Author Topic: Rear Suspension Bushing Advice (Read 5456 times)

sqlpython · « **on:** May 30, 2011, 11:36:12 PM »

I am about to order Bushings for the the Rear Suspension...
I have already replaced the Rear Shocks w/ KYB gas and Upper R. Shock Mounts
I will replace the The front Struts and Tower Bearings with KYB Gr2 before the rear Bushings
Having done shocks on many cars over the years this is not a big deal. However Ball joints and bushings I have only replaced very infrequently and at the point of failure only. I want to get ahead of this with my E36 as the suspension is such an important ingredient in this vehicle's driving pleasure.

My questions are......
1. Bavarian Auto has the the Harder Rubber instead of OEM.... anyone use these?
........I have tried Urethane previous and too hard for my tastes
2. As Bushings are cheap while I replace that which I see visually Cracked which others should I commonly look to replace.. Control Arm/ Rear Trailing/ Bushings ??

I want to do this once as the Auto is at 107k now and hopefully not have to look at the suspension for a least the Next 50k..
Appreciate others experiences and advice.. Pitfalls and Successes.. Dos and Don'ts..
as well as I guess what I am asking is Overlooked items..

Thanks in advance.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2011, 07:19:57 AM »

I have no idea regarding the rear suspension; never did an e36. I'd recommend BMW OEM, they're a good compromise. I've heard some complaints about urethane...seems like overkill for the street; the BMW parts are pretty decent. The e36's I've driven had a dramatic difference in rear suspension feel, so I'd guess those parts are very important.

I hear you about the 50k too...I always put off suspension or exhaust work.

Post some pics!

sqlpython · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2011, 11:15:01 AM »

Not sure if you are asking for pics of the Rear suspension or the car in the present state?

Here are the current pics... you can see that I haven't done a thing to clean the engine bay Yet..

keflaman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:07:04 PM »

I'm interested in hearing of others experience with aftermarket bushings. I always put poly bushings in everything I bought because they were trashed and the poly bushings "tightened" everything up.

When I bought my last car I knew I wouldn't be owning it for more than two years, so I went OEM except for sway bars. I can tell you I was perfectly happy with the OEM bushings as far as handling and ride quality goes. I'll be going with OEM with the "new" car unless someone tells us the newer materials they are using in aftermarket bushings offer better handling without much harshness.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2011, 03:57:10 PM »

I always go for beefed-up stock rubber bushings, when available. I ran poly in E30s for 5-6 years, and it really was terrible on the highway. I think a lot of people, like me, ran poly to save $$$ since stock rubber ones need to be pressed in & that usually means paying a shop. When the poly went in, I thought "wow this thing handles amazing! poly = win!" It turned out that the old parts were rotten though, so I went back to stock after many years. Anyway, if you can find stock bushings that are solid rubber rather than webbed, go for them. They will last longer and offer marginal improvements to handling. Otherwise, stock parts are just fine. Some E36 M3 bushings are solid rather than webbed, but also more expensive too.

sqlpython · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:26:00 AM »

Quote

I can tell you I was perfectly happy with the OEM bushings as far as handling and ride quality goes.

Sure, I agree. Hardly, anyone complains about BMW suspension parts being inadequate. Having a Harder Rubber bushing though should yield a bit more stiffness w/o that tooth-filling jarring ride of Urethane bushings.
I went Urethane on a Toyota once. Yeah, it was a handling improvement but the tradeoff........ Unless you are running a slalom daily the ride was annoying.
Plus the improvement is not LARGE... maybe 10% in my estimate.

So, I am am considering the Harder Rubber Compound as per bmwman91..
I plan on driving this 93 E36 a few years between Apr and Nov... and it only has original 107k on it...

bmwman91 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2011, 12:43:11 PM »

Which "harder" stock bushings are you looking at BTW? I don't think I have ever seen ones with a different rubber compound, just MORE rubber instead of webbed bushings.

sqlpython · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2011, 02:50:58 PM »

I am meaning the stock M3 bushings......
As in Bavarian Parts #33 32 2 228 153
Showing products for 1993 318i.

If your car is feeling "loose" going around corners or on acceleration, you may need to replace these bushings. These are the stock trailing arm bushings for the M3 -- that are also an upgrade for all non-M 3 series that hold up better than the original bushings. Sold individually. Each car requires 2. Please note: Upgrade to the M3 bushing!

sqlpython · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2011, 03:09:29 PM »

Pelican parts also

33-32-6-770-817-M9

Trailing Arm Rubber Mounting Bushing (2 per car, sold individually), E36 M3 B32 (1996-1999)
Brand: Genuine BMW

monko141 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2011, 07:45:26 PM »

Here are the pieces I used for the rear suspension in my e36. http://store.bimmerworld.com/adjustable-steel-rear-lower-control-arms---e36e46z4-p519.aspx They come with the inner bushings so you only have to replace the outer bushings with m3 ones.
http://store.nexternal.com/ireland/rear-trailing-arm-bushing-reinforcement---e36e46-p581.aspx These have a little poly squeak at low speed but they really make a huge difference stopping the side to side movement of the trailing arms without the harshness of a solid poly bushing.
http://store.nexternal.com/ireland/rear-shock-mounts---billet-aluminum---pair-p470.aspx These are the ones I used but they are currently on backorder. You could go with Ground Controls, Rogue Engineerings or any others besides the stock replacements.
All of the other bushings related to the rear suspension were in great shape when I replace these components.

sqlpython · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2011, 01:28:11 AM »

Thanks monko..Huge Help!!

When the rear shocks were replaced the mounts were replaced at that time.

Brian318is · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2011, 02:17:33 PM »

I went with powerflex RTAB and subframe bushings in the rear and I don't regret it at all. Aside from being a bit pricey, they do not ride much stiffer than OEM and my NVH actually went down significantly (however, my old bushings were completely useless.)

I would highly suggest powerflex bushings to anyone looking to replace OEM bushings.