E30 Zone

So, having looked through the guide on here, I've been going at it hammer and tong on the bushes and instead of the bush falling out, one side of my subframe has dropped away from the car!? Is this normal, or is it right fucked?

Thanks all

Richard

Of course it's normal. The bush (via the bolt that runs through it, which you removed) holds the subframe to the car, so attacking the bush will make the subframe drop.

What's highly likely is that the aluminium core of the bush has snapped, leaving a remnant inside the body shell, so you'll want the subframe dropped on both sides so that you can chisel the remnants out.

Remove the beam and change the bushes on the bench... It is possible to do them whilst on the car
but it looks difficult....this was one job I had a garage do as it just looked like a pain.

RicardoD wrote:So, having looked through the guide on here, I've been going at it hammer and tong on the bushes and instead of the bush falling out, one side of my subframe has dropped away from the car!? Is this normal, or is it right ******?

Thanks all

Richard

Hi Richard, as Grrr says the alloy centre tube of the bush that fits in the car body corrodes and sticks in its locating tube, it may help if you jack the side up that has dropped to even the weight then use a long bar to rock the stuck side but have some support under the back axle, you can remove the beam bushes in situ but its easier with the tool. did mine in a couple of hours with it, my mate pimpmobil on the zone makes them, he has one on Ebay now. sent you a pic so you may be able make something like it.
Cheers Dave.

Thanks guys! Is it possible to remove the beam without removing the diff and other gubbins attached to it?

That's a bit like asking "is it possible to remove your neck without disconnecting your head?"

You can drop the beam and diff down as a unit by about six inches, but you really don't want to. Either use the tool pictured above, or get ready to drop the exhaust, diff, trailing arms and rear beam. You might thank us later when you discover that your rear brake lines are completely shot and need replacing while you're back there

Oh dear! I have been attempting to use a puller but it's proving to be rather difficult and just seems to be pushing the car up,I'm a little worried I might cause some damage if I'm not careful!

Anyone done this with a puller?

So, simply what I'm trying to say is, what can the puller push against?

If a puller could do it, we wouldn't need the 100-quid tool pictured above

Haha, yeah I guess so! Looks like the subs coming out then, it's all a bit dirty and rusty down there so will probably be a good thing in the long run!

A £100 tool is nice where time is serious money, but the old bushes can be removed by drilling the rubber out of the way with a couple of appropriately sized deep rotary hole saws, after which a hacksaw blade (preferably powered) can be used to cut through the remaining outer ring.
The new bushes aren't particularly difficult to fit with the aid of a couple of cup shaped heavy duty washers and a length of threaded rod, along with a generous helping on non permanent lubricant, such as washing up liquid.

I have 3 days to get the new ones in before it has to be out the workshop for a month!, I had some welding to do so the exhaust tank etc are already out.

The 'core' of one of the bushes has come out using the hole saw method. With all the rubber out the way is it possible to begin to 'crush' the outer shell of the bush by hitting the lip with a cold chisel?

yeah, that's exactly how you get the outer shell out. I used a little 10mm-wide chisel that worked a treat.

They look like this when they come out:

Try looking at this
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=
mine is still going strong .
Steve .

I tackled it with a little heat, some fairy liquid and a trolley jack.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... t=subframe

Look on you tube on how too remove bush (BMW E30 subframe bushing tool ) It's so easy. All done with the subframe in place.
Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone, it went really well today! Are there any torque settings I need to be aware of?

Thanks everyone, it went really well today! Are there any torque settings I need to be aware of?