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318i front control arm bushes

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:38 pm
by GAZZA3354
Hiya, i'm going to replace my control arms and bushes, my haines manual says i have to put the bush on to the control arm with BMW special lube, can anybody tell me if i can use anything else please?.

Re: 318i front control arm bushes

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:40 pm
by bigwinn
Ant told me to use 50% water 50% washing up liquid

Then chuck a bucket of boiling water on it with the weight of the car on it.

Re: 318i front control arm bushes

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:43 pm
by GAZZA3354
Many thanks

Re: 318i front control arm bushes

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:20 pm
by Brianmoooore
It's essential that when the car is in use, the bush does not turn on the pin. The suspension movement is entirely enabled by flexing of the rubber, not by it moving on the pin.
For this reason, the lubricant must be a temporary and cease to be a lubricant before the car is used. Push the bush onto the pin, and get the car back down on its wheels before the lubricant dries, so that the bush can align itself, and not twist the rubber at normal ride height.
50:50 water and washing up liquid meets this requirement nicely, as suggested above.

Re: 318i front control arm bushes

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:34 am
by GAZZA3354
Great, thanks for the info.