Rear axle bushes what a bi$%h!

[ndg]

Just spent the weekend changing the axle carrier bushes on my touring, along with dropping the tank and trying to reseal it. In all I spent 18 hours doing the job and that was with the benefit of a 2 post ramp and hydraulic press. Respect to anyone who has done this on the drive! The only bit of the car that I've worked on that I've not been impressed with, who thought aluminium pressed into a steel cup was a good idea?

Anyway rant over, just wanted to let anyone who was contemplating it know how evil it can be!

N.

[Splod]

Well done mate - from what I have heard this is an evil job. Out of interest - What were the symptoms/problems that made you change them?

[316eyes]

Most common symptom is a thing called an MOT Test

[Splod]

Most common symptom is a thing called an MOT Test

heard of that. nasty

[Adammcf]

The mot ran out on mine while it has been off the road and Ive got a nasty feeling these are going to need done on it as well.

[316eyes]

MOT man got mine last year. Only failed on them and an out of skew h/lamp. Thought I'd do them myself at my mates garage (2 post ramp and all necessary tools available); took it in, put it on ramp, had a long look at what was involved and got me wallet out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorted next day and no bruises or cuts

[gcorky]

so its worth 150 all in on a touring cos i dont wanna do em?will check mine this is a local specialist price.

[kam-325i]

Ԛ£150 All in sounds about average.......'cause its a twat of a job..!!

[jaistanley]

I took the beam off my car (changing diff at same time anyway), stuck it in a doorway and used a bottle jack to put loads of pressure on the bush.. Bit of heat to the beam and POP! out the old bush comes.

Be careful not to kneecap yourself.

Fitting the new bushes was easy... I cheated and got poly ones. MUCH easier to fit and people not minding a bit more noise consider it an upgrade. The rear feels mre predictable since.

Good luck.

Jai

PS, I hate paying people to do stuff to my car I'm capable of doing myself but you have to consider the time it's take you to do the job. If you have even a half decent job it becomes easy to justify the labour charges..Just work some overtime or something! Ԛ£150 sounds reasonable when I think how long it took me and how much I'd earn at work for the same time

[ndg]

Actually it wasn't an MOT! There was just some clonking going on and off power along with some axle tramp if I got any wheel spin of the line (Incidentally my friends 325i touring does this too and failed its MOT for these bushes - must be a weakspot) I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and decided I wanted the car to drive 'right'.

I also ignored the haynes(useless) manual and didn't drop the centre bearing of the prop, you can pull the diff gback at the same time as down to clear the studs. With the axlee off I could then pull the fuel tank out backwards. Saved dropping the front section of the exaust anyway!

If you've been quoted Ԛ£150 for this, get them to do it it's worth it! The car is much tighter at the back now, and feels more controlled

N.

[Brianmoooore]

failed its MOT for these bushes - must be a weakspot.

If you consider a rubber bush that only lasts 15 - 20 years to be a weak spot, then yes.

[Simon]

My local garage always charges Ԛ£60 to do these and I supply the part...a job I will never be doing as long as his labour rate doesn't change