Front wishbone bush replacement - What lubricant to use?

[votivequagmire]

I have a suspension problem in that there is a lot of body roll.
I had one of the bushes replaced a year or so ago but to me the car never seems to sit right on that side.
The driver's side is as it was and ok but the passenger side front wheel always seems to high.
I have new anti-roll bar bushes and brackets to go on as the passenger side is moving a bit as worn.
I want to replace the same bush again but am unsure what lubricant to use when fixing to the control arm.
The BMW part number I had (which incidentally the BMW main dealer had no knowledge of? So not sure what they have been using?) is listed as going off in 30 minutes or so but maybe leave for an hour. Other E30 users reported using fairy liquid and water but having to leave it for a few hours for it to completely evaporate.
Does anyone else have any experience replacing these bushes and if so any advice is greatly appreciated?
Will try and get some pics later to show the difference in ride height on both front wheels.

Thanks in advance.

VQ

[Brianmoooore]

I always use 30% washing up liquid and 70% water. Push the bush on and drop the car back on the ground to normal ride height, and check that the bush is not twisted.
I then wash the bush with hot water and leave for a couple of hours.
I don't think that a twisted non M3 type bush would have much effect on ride height.

[votivequagmire]

Cheers.

Do you have any ideas what else may cause the ride height difference?

In the e30 manual I have (not Haynes) it states that normal ride position is classed as with a full tank of fuel, 150 lb on each seat and 42 ib in the boot.
This is used when replacing the bushes etc.

I don't think the previous installation of the bushes included this. I don't even think they left to set for a time.
If the bush fixed to the control arm in the wrong position though, wouldn't it affect the ride height as would not be able to reach bottom position?

[Brianmoooore]

If the bush fixed to the control arm in the wrong position though, wouldn't it affect the ride height as would not be able to reach bottom position?

Wouldn't have thought that the rubber was strong enough to exert much twisting force on the control arm.
Check that all four of your springs are all complete.

[votivequagmire]

You think it may be a spring problem? Or related?
All my springs look good. Very little surface rust even.
Rear and front rubber ends for springs look ok too.

It's quite puzzling this fault. The main problem is the handling on things like roundabouts.
A right hand bend produces more body roll than a left hander.
Indeed the left handers are hardly noticeable as a bend as the car does not roll much.

I had thought about it and almost convinced myself that it must be a bush problem. The shock absorbers themselves were new about three years ago but they are the gas versions and seem in perfect working order.

If it is a spring problem, I assume that the front passenger side has a problem. But I was a little confused as to how it could be at fault as a faulty spring usually weakens rather than strengthens. I also thought about the rubber spacers on the rear springs. But if they were worn, there seems to be too much distance to make up for worn rubbers. if it were a centimetre or thereabouts I could understand but this is off a good inch or two? I will sort the pics I think to give you better idea.

Thanks for your help though so far. Just joined the web site with a view to becoming a regular. I am by no-means a newbie for general motor mechanics and electrical work but still have a great deal to learn as it is not my main trade.

[Templ8e30]

The BMW lubricant is Parrafin (Kerosene), Fairy liquid isn't a particularly good lubricant but it does work in this application.

However if you can get some parafin from your local hardware store it makes the job much much easier, I managed to hammer the bush on with a single swing of a mallet.

Make sure the arrow on the bush lines up with the mark on the 'lollipop' casting when it's fitted.

Cheers,

Iain T.

[votivequagmire]

That is interesting. I hadn't come across that piece of info yet. One person I spoke to even said they'd used brake fluid as the lubricant when fitting control arm bushes, as it softens the rubber around the bush so that it binds to the control arm more fully.

It's about £3 for the correct BMW part number for the lubricant so it's probably worth my while getting it anyway for that price. If it was over a tenner then I would probably get it someplace else.

[votivequagmire]

Photos hopefully posted by tonight.
Showing relative wheel heights on front.

[votivequagmire]

Well I finally was able to replace the bush and I used the brake fluid method.
there is no difference to the ride height though

I'm starting to think it may be a front nearside strut problem now.

Anyone concur?

[psychochild187]

i would say it sounds like a very worn shock .

[DRIFTBOY]

A worn damper (shock absorber) won't affect ride height at all.
I'd check the springs as Brianmooooooooooooooooooooooooore suggested. Both my rear springs had the ends missing when I bought my E30.

