Tired front suspension bushes...

[Toed64]

Hello All

My Z4 has started to tramline and twitch, so when I investigated, I was not surprised to find the front suspension, rear wishbone/trailing arm bushes cracked and sloppy. I can also feel a bit of play in the nearside outer balljoint.

Has anyone had a poor experience with the cheapy kits available on ebay? This, for example:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRONT-LOWER-SUSPENSION-WISHBONE-CONTROL-ARMS-BUSHES-KIT-FOR-BMW-3-SERIES-E46/230910747896?_trkparms=aid%3D555023%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIMRVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20210125104017%26meid%3Da22e196d64fd4d32bb5d1edf4199a5ef%26pid%3D100752%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D24%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D333779765777%26itm%3D230910747896%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5hPointwiseWebNoToraCoCoViewsNoHighIdfOrRoundRobinBlenderWithPromotedViewItems&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982

Any thoughts on upgrading the soft rubber bushes at the rear of the wishbones?

I need to do this pronto because I don't want to wreck my new Michelins!

 

[G600]

I wouldn't bother with cheap parts, I'd recommend getting Z4M lollipop bushes pressed into your existing housings to improve the caster angle

 

[Reamesy]

I personally would sick with a reputable brand like Meyle HD. If you fit poor quality parts you will potentially be replacing them again in the near future. I fell fowl of this on previous cars.

As far as using harder rubber rear bush; you might find the new part is perfectly fine. Your old parts will be totally shot.

If you go too firm you can get excessive noise and vibration. Poly bushes are renowned for this. They are more for track cars. Just my thoughts

 

[Zeld4]

I’ve had to replace mine three times in 8 years. I got annoyed after the second time as they were done at a BMW garage and only lasted about 30k miles so I went for the powerflex poly bushes. Best thing I ever did. The only thing I noticed was more vibration through the steering wheel over rough surfaces, but I acclimatised to this very quickly and don’t notice it at all any more. On the plus side the steering feels more direct and tight, and after two years it’s just as it was when I got it done.

 

[Jfgoldfish]

I'm also in the powerflex camp
They don't introduce too much more NVH than brand new, firm lollypop bushes. And they don't deteriorate nearly as fast.

 

[Toed64]

Thank you all.

My decision was not to stick the cheapo parts on...very sensible advice. I fitted a variety of low priced parts to my 325ti and it behaved very well...but this was in comparison to the way it had behaved before! It was an abused and tired banger that I grew to like very much. So I fixed some of its worst issues and enjoyed thrashing it about for a year.

My last 2 BMW were 1 series and I fitted lots of nice parts to them, including M3 LCAs that dramatically improved them both. I found my 135i disappointing when I first bought it because it was the first BMW I'd owned that understeered and shimmied in the corners. Anyway, dealing with the sabotaged suspension geo sorted that.

So, I have decided to invest in an improvement in geometry and I have bought SuperPro offset bushes. These are 2 part bushes that claim to reduce the potential for creaking that I have had with some polyurethane bushes on some of my modified cars. I like the idea of not having those bushes flexing as much as they do and hope that this will improve turn-in and stability...but I also like the idea of dialling in a bit more steering feel that the epas seems to sap. I don't think a little more NVH will bug me, if it does, I'll swap them for some soft rubber ones.

I'll report back when they're fitted.

 

[Toed64]

So, I got the SuperPro Offset bushes pressed into the original aluminium lolipops and I had all the other bushes checked and they were fine.

Then a full alignment with just a little toe in and as much negative camber as the standard suspension tops will allow.

I expected it to be improved by not having the front wheels wobbling back and forth, but the improvement is remarkable. I would highly recommend the 2 part, offset PU bushes. The NVH is not noticably increased, but the steering feel is improved. There is no creaking at all...so far!

 

[Zulu4]

Cool.
Have you got a link to the bushes you used Toed64 ?

 

[Toed64]

Cool.
Have you got a link to the bushes you used Toed64 ?

These are the ones I bought.

https://www.superproeurope.com/products.cfm?vehicleid=1426

Yours should be the same as mine. Just check the the bush is 66mm, I understand that the earlier model uses a 60mm bush and these cars are old enough for the bushes to have been changed already.

SuperPro does not sell direct to the public, so I ordered mine through Amber Performance 01582 664735 amber-performance.co.uk

 

[Zulu4]

Cool.
Have you got a link to the bushes you used Toed64 ?

These are the ones I bought.

https://www.superproeurope.com/products.cfm?vehicleid=1426

Yours should be the same as mine. Just check the the bush is 66mm, I understand that the earlier model uses a 60mm bush and these cars are old enough for the bushes to have been changed already.

