How difficult to install new wishbone bush (E46)

How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?

Brian Lam wrote:
> How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
> chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?

I seriously doubt it.

Brian Lam wrote:

> How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
> chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?
>
>

You mean the one located to the rear of the lower front control arm?
Yes. Easily.

(The ball joints, however, are pressed in and machine-crimped, and not
replaceable.)

JRE

JRE wrote:

> Brian Lam wrote:
>
> > How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
> > chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?
> >
> >
>
> You mean the one located to the rear of the lower front control arm?
> Yes. Easily.
>
> (The ball joints, however, are pressed in and machine-crimped, and not
> replaceable.)
>
> JRE

You will need a puller and a press, in addition you need to be precise
in the installation of the new bush as the position of it governs your
steering geometry. If you could just pull them off with soapy water
you can imagine that the normal forces of driving the car in terms of
braking and cornering would result in a far-from-precise drive.

You also need to get the wishbone off which is no mean feat in itself
for the DIYer (although I am sure there are plenty of people who would
like to say it isn't!).

I had the same idea as you, but decided that it was far more cost
effective to take it to a BMW specialist.

Good luck if you decide to try it. Do you have a Bentley? Email me if
not and I will "describe" the process.

Pashlipops wrote:

> JRE wrote:
>
>
>>Brian Lam wrote:
>>
>>
>>>How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
>>>chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>You mean the one located to the rear of the lower front control arm?
>>Yes. Easily.
>>
>>(The ball joints, however, are pressed in and machine-crimped, and not
>>replaceable.)
>>
>>JRE
>
>
> You will need a puller and a press, in addition you need to be precise
> in the installation of the new bush as the position of it governs your
> steering geometry. If you could just pull them off with soapy water
> you can imagine that the normal forces of driving the car in terms of
> braking and cornering would result in a far-from-precise drive.
>
> You also need to get the wishbone off which is no mean feat in itself
> for the DIYer (although I am sure there are plenty of people who would
> like to say it isn't!).
>
> I had the same idea as you, but decided that it was far more cost
> effective to take it to a BMW specialist.
>
> Good luck if you decide to try it. Do you have a Bentley? Email me if
> not and I will "describe" the process.
>

Not so. I have personally done this. From your post, it appears that
you have not. Special tools are _not_ required to remove or replace the
rear bush (which comes as an assembly with its mount) for an E46 front
lower control arm.

The wishbone is retained by the outer ball joint, removed in the usual
way, and by a stud extending from the inner ball joint through the
crossmember, topped by a nut, which is removed with a wrench (bottom)
and hex socket (top). The latter is a pain in the neck, which neither
the TIS nor--I just looked--the Bentley book tells you.

The rear bush is retained by two easily-accessible bolts and is clearly
illustrated in both. The wishbone slides in and out of the bush without
much muscle and it's a snap to replace it.

An excellent picture is available at
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...& hg=31&fg=05

However, do NOT underestimate the complexity of the job from the
picture. The driver's side (USA) nut and stud are particularly
difficult to reach. The rear bushing/mount assembly in the picture is
part 6.

JRE

"JRE" > wrote in message
...
> Pashlipops wrote:
>
>> JRE wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Brian Lam wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
>>>>chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>You mean the one located to the rear of the lower front control arm?
>>>Yes. Easily.
>>>
>>>(The ball joints, however, are pressed in and machine-crimped, and not
>>>replaceable.)
>>>
>>>JRE
>>
>>
>> You will need a puller and a press, in addition you need to be precise
>> in the installation of the new bush as the position of it governs your
>> steering geometry. If you could just pull them off with soapy water
>> you can imagine that the normal forces of driving the car in terms of
>> braking and cornering would result in a far-from-precise drive.
>>
>> You also need to get the wishbone off which is no mean feat in itself
>> for the DIYer (although I am sure there are plenty of people who would
>> like to say it isn't!).
>>
>> I had the same idea as you, but decided that it was far more cost
>> effective to take it to a BMW specialist.
>>
>> Good luck if you decide to try it. Do you have a Bentley? Email me if
>> not and I will "describe" the process.
>>
>
> Not so. I have personally done this. From your post, it appears that you
> have not. Special tools are _not_ required to remove or replace the rear
> bush (which comes as an assembly with its mount) for an E46 front lower
> control arm.
>
> The wishbone is retained by the outer ball joint, removed in the usual
> way, and by a stud extending from the inner ball joint through the
> crossmember, topped by a nut, which is removed with a wrench (bottom) and
> hex socket (top). The latter is a pain in the neck, which neither the TIS
> nor--I just looked--the Bentley book tells you.
>
> The rear bush is retained by two easily-accessible bolts and is clearly
> illustrated in both. The wishbone slides in and out of the bush without
> much muscle and it's a snap to replace it.
>
> An excellent picture is available at
> http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...& hg=31&fg=05
>
> However, do NOT underestimate the complexity of the job from the picture.
> The driver's side (USA) nut and stud are particularly difficult to reach.
> The rear bushing/mount assembly in the picture is part 6.
>
> JRE

Now I thought these things were interference fit, and you needed to get them
off and a press to remove (relatively easy - just put a large socket in the
way) and reinstall (much harder).