[Sooty]

Just going to reiterate whats been said previously.
Definately check the springs closely m8.
With just a casual glance they can appear OK (especially the fronts) but it's not uncommon for the bottom coil to snap off and tuck itself away in the bottom of the spring mount, hidden from view.

Get the car up in the air, the wheel off & check every inch of the front springs.

[votivequagmire]

Ok then I will thoroughly check the entire suspension system and see what I can see.
I bought brand new springs for the front a couple of years ago so they shouldn't be damaged.

Will get back to you after my inspection.

Thanks for all the input.

[12345kevin]

I would guess at a knackered spring, mine was sitting half inch lower on the driver side (without occupants) before I changed them, weigth of driver probably made it worse

[votivequagmire]

Am I right in assuming that I should inspect strut which seems to high?
or should I look at it from the opposite side.
i.e look at the one which is low?
I'll check both but I'm sure the springs are ok.

[oze30]

jack one side up, count the winds on the spring. jack otherside up and repeat. should be asble tro tell then

[votivequagmire]

Just had car up in the air and there are equal winds on both springs.
I was also able to trace the springs from beginning to end and both are correct.

I would appreciate any other input you may have?

[chief]

That is interesting. I hadn't come across that piece of info yet. One person I spoke to even said they'd used brake fluid as the lubricant when fitting control arm bushes, as it softens the rubber around the bush so that it binds to the control arm more fully

wouldn't reccommend brake fluid, its a corrosive on metal and rubber, so i am led to believe

done my bushes recently with bog standard oil

[chief]

That is interesting. I hadn't come across that piece of info yet. One person I spoke to even said they'd used brake fluid as the lubricant when fitting control arm bushes, as it softens the rubber around the bush so that it binds to the control arm more fully

wouldn't reccommend brake fluid, its a corrosive on metal and rubber, so i am led to believe

done my bushes recently with bog standard oil

[Brianmoooore]

That is interesting. I hadn't come across that piece of info yet. One person I spoke to even said they'd used brake fluid as the lubricant when fitting control arm bushes, as it softens the rubber around the bush so that it binds to the control arm more fully

wouldn't reccommend brake fluid, its a corrosive on metal and rubber, so i am led to believe

done my bushes recently with bog standard oil

Certainly wouldn't recommend oil.
!/ It rots the rubber, and
2/ It's important that the lubricant ceases to be a lubricant before the car is driven.

[chief]

will this cause me drama in the future or will the rain rinse it out.

thanks for the tip brian

[Brianmoooore]

will this cause me drama in the future or will the rain rinse it out.

thanks for the tip brian

If the bush is turning on the control arm pin, then it's not going to last long.
If it isn't and there's still oil there I would wash it off with Gunk or similar.

[chief]

straight advice
thanks
will keep an eye on it

[SGP]

Funny that,The poly bushes I recently fitted were supplied with a grease in order to allow the control arm pin to pivot in the bush.They work well albeit with a slight increase in road feel..I'd like to get the proper bmw part for the rear axle carrier bush though.I believe its called circalite? and it welds the bush to the carrier once dry with no damaging effect to the rubber......????

[Brianmoooore]

Poly bush crap does need to turn on the pin, so hence the lubricant.
Dilute washing up liquid will be absolutely fine for the rear carrier bushes. All the ones I've seen have had no difficulty in welding themselves to the carrier!!

[SGP]

Nice one Brian, I had my suspicions thanks!

[oze30]

i recently did mine. used 2 sockets and washing up liquid. Was hard to start them, but they went on easy enough

[k]

Just changed my wishbones and fitted M3 bushes.........If you want a good step by step go to BP's BMW E30 318IS Site it has all the info on this job and lots of other routine jobs with pics.
Used fairy liquid as per Brians tip prior to knocking them on the wishbones, had the bushes pressed in by the local VW specialist for free....tried a vice first but started to twist and didn't want to damage them.

As far as ride height goes......this is set by the springs as a rule, and unless other vertical forces are acting on the leg thats it.

Have had problems in the past ( not bmws) with strange handling on left/right turns and it's been badly worn track rod ends or steering joints etc on poorly maintained cars, which cause the wheel to tilt and upset the geometry.

Assume your wheels and tyres are OK , but you could swap these to illiminate the problem.

Dampers don't affect ride height when standing still, but obviously can affect body roll when on the move.

Trust this helps