E30 Zone

I'm just removing my rear subframe and have everything disconnected, but the bushes on the subframe just don't want to lower. I've tried some leverage between them and the chassis. I thought they would just come free or does the top of the metal rods inside the bushes push up into the chassis?

There is an alloy bush inside the rubber bit,this tends to corrode to the mounting pin,you have belted the mounting pin upwards into the car interior and recovered it,hav'nt you?

I found an old half inch drive T bar which fitted into the centre (metal sleeve) of the bush and gave it a hammering backwards and forwards. It seems some just pull off with no drama, some are corroded on like a ****. Mine was the latter.

Cheers guys. Just done that and it's worked itself free. Next question. Can I somehow disconnect the handbrake cables with having to remove the wheel hubs? I'll be taking them off at the same time I remove the driveshafts, once the subframe is away from the car .

Handbrake cable attaches within the brake drum via a cunning cam type lever and a roll pin.Be aware that the roll pin can and will drop out and roll to the darkest area of your workplace and sit there laughing whilst you search for it.
Capture the little bugger and keep it safe for re-building.

Dismantled the brake shoes and got to the pins. They look stubborn to remove...

Cable ferrules will have rusted to the back plates as well!

May be just as easy to cut the cables and fit nice new ones.

Got the brackets off those pins by prising them apart. I was about to ask about the cable sheath into the back of the trailing arms. Are they threaded/screwed in? They're certainly rusted. May do what you say and cut the cables.

Craggy73 wrote:Got the brackets off those pins by prising them apart. I was about to ask about the cable sheath into the back of the trailing arms. Are they threaded/screwed in? They're certainly rusted. May do what you say and cut the cables.

They are just a push fit,aided by rust!

The 'other' end,where the cable vanishes into the car interior will be just as badly rusted,start now by using plenty of WD40 or similar,then twist the cable at the ferrule until the thing gives in.Be aware that the cable tubes are difficult to replace/repair,the aim is to preserve them and extract the cable.

I'll keep that in mind for next time. Just got the fuel tank off and stripping it down. Thanks for your guidance!