I need bushings!!! Expert Help Needed

[bethestick3308]

Hello Bimmerforums members. As you know, valentines day is coming up, and my wonder girlfriend asked what I would like. Naturally I asked for something for my car. I am in the process of accruing all the things I need for a complete suspension overhaul. I just bought some Eibach Pro Kits and I have a set of Bilstein Sports on the way. So, obviously, I need some bushings. So I am going to get the LCABs, RTABs, and Front CABs. I want to go with powerflex or any other polyurethane type. I need to know where the best place is to get them. Where did you guys get these very important parts? Any best websites to get them the cheapest? After this all I need is RSMs and I am good to go.

Thanks in advance,
John

[neverman]

Hehe, not very romantic... :)

Why the poly? I've heard some mixed reports on the quality of powerflex, look into Delrin at all? Lots of info to be found out there and here.

Bimmerworld, Turner Motor Sports, TCKline Racing, Ground Control are all good sources of parts and more importantly information. No hard sales pitches from these guys and you can pick their brains (they race these things and street them, at least the last 3 do!) about what best suits your ride.

[bethestick3308]

I actually have heard good things about delrin. I am looking for what people with these different options in their car think, and where they got them. I want to pick Bimmerforums members!

[bethestick3308]

how bout stock bushings with shims? Anyone running those with some impressions they would like to share?

[epj3]

Stock with shims is great. Powerflex or urethane is great too. I chose urethane because of the ease of install and slightly stiffer result.

[bethestick3308]

Stock with shims is great. Powerflex or urethane is great too. I chose urethane because of the ease of install and slightly stiffer result.

Hey, so did you replace all the bushings (RTABs, LCABs, and FCABs) or just the most troublesome; the RTABs? And where did you get them from? I am just trying to see what is the best option for me.

Thanks for the replies, and any other real life experiences would be great.

[epj3]

Hey, so did you replace all the bushings (RTABs, LCABs, and FCABs) or just the most troublesome; the RTABs? And where did you get them from? I am just trying to see what is the best option for me.

Thanks for the replies, and any other real life experiences would be great.

I did the most common bushings - front control arm bushing, and the rear trailing arm bushing. Bimmerworld.com is the US importer of powerflex - bimmerworld is awesome, so I reccomend just buying from there.

[bethestick3308]

great, I think that I might go with those two sets, the RTABs and FCABs. You had a noticable difference?

[neverman]

The delrin are also the same install process, 2 piece end caps over a single piece sleeve... they don't require the shims (as it's incorporated) but do cost a bit more. Turner sells the exact same delrin pieces that TCKline make. They will also WAY outlast the powerflex from most reports I've read. That's what sold me most as I don't ever want to change these again.

Your second best option from what I've read would be the stock bushings (actually Turner says theirs are a bit better than stock) with the shims available from Turner (blue aluminum) or streetability kit from GC (plastic discs).

The Powerflex would be an easy install but the worst material choice. Poly is cheap for a reason.

[m3beemer16]

I just set up a Group Buy for Powerflex RTABS and LCABS(same thing as Fcabs; F=Front, L=Lower, L=F).. Do a search for reviews. There are a bunch of threads with comparisons etc.. I researched a lot before buying my PF bushings.

Also, UUC just came out with Urethane RTABS that may be worth checkin out. Rob just listed some in the Group buy section.

Just a tip, Although the install of PF rtabs are easier then stock, Getting your stock Rtabs off is a pain in the ass and you would be better off getting a Victory tool Puller anyway to get them off. You can do it without tools but you will be spending a lot of time and effort cutting/burning/hacksawing your old bushings out. So if you do get a tool it really doesn't make any difference with the ease of install with PF vs Stock. Just a thought from my experience. I used the tool.

[bethestick3308]

Cool man, a group buy sounds great. How exactly does that work? Are there just multiple people that are buying the same thing, and then we get a discount or something? Either way, I am going to go with those two sets of bushings LCABs and RTABs.

Also, thanks for the advice about the tool, but we have a hydraulic press, so the bushings shouldn't be a problem to get out. My family is lucky enough to own a couple of Napa Auto Parts stores, so I have access to some pretty cool stuff. :)

[m3beemer16]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646632&highlight=powerflex go to the last page there is a link to AAK's page with the GB price..

You should be set then with your Napa Store hook-up ;)

The thing the the RTAB is that normally you will be under your car trying to press them out. Go to Understeer.com and look at their DIY sections there is a write-up and there are some pictures. They are installing stock Bushings there, but you can get an idea of what the process is. Also, I would recommend doing a Search and searching "RTAB" and "LTAB" "INstalls"

Yea, the Group Buy section on here has some really good deals. Basically, a lot of the vendors on here will posts specials and what not, or a lot of members will post request for a product at a discount and usually if we can gather enough people interested a vendor will supply the item at a dicounted price!

[fast1]

Cool man, a group buy sounds great. How exactly does that work? Are there just multiple people that are buying the same thing, and then we get a discount or something? Either way, I am going to go with those two sets of bushings LCABs and RTABs.

Also, thanks for the advice about the tool, but we have a hydraulic press, so the bushings shouldn't be a problem to get out. My family is lucky enough to own a couple of Napa Auto Parts stores, so I have access to some pretty cool stuff. :)

The tool keeps you from having to pull the whole trailing arm off the car and will save you time in doing that.

[Stück]

Replace everything with new OEM.

Urethane/Delrin is just stupid on a street car. Little to nothing gained except NVH.

[Balthazarr]

Replace everything with new OEM.

Urethane/Delrin is just stupid on a street car. Little to nothing gained except NVH.

Gotta agree with this.
Poly, when it fails doesn't fail gradually like rubber.
Now, if you get very soft poly, it will ride well, but flex more than OEM.
Just my opinion though.
Do what you want. I know you want to enhance your handling, but rubber on the street is best.
Those points will take one hell of a beating and poly isn't up to it.

[bethestick3308]

So on that page there are the E36 Contol Arm Bushings and the E36/E46 Trailing Toe Bushings. Are those the same as LCABs and RTABs, respectively? If so, those are great prices, and i will probably get them soon. One last question, what would be the difference that I would see in getting an offset or centered LCAB? What are the pros and cons of each. Thanks.

[Balthazarr]

So on that page there are the E36 Contol Arm Bushings and the E36/E46 Trailing Toe Bushings. Are those the same as LCABs and RTABs, respectively? If so, those are great prices, and i will probably get them soon. One last question, what would be the difference that I would see in getting an offset or centered LCAB? What are the pros and cons of each. Thanks.

CAB=LCAB; Trailing arm Bushings=RTAB

You have a 95, get the offset.

[Bimwad]

Replace everything with new OEM.

Urethane/Delrin is just stupid on a street car. Little to nothing gained except NVH.

Hey Stuck:
What does NVH mean? Is that painful?

[Bimmerforums]

Noise Vibration Harshness

[bethestick3308]

what does the offset do as opposed to the centered one? Especially with regards to the 95.