powerflex lcab supposed to be pressed in?

[hammy1]

so about a year ago i did my front control arm bushings and i used powerflex bushings. i recieved the purple one with 2 pieces, however they werent pressed in. in fact it was a easy slide in fit sort of speak. i was reading up on all the install threads for these bushings and everyone said pressed in, and that got me thinking that my steering shake maybe caused by a loose fitted lcab. can anyone verify that they did use a press or similar to insert the outer part into the lolypop. also does anyone know what the diameter of the inner part of the lolypop is suppose to be?

[hammy1]

Bump

[jmo69]

I used FCP's poly LCABs and put them into the lollipops with a press I made from some c-channel and a 1 ton bottle jack. They popped right in, that's the nice thing about poly bushings, they don't need to be pressed in. My UUC RTABs went in by hand.

[sjpgoalie]

I had mine pressed in. Has it been shaky since you put them on?

[BSloss13]

Honestly you don't need any type of press... Windex and stepping on it was enough to get mine in

[heidiewn]

They popped right in, that's the nice thing about poly bushingshttp://www.camj.info/7d.jpg

[Nanniepoo]

No press needed for mine and all is well. Going on 3 years now.

[Moron95M3]

They popped right in, that's the nice thing about poly bushingshttp://www.camj.info/7d.jpg


Spam...

[hammy1]

Thanks guys it seems that there is suppose to be some resistance with installing these bushings. For me all I did was push on it fairly lightly with my thumbs and it went in. Btw it was dry (dry meaning didn't use anything for a lubricant to get it in). I wonder if mine are undersized or if my lollipop is oversized. Can that happen?

[jjjjjjj]

I've had my powerflex bushings for almost a year and mine were also really easy to push in so pretty sure that's normal. It's possible that your lollipop could be warped but I don't think that's a common thing. It's also possible that your bushing has cracked. I'd say jack the car up and have a look at your tie rods and control arm ball joints too. I usually do this with the wheel attached so you can try to shake it back and forth to check for any sort of play.

[Turbohugh]

If you did the control arm bushings not the balljoints/tie rod ends your shake could be one (or both) of those. Inner ball joints are a little harder to diagnose and can be slightly worn and contribute to shimmy at the wheel.

Usually if one part is 'bad' the rest are degraded to a significant degree.

[hammy1]

If you did the control arm bushings not the balljoints/tie rod ends your shake could be one (or both) of those. Inner ball joints are a little harder to diagnose and can be slightly worn and contribute to shimmy at the wheel.

Usually if one part is 'bad' the rest are degraded to a significant degree.

Ya everything(entire suspension including steering rack) was done together and all brand new. There's only 2 things I didn't change upper strut mounts and the steering column.

[hammy1]

I've had my powerflex bushings for almost a year and mine were also really easy to push in so pretty sure that's normal. It's possible that your lollipop could be warped but I don't think that's a common thing. It's also possible that your bushing has cracked. I'd say jack the car up and have a look at your tie rods and control arm ball joints too. I usually do this with the wheel attached so you can try to shake it back and forth to check for any sort of play.

Its not cracked i recently checked it when i was doing the csb and guibo. the shimmy has been there forever even when the bushings were brand new. I was thinking maybe the bushings are too small causing the slop.

[jjjjjjj]

Hmm. When's the last time your front wheels were balanced? How old is your steering rack? Sway links? That's about all there is left. Is is very possible too that you have a failed bushing but that's a pain to check

[ChuckDizzle]

the Powerflex bushings and pretty much all the other brands offering poly bushings shouldn't require a press. I'd say that's one of they're better selling points.

[hammy1]

Hmm. When's the last time your front wheels were balanced? How old is your steering rack? Sway links? That's about all there is left. Is is very possible too that you have a failed bushing but that's a pain to check

All 4 tires brand new n I jus had them roadforced on Friday. Rims are perfect no bends cracks nothing(it happens with 3 sets of rims that are fine on other bimmers) this is my second rack. This one is a rebuilt n its only a few months old. Sway links done the same time as everything else. Bearings were also done the same time.

[m42b18]

My purple powerflex poly (lol) fcabs were easily put in by hand and I have had no issues for the last year. Possibly a warped/crappy brake rotor? That's the only other thing that could possibly cause a vibration since it seems you've replaced just about everything else

[hammy1]

My purple powerflex poly (lol) fcabs were easily put in by hand and I have had no issues for the last year. Possibly a warped/crappy brake rotor? That's the only other thing that could possibly cause a vibration since it seems you've replaced just about everything else

Did those too lol I swear by the time I'm done the car will be brand new.


I wonder if my steering column is shot, will it make it seem like I have a bad component in my suspension?

[jjjjjjj]

Wow dude. It sounds like yet another case of e36 gremlins. Too bad we can't blame this one on the trunk wiring harness...

[hammy1]

Wow dude. It sounds like yet another case of e36 gremlins. Too bad we can't blame this one on the trunk wiring harness...

No kidding those little bastards have me spinning in circles and I bet there having a blast. I'm honestly considering to trade it in n get a 335

[jjjjjjj]

Oh the looming temptation and falling price of the 335... I keep telling myself that it's too heavy, complicated and doesn't have a limited slip rear end available and that if my car had 300hp/300tq that I'd love it just as much..

Good luck in either case

[hammy1]

Oh the looming temptation and falling price of the 335... I keep telling myself that it's too heavy, complicated and doesn't have a limited slip rear end available and that if my car had 300hp/300tq that I'd love it just as much..

Good luck in either case

Really no LSD? Now that's just sad. There's has to be some kind of retrofit.

It's up between an e46 m3 (which looks just ok) or the e90 (which I think looks way better than the 46)

[bmrbro2]

Did you replace the rubber steering coupler between the rack and steering column? On one of my e36's it was completely shot and caused the steering wheel to shake.

[PpRecuero]

My wheel shakes as well, but I'm thinking the blame is on the passenger side shock mount, but will check the coupler you mention after I repair the power steering rack.

[hammy1]

Did you replace the rubber steering coupler between the rack and steering column? On one of my e36's it was completely shot and caused the steering wheel to shake.

Nope I have yet to replace that, I think I might just replace the whole column to eliminate the ujoint as well.