Turn into a fast corner on an F8X M car and there is a tiny delay between your hands and the front tires. Part of that is rubber. The front tension struts, also called thrust arms, locate the front wheels through soft rubber bushings, and those bushings deflect every time you steer or brake hard.
The Dinan Tension Strut Ball Joint Kit for the BMW F87 M2, F80 M3 and F82/F83 M4 presses out those factory bushings and replaces them with precision ball joints in machined aluminum housings. The front end responds to steering input sooner and more precisely, and brake shimmy is reduced.
Why a Tension Strut Ball Joint Beats a Rubber Bushing
A rubber bushing lets the arm move before the wheel does. A ball joint does not. That is where the sharper steering feel comes from. The usual worry with ball joints on a street car is noise and wear. Dinan answers both: the bearings are nylon lined for quiet operation, and each one is sealed with a rubber boot to keep dirt and road grime out so it does not wear prematurely. You get the precision of a ball joint without the clunks you would expect from one.
Who the Dinan F8X Ball Joint Kit Is For
If you drive an F8X M car hard on canyon roads or track days, or you have already upgraded tires and pads and the front end still feels vague, the tension strut bushings are the next place to look. This kit is a suspension part with no effect on emissions. Dinan part number D280-0017. Sold by AutoTecknic, an authorized Dinan dealer.
What's Included
- Two ball joint and holder assemblies
- Two retaining caps
- Four bearing spacers
- Dinan cap installation tool
- Loctite 609 retaining compound
Key Features
- Replaces the rubber bushings in both front tension struts
- Precision ball joints in machined aluminum housings
- Improves steering response by removing bushing deflection
- Reduces brake shimmy
- Nylon-lined bearings for quiet daily driving
- Rubber boot seals keep out dirt and road grime
- About 2 hours of labor
Vehicle Fitment
Fits the following F8X BMW M models, front suspension:
- BMW M2 / F87 Coupe (2016-2021): M2, M2 Competition
- BMW M3 / F80 Sedan (2015-2018): M3
- BMW M4 / F82 Coupe (2015-2020): M4
- BMW M4 / F83 Convertible (2015-2020): M4 Convertible
G80 M3, G82 M4 and G87 M2 owners need the separate Dinan G8X tension strut ball joint kit.
Installation Notes
This is not a bolt-on. The factory rubber bushing has to be pressed out of each tension strut, so you need a press and a vise, or a shop that has them. Budget about 2 hours. We recommend an alignment check afterward.
- Remove both front tension struts following the BMW procedure.
- Press out the factory rubber bushing and clean the bore with soap and a scotch-brite pad until dry.
- Apply Loctite 609 to the carrier bore and slide the Dinan carrier into the arm with a turning motion.
- Install the ball joint holder assembly and retaining cap, and torque the cap to 110 ft-lbs with the supplied Dinan tool.
- Fit the bearing spacers and reinstall the arms with the original bolts and nuts, torqued to BMW specification.
