Control Arm Bushes

[k130]

I've decided to take on a few jobs this weekend...

Who knows whether the GSF front control arms and rubber mounting bushes are as good as the BMW dealer ones are?

[Templ8e30]

I have both fitted to my e30 and they're fine.

I'd get the more expensive of the 2 types of control arm that they sell, the cheaper one (Ԛ£30 ish) has cack balljoints and won't last long. The Ԛ£50 ish control arm is made by Febi Bilstein and is top quality.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Andy325i]

If you drive the car at all enthusiastically then consider fitting Powerflex bushes, as these will last a lot longer, without decreasing the ride quality.

The first time I replaced mine with standard ones. 3 months later they were absolutly knackered!!!!

3 years on and the powerflex are as good as new

From memory they are less that Ԛ£40 for the pair

Andy

[k130]

Thanks for the help guys, I thought the cheapo arms sounded dodgy anyway so ill go for the Ԛ£50 ones.

I think Ill forego the powerflex bushes in favour of a decent ride quality... for now at least!

[Andy325i]

As I said, ride quality is unaffected (apart from when you throw it into a corner you have a chance of it coming out facing the right way)

Andy

[k130]

maybe i will, how easy are they to fit?

[GDBN]

Easy to fit and having fitted mine I would not go back to the standard bush for any money. Well worth the money and if you buy from the zone shop you may still get a pre christmas discount on them.
2 weeks later and I still smile turning into a corner ......
Just make sure you buy the eccentric ones not concentric.
G

[Andy325i]

The powerflex ones fly in. The OE ones are 10 times harder to fit

How do you lock the eccentric bushes in the right place mate?

Do you have any pics?

Andy

[JimmyC]

The powerflex ones fly in. The OE ones are 10 times harder to fit

How do you lock the eccentric bushes in the right place mate?

Do you have any pics?

Andy

What do you mean lock in the right place?

You can only fit them in one place correctly- did mine the other week, with the rest of the cars bushes, control arms are def the easiest

[GDBN]

Especially easy if using new control arms. You just need to get the old bush out of the lollipop. A trick Sal told me ... your car will be up on axle stands ... using your trolley jack place the black outer part of the bush on top of the lollipop (after you have lined them up) and just use the jack and the underside of the car to squeeze one into the other. Best with a bit of wood each side. Won't go all the way in but a few taps with a rubber mallett will finish the job. The bush wont move afterwards if that is what you are thinking with "locking" into place. Then the control arm inner part of the bush slides in.
Make sure it looks like this ....



And not this ....



Giles

[320Touring]

The GSF bushes are great-fitted one to my 320 touring recently, no problems-went in well and does the job! as for the "control arm" the GSF one at Ԛ£47+ vat is, as Templ8e30 says, great quality