General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below
Moderator: martauto
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baggimodo
- E30 Zone Regular

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- Location: Coventry
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Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:16 pm
Fooking hell, good fun to change them aint it!
Managed to do the trailing arm bushes, using the threaded rod method with minimal swearing and skinned knuckles
The subframe bushes proved a bit more difficult to get out but I'llbe attacking them again on saturday, I genuinely can't wait! Feels good to have accomplished the little bits I have today!
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magpie
- Old Skooler

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- Location: Consett,Durham.
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Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:27 pm
nowt like some arse end action,lovely rusted up nuts/bolts + loads of crap dropping in your face and bolts that you can hardly access etc etc ,take the beam to local garage that has a press or you won't get the new ones in as you'll probably strip the threaded bar first .

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds

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craigieeb
- E30 Zone Addict

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Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:28 pm
Is the beam off the car?
M50 Turbo!!!

I shall say no more

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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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- Location: Warsaw, Poland
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Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:36 pm
Follow the Wiki method. Drill out the rubber so that the alloy core drops out, then take a hacksaw and cut the inner steel sleeve. Once the ring's cut through, it won't take long with a hammer and chisel to bend the sleeve until it just pops out.
Push the new bushes in with a jack and some lube.
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milescook
- E30 Zone Camper

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Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:41 pm
Trailing arms are a piece of urine with threaded bar, and very satisfying when they pop in fully. Been driving mine a bit since i did my rear bushes,its hard to over exagerate how much better it is to drive!

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milescook
- E30 Zone Camper

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Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:42 pm
Trailing arms are a piece of urine with threaded bar, and very satisfying when they pop in fully. Been driving mine a bit since i did my rear bushes,its hard to over exagerate how much better it is to drive!

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baggimodo
- E30 Zone Regular

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Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:04 pm
Ironically the ones I took out didn't look all that bad. Had some cracking around the outward flanges but I didn't wanna leave for the sake of a PITA job later on! I will look again on the wiki before I go at the subframe bushes! Mates got a press but he near broke it today changing ball joints on a sprinter van! Should have seen the size of them wishbones! Threaded rod method was great for the trailing arms, thank The Lord for the ratchet spanners in my Xmas present from halfords
Once I've drilled out the rubber around the central tube, hacksaw through the outer edges and manhandle them out? Fairy liquid around the bushes and press them home, sound so easy when its written down!
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Chris_B86
- E30 Zone Camper

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Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:14 pm
I've just done my trailing arm bushes, using fillers for the time being on the subframe I'm just going to pay a man to put put my poly ones in. I was pikey getting the trailing arm bushes out, did it with fire. Blowtorch ftw!
I swear I never would have got them off without the cordless buzz gun though

1990 E30 325i Sport Sterling Silber
1999 E36 323i Sport Touring Techno Violet
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capnmchl
- E30 Zone Camper

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Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:58 am
Subframe bushes come out with fire and an air chisel/hammer and go in with a press
Trailing arm bushes go in and out with a press. I ended up wasting a pair with the threaded bar method.
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Chris_B86
- E30 Zone Camper

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Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:01 am
The joy of poly bushes, take the old bushes out as you please, new poly's split in the middle so just push in either side


1990 E30 325i Sport Sterling Silber
1999 E36 323i Sport Touring Techno Violet
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:04 pm
baggimodo wrote:Ironically the ones I took out didn't look all that bad. Had some cracking around the outward flanges but I didn't wanna leave for the sake of a PITA job later on! I will look again on the wiki before I go at the subframe bushes! Mates got a press but he near broke it today changing ball joints on a sprinter van! Should have seen the size of them wishbones! Threaded rod method was great for the trailing arms, thank The Lord for the ratchet spanners in my Xmas present from halfords
Once I've drilled out the rubber around the central tube, hacksaw through the outer edges and manhandle them out? Fairy liquid around the bushes and press them home, sound so easy when its written down!
I've never come across trailing arm bushes that needed changing yet! On the other hand, it's rare to come across beam bushes that wouldn't do with changing on the average E30.
Beam bushes pull in easily enough with a bit of care and thought.
Lubricant MUST be non permanent (Fairy liquid is fine, grease is not), and you need to apply the pressure to the outer steel ring of each bush, not the alloy centre.
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milescook
- E30 Zone Camper

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Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:34 pm
Brianmoooore wrote:
...
I've never come across trailing arm bushes that needed changing yet! ...
Mine were completely split and crusted on the outside. Perhaps the inner was fine, but for a track car I thought what the hell for the sake of a few quid.
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harry_p
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

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Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:42 pm
Theyre certainly worth doing if you happen to have the beam off for any other reason.
however, my e30 came with a new set of trailing arm bushes in the boot which the previous owner hadn't got around to fitting. My MOT tester mate said e30s fail all the time on the subframe mounts, but he'd never seen one with knackered trailing arm bushes. And, as they look a right sod to change, mine have sat in the box ever since.
cheers,
harry