Polybush nightmare!

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:34 pm

Car: e30 325i 87 4dr SE

I've been arsing around for 2 days trying to get my polybushes on sit on the front control arms (there powerflex ones). I got the black ring pushed through the lollypop and thats all good. Then the big purple bits pushed on with a proper press so it's as flush as it will go. Then when trying to get the whole assembly on the control arm it won't sit far enough in to meet the mounting holes in the chassis rail, it needs to go another 2cm or so further along the arm but try as I might it just won't budge....

Anyone who's done this before had the same problem and remedy'd it? I'm loosing my cool about it now and I'm thinking I'm going to just order m3 eccentric bushes instead and try and return these..

I'm susposed to pick up friends from the airport on Wednesday morning and the car still has no front suspension on!

Any help will be massively appreciated!

Cheers Jim
Image
old_skool
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 3405
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Glossersure

Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:39 pm

Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:48 pm

I just read all that, I've been putting some serious amount of lubrication and huge amounts of force on these bushes and both sides are still off pretty much the exact same length, only bad thing is one is now bolted to the car so have to wrestle with it under there now as I don't have a balljoint remover!

I'm wondering if maybe I got a dodgy set or something here because lots of people I know who have varying knowledge of cars can't seem to figure it out! I just want my damn car back!

God I hate e30's.... well all cars... that I have to work on....
Image
Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:38 pm

It's getting dark now and I've been trying to get this done all day plus fixing and mates e36 suspension so I'll continue on with it after work 2moz :x

Just wondering if I still can move the bastid thing what other eccentric bushes fit M3/Z series and where can I get a set ASAP!

Cheers
Image
Speedtouch
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 14031
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Canterbury

Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:43 pm

Hmm, black rings, big purple bits and some serious amount of lubrication...it's sounding like an ad for Ann Summers :o:
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
DRIFTBOY
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3131
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:58 pm

I struggled for a little while with these.

I used a cross-head screwdriver through one of the lollipop holes and levered it (carefully) in the threaded hole in the body to get one bolt in. Before that was fully done up, put the other in.

Shame you haven't got a ball joint splitter, might make it easier to slacken the ball joints off to give more movement, and when you do them back up should get themselves into place.
If you see what I mean!

A large pry bar - or peice of pipe! - might also help! And WD40. And a hammer!

Martin.
Last edited by DRIFTBOY on Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jeremy Clarkson wrote:...but it drives the front wheels. Theee wrooong wheels!
da4x4turbo wrote:I raced a vivaro on the motorway once in a 318is.... and lost!!!
Templ8e30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2801
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire

Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:59 pm

You have got them on the right arms haven't you ?

My eccentric powerflex bushes came with left/right cast into the wrong bushes :mad:

There is a cut-out in each bush for the shark fin on the back of the arms to fit in, if you put the 'left' bush on the left arm it won't push all the way on.

They shouldn't need pressing on either, a couple of taps with a mallet was all I needed to install mine.

Even with the bushes installed properly the lolipops needed some serious persuasion to fit back onto the chassis, they were a couple of mm out. I found it easiest to undo the inner balljoint and release it so only a couple of threads on the nut are holding it in, then install the lollipops and finally tighten up the balljoint.

I wouldn't be buying them again, more road noise and harder ride than with the originals. I'd get genuine BMW M3 eccentric bushes if they ever need changing or I get fed up with them.

Cheers,

Iain T
Image
2007 Mazda 6 2.0 estate
Political Correctness - A concept based on the idea that its possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
DRIFTBOY
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3131
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:02 pm

Good point about the left / right markings! Mine were wrong too! :?

I haven't found mine to be too noisy or harsh on the road though, I like them.
Maybe I'm just used to very loud Minis and Mk2 Escorts etc.! :D

Martin.
Jeremy Clarkson wrote:...but it drives the front wheels. Theee wrooong wheels!
da4x4turbo wrote:I raced a vivaro on the motorway once in a 318is.... and lost!!!
Shinobi1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 108
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:02 pm

What are you using to lube them ? i have struggled fitting regular and m3 ones with oil ,grease brake fluid etc then used rubberlube and they just fell on :D
Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:29 pm

Used everything under the sun, WD40, washingup liquid, coppergrease, old oil and even some silcone based dashboard cleaner! Road noise isn't really a huge issue as I used to drive a stripped e30 with a side exit :cool:

Those were the days... I've also noticed the markings were wrong when I got them as it's clear they only fit one way (the opposite of the marked one!)

Wish me luck and just hope they pop in or my head will prob pop off!

Edit I'll grab some photo's 2moz to see if anyone can see something is off!
Image
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:53 am

I didn't have any bother fitting mine, but they are the normal ones, not eccentrics.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
Templ8e30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2801
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire

Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:22 am

Shinobi1 wrote:What are you using to lube them ? i have struggled fitting regular and m3 ones with oil ,grease brake fluid etc then used rubberlube and they just fell on :D
The lubricant that's supplied with them is copper grease.

Cheers,

Iain T
Image
2007 Mazda 6 2.0 estate
Political Correctness - A concept based on the idea that its possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:19 pm

Gave up on them today after spending more hours fucking around... Not happy at all because I could have had the car back and running days ago if I wasn't messing around with this, going to order some m3 eccentric bushes.

Can I get them from GSF/ECP?

Cheers for the help though, I'm sure the bushes must be faulty! :x
Image
old_skool
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 3405
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Glossersure

Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:27 pm

Sorry to hear that. Main dealer is the place to go for anything rubber related. The eccentrics are dealer only anyway.

Good luck 8)
Cyruz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:48 pm

haha thanks old skool, my car luck is non-existant, the lump is running like shit today also so I'm just in one of those ffs, scrap it and start again moods!
Image
Post Reply