SuperPro does not sell direct to the public, so I ordered mine through Amber Performance 01582 664735 amber-performance.co.uk

Ace.
So was it this item ?
* 66mm Shell: Double-Offset Performance Alignment Kit SPF2558K


If so, looks like you can get them off ebay (£117, delivered from Australia !)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERPRO...785893&hash=item4db4f18dab:g:9bMAAOSwDypgXD2f
And the same part fits the E46, if the listing details are correct.

 

[Thrustyjust]

I changed mine to Powerflex standard purple rear bushes after an alignment showed my standard original bushes were tired. To be honest, I have not really noticed any additional noises or vibrations in the cabin. With running non runflats and softer sidewalls potentially helps, as does Eibach springs over Msport ones. With having the go check redone after these were fitted, it did throw the front out a little and now handles fantastic after adjustments. I suppose just updating tired or end of life parts is going to make a big difference to how a car performs . I have now changed the front arb bushes also for Powerflex and Meyle HD droplinks and after 250 miles this weekend the car handles great without any unusual noises :driving:

 

[Toed64]

Cool.
Have you got a link to the bushes you used Toed64 ?

These are the ones I bought.

https://www.superproeurope.com/products.cfm?vehicleid=1426

Yours should be the same as mine. Just check the the bush is 66mm, I understand that the earlier model uses a 60mm bush and these cars are old enough for the bushes to have been changed already.

SuperPro does not sell direct to the public, so I ordered mine through Amber Performance 01582 664735 amber-performance.co.uk

Ace.
So was it this item ?
* 66mm Shell: Double-Offset Performance Alignment Kit SPF2558K

Yes, those are the ones:

SPF2558K
Control Arm Lower-Inner Rear Bush Kit (66mm Shell: Double-Offset Performance Alignment Kit) for the 2006 to 2008 BMW Z4 E85 3.0 SI

Double-offset to increase caster on both sides which increases steering sharpness and feel. 66mm OD shell was standard on post-February 2002 cars but your vehicle may differ. Please measure for the correct size you require.

 

[Zulu4]

Dumb question, but in what position should the bush offset hole go ? (Since I presume once the bush has been pressed in, it is still free to be rotated through 360 degrees)

 

[Toed64]

Dumb question, but in what position should the bush offset hole go ? (Since I presume once the bush has been pressed in, it is still free to be rotated through 360 degrees)

The outer part of the bush which is offset is pressed in to the original alloy bush surround. The offset is positioned to the outside of the car in order to move the wheel forward and out a few mm.

 

[Zulu4]

Dumb question, but in what position should the bush offset hole go ? (Since I presume once the bush has been pressed in, it is still free to be rotated through 360 degrees)

The outer part of the bush which is offset is pressed in to the original alloy bush surround. The offset is positioned to the outside of the car in order to move the wheel forward and out a few mm.

Perfect. Thank you

 

[Zulu4]

Dumb question, but in what position should the bush offset hole go ? (Since I presume once the bush has been pressed in, it is still free to be rotated through 360 degrees)

The outer part of the bush which is offset is pressed in to the original alloy bush surround. The offset is positioned to the outside of the car in order to move the wheel forward and out a few mm.

Reviving the thread with another dumb question...I'm about to fit the offset polybushes and I was wondering how the polybush doesn't swivel around in the lolipop since it is not bonded in place ?
i.e. does the 'natural' resting position of the bush make the offset hole always stay towards the outside of the car, or is there a danger of it swivelling around (with steering/suspension force and vibration) to another position thus altering the steering geometry ?

 

[G600]

The OE ones are a tight interference fit, are the polybushes the same?

 

[Zulu4]

The OE ones are a tight interference fit, are the polybushes the same?

No, they just press in with a bit of lubricant. (There is no metal casing on the ones I've got)

 

[G600]

The OE ones are a tight interference fit, are the polybushes the same?

No, they just press in with a bit of lubricant. (There is no metal casing on the ones I've got)

Weird, have you got a link? These ones have an aluminium outer to keep the bush in the right place https://www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Front+Wishbone+Rear+Bush%2C+Caster+Offset/11519.html

 

[Zulu4]

Weird, have you got a link? These ones have an aluminium outer to keep the bush in the right place https://www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Front+Wishbone+Rear+Bush%2C+Caster+Offset/11519.html

Like these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262496642417?hash=item3d1e04e571:g:lzIAAOSw9N1VkmiW

So, with the powerflex bushes, is the black part aluminium ? (I assumed it was also PU)