August 04, 2010 01:24PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,869 : Amagansett, New York |
I'm having a shop do my lower A arms, ball joints and stabilizer links. When it comes to the the rear rubber bushing and bracket going on the A arm one tech article says grease the A arm pivot point and bushing/bracket and install. Then you let the car sit and the bushing will find its own resting point for a proper bushing position/preload. The bentley says there is a special bmw lube for this.
Can someone run me through this or point me to a good tech sheet, I've printed out ones on this site.... they use the grease method. Thanks, Rick |
August 04, 2010 02:42PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 609 : SoCal |
Everything I have read mirrors what you just posted. Not sure what grease to use though. Try this link here:
[www.pelicanparts.com] and this for future reference, [www.pelicanparts.com] alan Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2010 02:45PM by alanrw. |
August 04, 2010 06:05PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,538 |
Rick, I've seen this posted many times; BMW lube is nothing more than expensive kerosene Basically you want to lube the bushing so that it can move to accommodate the resting point then set. Lot's of folks have simply used dish washing detergent; try the stuff that is good to your hands as it usually smells nice too If you like stinky then use kerosene, stove oil or diesel...I'm going with Palmolive |
August 04, 2010 08:14PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,869 : Amagansett, New York |
Thanks Alan and Peter, interesting fact about the factory kerosene.... dis place |
August 06, 2010 09:23AM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,869 : Amagansett, New York |
August 06, 2010 06:05PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,538 |
August 06, 2010 08:14PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,869 : Amagansett, New York |
Well, it must have worked nicely this time; I got a call today saying the car was ready and Jack was able to install the A arm, ball joints, stabilizer link and Control arm bushing in under two hours. Total labor 160.00 (they get 100 an hour). I didn't make it back in time to pick it up today but monday be nice having a tight car again..... just in time for our week up north on the lake. Thanks guys B) |
August 07, 2010 08:28PM
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Admin
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Posts: 944 : Lake Havasu City, Arizona |
August 22, 2010 09:11AM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 188 : Sunny South Africa |
Here is a question, what do the good folk on this forum think of replacing the rubber suspension bushes with vesconite.
Have used it on the Alfa's for many years and it just tightens everything up better, and is self lubricating throughout its life, is not degraded by oil and grease. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!! When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
August 22, 2010 10:29AM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,538 |
August 22, 2010 01:09PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 188 : Sunny South Africa |
Hi Peter
Here is the website Vesconite I see there is a canadian number there too, 1866 682 34 84 They dont make up parts per se, you buy the material and get your local friendly machine shop to chuck it on a lathe and turn the bushes for you, and press them into the arms. I have used it for many years for street and racing applications, brilliant stuff, lasts for ever. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!! When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
August 22, 2010 01:23PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,538 |
August 22, 2010 09:35PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 188 : Sunny South Africa |
Yes, they do stiffen and tighten everything nicely, but I do hear you when it comes to pure street driving, although it does come in different grades, so you can choose and fine tune, I use the pink one, it is softer than the grey one, which is rock hard, that would be uncomfortable on the road.
Just thought I would put it out there, nice thing is, once you have done them, they are done for pretty much the life of the car. I guess in ten years or so from now, when the bushes are no longer available, then it will come into it's own. I rebuild classic motorcycles, and a lot of the parts are no longer available, so one has to fabricate more and more these days. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E30'S AREN'T BUILT, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE WILD!!! When in doubt, use full throttle, it may not improve the situation, but it will end the suspence. |
August 23, 2010 07:44PM
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Registered: 15 years ago
Posts: 1,869 : Amagansett, New York |
Control arm bushings have steel bushes both inner and outer don't they? Rick |