BMW E46 Z4 Lower Control Arm Kit with Bushes - Level 2 Refresher Kit

BMW E46 / Z4 10-Piece Front-End Refresher Kit

If your BMW has reached the point where the front end feels loose, knocks over bumps, wanders on the highway or no longer has that precise BMW steering feel, replacing one worn component at a time can become an expensive game of suspension whack-a-mole.

CAKT6507 Level 2 goes much further than a basic control-arm repair. It refreshes the major lower suspension, steering linkage and stabiliser-link wear components across both sides of the front axle.

CAKT6507 Level 2 Kit Includes

• 1 x Left Front Lower Control Arm
• 1 x Right Front Lower Control Arm
• 2 x Front Control Arm Bush Assemblies
• 2 x Outer Tie Rod Ends
• 2 x Rack Ends / Inner Tie Rods
• 2 x Front Stabiliser Links
• Complete 10-Piece Level 2 Front-End Refresher Kit

Please note: Mounting bolts are not included.

Why Level 2 Can Make More Sense Than Replacing One Part

If only one component has been confirmed worn and everything else is healthy, replace only what is required.

But if inspection finds play across the control arms, steering joints and stabiliser links, repairing the complete worn system together can avoid repeated stripping, repeated diagnosis and potentially another wheel alignment a few months later.

• Steering feels vague compared with how the BMW used to drive
• Steering-wheel shimmy during normal driving or braking
• Knocking or clunking over bumps and rough surfaces
• Wandering or tramlining on uneven roads
• Constant steering correction required at highway speeds
• Front end feels unstable during braking
• Light rattling over small bumps from worn stabiliser-link joints
• Play in the steering from worn inner or outer tie-rod joints
• Irregular front tyre wear associated with worn suspension or steering components

Do not diagnose by symptom alone. Brake discs, tyres, wheel balance, wheel bearings, steering-rack faults and shock absorbers can produce overlapping symptoms. The vehicle should be inspected by a competent technician before ordering parts.

One reason Level 2 is so logical: if the inner and outer steering joints are already worn, replacing them while the front suspension is being refreshed means the steering system can be repaired before the final wheel alignment is carried out.

OCP Recommendation: If the front tyres are already wearing irregularly, repair the worn suspension and steering components before fitting new tyres, then have the vehicle professionally aligned.

Before Checkout, Have Your Front Shocks & Mountings Inspected

CAKT6507 refreshes a large part of the E46 front suspension and steering system, but it does not include the front shock absorbers / struts or their upper mountings.

An E46 old enough to require control arms, bushes and steering joints may also have ageing dampers, upper strut mounts, bump stops and dust covers.

Ask OCP for front shocks and shock mountings for your specific E46 / Z4 before completing the order.

• Excessive bouncing after bumps
• Excessive nose dive during braking
• Floaty or poorly controlled body movement
• Oil leakage from the shock / strut body
• Cupped or scalloped tyre wear
• Knocking from an upper strut mounting
• Visible deterioration of bump stops or dust covers

• Front Shock Absorbers / Struts
  Check damping performance and inspect the strut bodies for leakage.
• Front Shock / Strut Mountings & Bearings
  Check for deterioration, movement or noise from the upper mount.
• Front Bump Stops & Dust Covers
  Sensible replacement items if the front struts are being dismantled.
• Front Stabiliser Bar Bushes
  CAKT6507 includes the stabiliser links but not the bushes that mount the anti-roll bar to the vehicle. Inspect these for age, cracking and movement.
• Steering Rack Boots
  Inspect for cracking or damage while replacing the inner rack ends and check for evidence of steering rack leakage inside the boots.
• Front Wheel Bearings
  Check for noise or play rather than replacing them unnecessarily.
• Front Tyres
  Look for inner-edge wear, cupping, feathering or other abnormal tread patterns.
• Wheel Alignment
  Schedule a professional alignment after the repair has been completed.

Component	CAKT6506 Level 1	CAKT6507 Level 2
Front Lower Control Arms	2	2
Control Arm Bush Assemblies	2	2
Outer Tie Rod Ends	Not Included	2
Rack Ends / Inner Tie Rods	Not Included	2
Front Stabiliser Links	Not Included	2
Total Pieces	4	10

Simple OCP rule:
Only the control arms and bushes are worn? Choose CAKT6506 Level 1.
Control arms plus steering or stabiliser-link wear? Choose CAKT6507 Level 2.

Suspension and steering components are safety-critical parts and should be installed by a competent technician using the correct BMW repair procedures and tightening specifications.

A professional wheel alignment is required after inner/outer tie-rod and front suspension replacement.

What makes CAKT6507 a Level 2 kit?

Level 2 includes the same control arms and control arm bushes as CAKT6506 Level 1, but adds the inner rack ends, outer tie-rod ends and front stabiliser links for a broader steering and suspension refresh.

Does this kit include separate ball joints?

The required ball joints form part of the complete control-arm assemblies and are therefore not counted as separate pieces in this 10-piece kit.

Can worn E46 control arm bushes cause braking shimmy?

Excessive movement in the front control arm bushes can contribute to steering-wheel shudder or instability under braking. Brake discs, tyres, wheels and other suspension components can produce similar symptoms, so diagnosis is important.

Can worn steering joints make the steering feel loose?

Yes. Play in the inner rack ends or outer tie-rod ends can introduce unwanted movement between the steering rack and front wheels, contributing to vague or imprecise steering.

Does Level 2 include shocks?

No. Front shocks / struts and upper mountings are not included. Because these components are also common ageing items on older E46 vehicles, OCP recommends having them inspected while planning a Level 2 repair.

Should I replace the front stabiliser-bar bushes too?

Only if inspection shows deterioration or excessive movement. CAKT6507 includes the stabiliser links, but the anti-roll-bar mounting bushes are separate components.

Should shocks and mountings be replaced at the same time?

Not automatically. If the dampers are leaking, poorly controlling suspension movement or the upper mountings are worn, however, doing them during the same front-end overhaul can avoid repeating labour later.

Do I need wheel alignment after fitting CAKT6507?

Yes. A professional wheel alignment should be performed once the suspension and steering work is complete.

Give the E46 Front End the Refresh It Actually Needs

CAKT6507 brings together the control arms, control arm bushes, inner rack ends, outer tie-rod ends and stabiliser links in one carefully structured 10-piece Level 2 repair kit.

The goal is simple: remove wear where it exists, restore accurate front-wheel control and give the alignment technician a solid mechanical foundation to work from.

Before checkout, ask OCP about matching front shocks, shock mountings, bump stops, dust covers and stabiliser-bar bushes if your mechanic has identified additional wear.