made". i know johnung is very meticulous with everything he purchases and does and we sort of think alike, so i trusted his recommendation about getting VAC, without doubt. i also appreciate and support a quality product made in the USA, which is rare for me, nowadays.

there are also Dinan, Turner, and other brands of monoball options but VAC or Millway is what i'd get personally. of course i am biased to VAC since i have it. i recommended the millway to FastFrog(in France) because it would be easier to get and cost less for shipping.
.

Great info, thanks for the tips. I have been eyeing VAC as well just due to its availability.

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by johnung

That's the beauty of the VAC monoball control arms. VAC installs their monoball bushings in brand new stock control arms, typically Lemforder or TRW. So they install simply and don't change the alignment specs at all. All four probably take 2-3 hours.

Thanks. I understand it's the same geometry. I'm curious, however, if I should take advantage of this install job to optimize my geometry? Again, I'm lowered on xDrive, so I'm non-OEM (and likely suboptimal) in my current arrangement. I don't experience any major bump steer. However, do you have any thoughts about adding SPL adjustable tie rod ends (https://www.splparts.com/products/bm...djustable.html) at the same time as the VAC monoball arms, for this reason?

[johnung]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Thanks. I understand it's the same geometry. I'm curious, however, if I should take advantage of this install job to optimize my geometry? Again, I'm lowered on xDrive, so I'm non-OEM (and likely suboptimal) in my current arrangement. I don't experience any major bump steer. However, do you have any thoughts about adding SPL adjustable tie rod ends (https://www.splparts.com/products/bmw-e9x-e8x-f2x-f3x-f8x-tie-rod-ends-bumpsteer-adjustable.html) at the same time as the VAC monoball arms, for this reason?

Actually I have been pondering/planning a suspension refresh/upgrade on my F30 335ix so I've already done my research on end links.

When I go to do other suspension work, I'm eventually going to install the KC Design end links from Taiwan. High quality, nice design, reasonable cost and they have dust boots to keep the dirt from getting in and destroying it. SPL does not.

INSTALLATION VIDEO FROM FaRKle!

PRODUCT LINK:
https://www.tw-kcdesign.com/products_detail/265

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by johnung

When I go to do other suspension work, I'm eventually going to install the KC Design end links from Taiwan...

Thanks for sharing, and reminding me about KC Design. It doesn't appear they offer adjustable tie rods on their website for the F30. Again, I'm not sure if I really need them for my setup.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Thanks for sharing, and reminding me about KC Design. It doesn't appear they offer adjustable tie rods on their website for the F30. Again, I'm not sure if I really need them for my setup.

Adjustable KCDesign end links- product link and video were in my last post. They are in the sway bar category on their website. Gotta drill down

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by johnung

Adjustable KCDesign end links- product link and video were in my last post. They are in the sway bar category on their website. Gotta drill down

Those are sway bar end links. I'm looking for tie bar end links - see the link I posted above.


Edit:

Here's a good video posted by kern417, where he installs the SPL tie rod end links: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1711839. At 14:00 is where is begins to describe the geometry concern I have expressed, and the product install.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Those are sway bar end links. I'm looking for tie bar end links - see the link I posted above.


Edit:

Here's a good video posted by kern417, where he installs the SPL tie rod end links: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1711839. At 14:00 is where is begins to describe the geometry concern I have expressed, and the product install.

Thanks for the clarification and link.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Watsey

That's not how I'd view things.

In my opinion, in terms of increased NVH :

OEM
Poly (street compound, i.e. 80-90 duro )
Monoballs

I just did UCA and LCA VAC Monoballs 2 months ago and I've got enough miles on the new setup to say without a doubt that VAC Monoballs have a negligible increase in NVH over OEM. It is an absolute non issue with VAC monoballs.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by sdbwisc

I did the strut bar brace, made a big difference. Even the GF noticed and she's not a car person lol. I plan on doing the VAC control arms next. Start out small.

Question: Can you feel the difference in day-to-day driving or only when you are pushing it hard?

[jamborees]

Just fitted the F80 M3 lower arms and tension struts. Fitted the TS's with Millway Monoballs with the F30 spacers.

The car is dramatically transformed. The deadzone in the initial stages of the steering input is gone and it finally goes exactly where you ask it to! A well worthwhile mod for sure!

Obviously with this one bear in mind that if you use the F80 LCA/TS combo it'll shift your wheels forward in the arch increasing the castor.

[sdbwisc]

Originally Posted by johnung

Kies Motorsports ships for free in US 48 states.

I only have first hand experience with VAC but they have been absolutely perfect in every way. Zero downside.

I order my vac control arms yesterday. Can't wait to get them installed.

[sdbwisc]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Question: Can you feel the difference in day-to-day driving or only when you are pushing it hard?

You can feel it with every day driving too. Steering is tighter and less sloppy. My upper control arms are shot, so it should make a big difference when I install those too.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by jamborees

Just fitted the F80 M3 lower arms and tension struts. Fitted the TS's with Millway Monoballs with the F30 spacers.

The car is dramatically transformed. The deadzone in the initial stages of the steering input is gone and it finally goes exactly where you ask it to! A well worthwhile mod for sure!

Obviously with this one bear in mind that if you use the F80 LCA/TS combo it'll shift your wheels forward in the arch increasing the castor.

Yes, and there's a greatly increased chance of the front tyres rubbing on the arch liners if the car is lowered and/or has spacers.

I have both and, on top of the incurable negative camber (-2.5 deg, even with my Millway camber plates set at full positive), had to remove the F8 arms because of rubbing.

[paimon.soror]

Double checking - UCA's on xdrive require removal/replacement of the axle bolt right?

[johnung]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

Double checking - UCA's on xdrive require removal/replacement of the axle bolt right?

My memory is fuzzy, but I know that to remove the Upper Control Arm, it's best to remove the bolt holding the big cylindrical inner bushing first and move that end of the control arm out of its perch. Whether that provides enough clearance to remove the ball joint near the wheel hub, and pull out the UCA- I just don't remember.

This video may be helpful. It shows removing the center bolt...

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by sdbwisc

You can feel it with every day driving too. Steering is tighter and less sloppy. My upper control arms are shot, so it should make a big difference when I install those too.

Thanks for the info.

On johnung's advice, I already switched to VAC monoballs for UCA and LCA. Go for it! You will be amazed.

It's a no brainer if your control arm bushings are shot anyway.