The Cart Before the Horse: Spec 3 Build

[Senor_Taylor]

Update on the car. It passed emissions, but failed safety to lower ball joints and an airbag light, which I never saw come on.

That brings me to my next question: What things can I get away without replacing in the suspension, and what things are imperative that I replace to avoid a fiery death?

Can wait:
RTABS
Shocks
Springs
Sway bar bushings

Replace immediately?:
Control Arm bushings
Tie Rods (inner and outer)
Ball joints? E36s have a ball joint rear exactly? One on the front control arm and one on the rear trailing arm?


So then, if I'm replacing Control arm bushings and Ball joints, I should just go ahead and install the E36 m3 Front control arms that is required by Spec 3 right? How do I get those? Buy them new? They're crazy expensive! I know E30 control arms are not serviceable so you need a new one when the ball joint fails. Am I missing anything that NEEDS to be replace before doing DE?

Can I get away without an oil pan baffle for now? Oil pump nut? Do I need reinforce sway bar mounts and such? I don't care about what's going to help me go faster just yet. I just want to get out there and make sure I don't break the car, myself, or both at once.