R. Mark Clayton wrote:

<snip>
>
> Now I thought these things were interference fit, and you needed to get them
> off and a press to remove (relatively easy - just put a large socket in the
> way) and reinstall (much harder).

The bushing itself is an interference fit with its mount, but they are
not orderable separately. The control arm slides into the bushing by
hand with reasonable ease, as I said.

JRE

JRE wrote:

> Pashlipops wrote:
>
> > JRE wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Brian Lam wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>How difficult to put in the new bush onto the control arm, is there any
> >>>chance I can fit it just by hands with some help from soap water?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>You mean the one located to the rear of the lower front control arm?
> >>Yes. Easily.
> >>
> >>(The ball joints, however, are pressed in and machine-crimped, and not
> >>replaceable.)
> >>
> >>JRE
> >
> >
> > You will need a puller and a press, in addition you need to be precise
> > in the installation of the new bush as the position of it governs your
> > steering geometry. If you could just pull them off with soapy water
> > you can imagine that the normal forces of driving the car in terms of
> > braking and cornering would result in a far-from-precise drive.
> >
> > You also need to get the wishbone off which is no mean feat in itself
> > for the DIYer (although I am sure there are plenty of people who would
> > like to say it isn't!).
> >
> > I had the same idea as you, but decided that it was far more cost
> > effective to take it to a BMW specialist.
> >
> > Good luck if you decide to try it. Do you have a Bentley? Email me if
> > not and I will "describe" the process.
> >
>
> Not so. I have personally done this. From your post, it appears that
> you have not. Special tools are _not_ required to remove or replace the
> rear bush (which comes as an assembly with its mount) for an E46 front
> lower control arm.
>
> The wishbone is retained by the outer ball joint, removed in the usual
> way, and by a stud extending from the inner ball joint through the
> crossmember, topped by a nut, which is removed with a wrench (bottom)
> and hex socket (top). The latter is a pain in the neck, which neither
> the TIS nor--I just looked--the Bentley book tells you.
>
> The rear bush is retained by two easily-accessible bolts and is clearly
> illustrated in both. The wishbone slides in and out of the bush without
> much muscle and it's a snap to replace it.
>
> An excellent picture is available at
> http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...& hg=31&fg=05
>
> However, do NOT underestimate the complexity of the job from the
> picture. The driver's side (USA) nut and stud are particularly
> difficult to reach. The rear bushing/mount assembly in the picture is
> part 6.
>
> JRE

Yes, you are one up on me here, and you are right about the nut and
stud (that is as far as I got). I did however try and remove the bush
in situ, i.e undo the two bolts holding it to the chassis and to
withdraw it, however mine was solid on the wishbone.

Pashlipops wrote:
<snip>
> Yes, you are one up on me here, and you are right about the nut and
> stud (that is as far as I got). I did however try and remove the bush
> in situ, i.e undo the two bolts holding it to the chassis and to
> withdraw it, however mine was solid on the wishbone.

At most, a few (medium, not heavy) blows with a rubber mallet should
have freed it. I didn't remove mine until the wishbones were off the
car, and was able to work them off by hand.

JRE

Actually, I've got a puller for removal job (yes, I mean the bush at the
rear end of the wishbone), so it shouldn't be a problem. Thanks JRE
because I wondered if it's possible for me to fit in the new bush in in-situ
without removing the whole arm off.

I've got TIS & Bentley's and I'll let you know after the job done (probably
after new year)

Cheers,

B

On 12/17/06 10:40 PM, in article , "JRE"
> wrote:

> Pashlipops wrote:
> <snip>
>> Yes, you are one up on me here, and you are right about the nut and
>> stud (that is as far as I got). I did however try and remove the bush
>> in situ, i.e undo the two bolts holding it to the chassis and to
>> withdraw it, however mine was solid on the wishbone.
>
> At most, a few (medium, not heavy) blows with a rubber mallet should
> have freed it. I didn't remove mine until the wishbones were off the
> car, and was able to work them off by hand.
>
> JRE