M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: ScreamerBeemer on December 12, 2006, 12:20:06 PM
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I've looked lots of different place for some new rear control arm bushings. I installed new offset front control arm bushings, new control arms, and the bilstien kit. Love the ride, but it feels loose in the tail end. I'm eventually going to replace the subframe bushings, trailing arm bushings, sway bar bushings and end-links, and I haven't found anyone with rear control arm bushings. I'm kicking around the idea of installing urethane, not sure if I want squeaking though.
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the trailing arm bushings are the rear control arm bushings
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Oh that makes that easy. Potato, tater; same difference?
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Ireland engineering sells urethane rear bushings--both subframe and trailing arm.
http://www.bmw2002.com/
Expect the ride quality to diminish somewhat if you decide to go this route.
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I've got em (powerflex). Subframe and trailing arm, very easy to install, and not that badly priced. Haven't driven the car with it thou.
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Ireland engineering sells urethane rear bushings--both subframe and trailing arm.
http://www.bmw2002.com/
Expect the ride quality to diminish somewhat if you decide to go this route.
Have these in my car and the ride is a little harsh, but the NVH is not too bad as my car is my dd. I also have the IE springs, but looking for something a little stiffer.
Keep in mind my idea of NVH may not be the same as yours.
If a Lexus LS460 has 0 NVH and the worst is a 10, my car is around an 8 IMHO!
However, it handles like it's on rails!
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i don't understand why everyone whines about the ride of urethane bushings. It's not like that bushing makes the whole difference in how you car goes over a bump. I have them, i have stiff springs, and all urethane bushings and my car rides great.
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i don't understand why everyone whines about the ride of urethane bushings. It's not like that bushing makes the whole difference in how you car goes over a bump. I have them, i have stiff springs, and all urethane bushings and my car rides great.
Ditto!
That's why Toyota makes the Lexus...to glide over pot holes and bumps and move like a ship on the ocean! :D
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From what I found researching these bushings the IE ones fit terrible. Ive heard the powerflex or bmp ones are the only way to go.
(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5582/jkglfhdlkhgkd014dt4.th.jpg) (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jkglfhdlkhgkd014dt4.jpg)
Showing off my fresh bushings and fancy painted bits.:D
Hunter
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the IE ones fit great when i put them in. i think your thinking about the trailing arm ones were rumored to not fit great from what i heard, but the redesigned them a while back.
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From what I found researching these bushings the IE ones fit terrible. Ive heard the powerflex or bmp ones are the only way to go.
(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5582/jkglfhdlkhgkd014dt4.th.jpg) (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jkglfhdlkhgkd014dt4.jpg)
Showing off my fresh bushings and fancy painted bits.:D
Hunter
how much of a pain in the ass was it to get your sub-frame down/
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Way easier than expected. I read so many horror stories I was totally prepared for it to suck. The old bushings came out in one peice, I didnt have to drive the studs into the car. I was lucky I guess. The parking brakes were the worst part of the whole job. Not to brag but the underside of my car is in excellent shape, no rust at all hardly any corrosion on anything and its always been a Mid Adlantic car(usually rusty).
Id think it was worth it to do those bushings mainly because I could paint and clean everything really well(my bushings were not worn hardly at all even at 120k). Get it done and over with and not have to worry about it.
Its easiest with 3 people too. One running the jack and one person on each side to pry and pull down on the subframe and arms.
Have Fun
Hunter
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In my experience both the old and new IE bushings fit like shit, along with all of IE's products. I thought i messed up my subframe when installed the camber correction but the akgs fit oh so good
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I disagree. I think that Urethane bushings are overkill for most cars that see primarily street duty. Just new stock bushings should provide worlds of improvement over the 15 year old worn out units in there now.
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I disagree. I think that Urethane bushings are overkill for most cars that see primarily street duty. Just new stock bushings should provide worlds of improvement over the 15 year old worn out units in there now.
yup i feel the same way, i already have stock subframe bushings waiting for install.
I am however changing the trailing arm bushings to polyurethane...
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As shown on the image, but boy those trailing arm bushes, what a pain to install!! I used to powerflex ones. Old bushes came out all in 1 piece, no sweat, but i used a press.
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one of the main reasons for my putting urethane ones in was because it made the install so much easier. I found that my urethane bushings fit quite nice actually, and i had no problems with them... perhaps i was lucky?
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Are those 2 or 3 piece kits? The powerflex ones are 3 piece, 2 polysomethingsomething and a metal rod. WHen inserting the rod (huhu) one side of the bushes slides out slightly, so a whole bunch of adapter pieces later it was done..ARe there are no instrucions to be found, not even on their website www.powerflex.co.uk (http://www.powerflex.co.uk) , hope to find out soon how they will handle
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Are those 2 or 3 piece kits? The powerflex ones are 3 piece, 2 polysomethingsomething and a metal rod. WHen inserting the rod (huhu) one side of the bushes slides out slightly, so a whole bunch of adapter pieces later it was done..ARe there are no instrucions to be found, not even on their website www.powerflex.co.uk (http://www.powerflex.co.uk) , hope to find out soon how they will handle
mine had a polyurethane side with a metal rod in it, and another polyurethane side that the metal rod gently slides into....;)
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From what I found researching these bushings the IE ones fit terrible. Ive heard the powerflex or bmp ones are the only way to go.
Hunter
I put a set of the IE green urethane and urethane trailing arm bushings in my car this summer. I had no problem with any of them fitting.
The rear of the car will be much stiffer than it is now, the ride on normal roads isn't bad, but going over train tracks is pretty horrible imho.
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Old bushes came out all in 1 piece, no sweat, but i used a press.
Haha, what did you expect from using a press? :D
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yeah i know, but i read so many horror stories