Control Arm Bushings

#1

Getting ready to purchase new control arms and bushings. Should i get the urethane bushings from Bavarian Auto or the factory M3 offset bushings? The M3 bushings are plain rubber, correct? If i get the offset, how do i orient the offset in relation to the bracket?

#2

RacerDan wrote:

Get offset from BimmerWorld. Get them already pressed into lollypops so you don’t have to press them in. Don’t ask for “factory M3 offset” bushings, say “I race a SpecE30, sell me offset CABs already pressed into lollypops”.

#3

Honestly I pressed in the AKG poly offset bushings with my hands most of the way. It isn’t that difficult. You position the offset to the outside of the car. Here are some AKG images:

#4

Thanks - good pics. Is it hard to get the actual control arm into the new bushing? Do you grease it? I found Ireland sells an offset delrin bushing so i will go with that.

#5

RacerDan wrote:

With a vice, yes. With a press, not at all. [EDIT: this was with M3 offset bushings]

Based on Moberg’s advice, I used caliper grease. I don’t know if the “annoying squeak” to “performance benefit” ratio is right for delrin CABs. But opinions will vary.

#6

I used a vice to press my AKG CABs into the lollipops. No problem.

I was able to press the CABs and lollipops onto the ends of the control arms with just my hands. I put some grease in the hole of the bushing, but I’m not even sure that was necessary. I have seen posts that say the holes in the AKG offset CABs are “big” so other brands of bushings may be more difficult to press onto the arms.

If the control arms are on the car and you can’t push the bushing onto the end of the arms without tools, you can make a contraption to press the bushing and lollipop onto the end of the control arm. There is a writeup with photos of the tool at http://www.emotors.ca/articles/20.aspx.

If the link doesn’t work, google “E30/E36/E46 lower controal arm bushing replacement”

#7

I was also able to get the AKG bushing on the control arm mounted up without a press or a vice. I just slid them on the control arm after lubing liberaly with anti-seize. The bushing hole is actually tapered at the end to help make sure you can get it on the control arm far enough to put the two bolts in the lollipop once mounted up.

#8

so do you mount the bracket with bushings on the car using the two bolts first, then fit the control arm, or do you mount the bracket to the control arm first then the whole assembly into the car?

#9

RacerDan wrote:

Yes, this method worked for me. I can’t imagine trying to fight the control arm into the bushing with the lollipop bolted to the car unless the hole in the CAB was sized such that the control arm would slop around in it under load. But my experience is VERY limited. Take it with a grain of salt.

#10

Here is the order I did it. Mount the control arm to the subframe. I tightened the nut till the ball joint started spinning. Then put your lollipop on the end of the control arm and mount the lollipop to the frame with the 2 bolts. Then mount the other ball joint to the front strut housing and tighten it down. Then to get the control arm/subframe ball joint to not spin I had to jack up the strut housing and compress the springs and suspension. Then with a 22mm wrench I tightend down the nut on the control arm/subframe ball joint as tight as I could. No way could I get a torque wrench in there. Then I torqued down the other ball joint and the bolts on the lollipop.

#11

What do i keep hearing about using soap on the CAB’s, then letting the car down within 30 minutes while it dries? Is this just something for the stock OEM parts? I figure if i am using caliper grease than it’s not an issue.

#12

RacerDan wrote:

I had the same questions not long ago.

http://spece30.com/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,94/func,view/id,46017/catid,10/

Short answer is, yes, that let-it-dry method is for the stock bushings with the ~hourglass shaped void. M3 offsets, solid poly bushings, etc. installed with caliper grease don’t preload like the stockers could.

#13

I know the bavarian autosport poly bushing will slide right onto the control arm and they have a grease fitting. They do require a press to install in the lollipops. Mine aren’t offset but they have been holding up for almost 10 years off autox and hpde in my turbo car. I will find out how the ie delrin bushings go in next week on the spece30.