Hey folks
My 2003 530i Sport with 76k miles required fast response regarding famous Thrust Arm bushing .
After a lot of work done on my 2001 I felt comfortable to do it myself
I read carefully beisansystems Thrust Arm Bushings (E39) replacement and it helped me a lot …
but I personally don’t like Jaw Puller & Pipe Cap Press Technique so I did it in my way .
I think it will be interesting to share this with you ...
I used 2 tools – E38/E39 3 Rear Diff Bushing BMW Metric Tool – I called it A Tool
A Tool
and 3 pullers which i borrowed from AutoZone ( The Ball Joint Press Kit ) - I called it B Tool
B Tool :
I didn’t replace the whole thrust arms – here I simple SHOW you how I did it UNDER CAR on my OLD Thrust Arm .
Sides should be 14.5mm – I checked my old bushing and it was very close ( 14.4 mm )
I started to press my old bushing from arrow (inner) side:
This is my first setup – I pressed bushing almost till Thrust Arm with puller #1 A Tool in front and puller #1 B tool in rear
Start working, moving well:
Coming to Thrust Arm …
second setup - Now I need to change right puller #1 A Tool to puller #2 from AutoZone ( B Tool )
The inner part of this puller will destroy my old bushing but outer part will do the job.
I was not able to find the better puller of this size ( 66.4mm )
As I don't need an old bushing this method worked just fine for me
Bushing diameter
58.3
66.4
Moving the whole bushing inside the Thrust Arm – most important and difficult part
of Thrust Arm bushing replacement :
third setup - need enlarge rear part – I replaced part #1 B Tool with part #3 B Tool
All done
Now I need to disconnect AutoZone puller from old bushing:
My old bushing was cracked:
Time to install my new bushing (pictures under car) . Again you need to start from the same arrow side
Here I used part #5 from A Tool and part #1 from AutoZone B Tool
Installation is much easy - this is the only one setup which i need :
The most important thing is to achieve the right direction when you press new bushing and 14.5 mm dimension from both sides
I marked 14.5 mm on my new bushing and also marked both arm and bushing to follow arrow signs
Here is my installed new bushing ( right side )
As you see the “BOLT method” is more effective and more easy than a “Jaw Puller” method
I can say that this was not difficult at all ...
Don't forget in the end to tighten all bolts in “normal position”
My 2003 530i Black Sport stock “normal position” (loaded ) with OEM 17" wheels
LF 395 MM
RF 390 MM
LR 370 MM
RR 365 MM
My 2003 530i Silver Sport stock “normal position” (loaded ) with OEM 17" wheels
LF 380 MM
RF 375 MM
LR 360 MM
RR 365 MM
not loaded
LF 400 MM
RF 395 MM
LR 380 MM
RR 375 MM
not loaded 18" with Koni Yellow Adjustable
LF 395 MM
RF 390 MM
LR 390 MM
RR 390 MM
Enjoy !
Last edited by champaign777; 06-23-2012 at 11:52 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Thanks for the nice write up. Can you put the down the torque specs for bolts?
tension strut to subframe 110 NM ( 81 Ft Lb )
don't forget to perform final torque under normal position ( loaded )
Last edited by champaign777; 02-23-2012 at 12:04 AM.
A thousand points of light.
Cold vodka.
Aletta Ocean.
Bravo, nice job.
This is the way to-do this job, no Shark JAWS puller needed.
What bushing did you use, OEM or Myle HD?
"I'd smash that (Jennifer Connelly) like a failed coup in sub-Saharan Africa."
~Macktheknife in my epic Jennifer Connelly OT Thread
I applaud your effort. If I did this your way I would have left the other end attached to the spindle.
I usually pull the whole arm out because I replaced the bushings with a pneumatic press. I have all the tools you used. I'll have to try it your way with the arm in once to see if it's any faster.
I work as a tech at an independent BMW repair shop.
it was long time ago in 2009 old man and it was cold but no Russian vodka used
i may try next time with vodka and see if it's any faster.
No china suspension on my cars , only OEM bushing . Even they will not last long they will last gooood
Usually trust arm bushing lasts ~50k miles where whole trust arm
can lasts ~100k miles so this method may work for you as well
Last edited by champaign777; 10-03-2011 at 11:46 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Fwiw, my thrust arm bushings are about 25% torn/compromised after 12-16 months. And that's tooling around on 16" wheels. New York roads are like Siberia, tough.
"I'd smash that (Jennifer Connelly) like a failed coup in sub-Saharan Africa."
~Macktheknife in my epic Jennifer Connelly OT Thread
i know New York roads are evil amigo so your next job will be BMW mechanic
Do you think one would be able to find, say from a lowes or home depot, a similar bolt and size piping to replicate the tool you used?
Would it have the "strength" to push the bushing out?
you may try this combo
#1 Master Ball Joint Adapter set
#4 10 Piece Bearing Race and Seal Driver Set
from Harbor Freight + some long bolts
I never tried it so cant comment
If you need my E38/E39 3 Rear Diff Bushing BMW Metric Tool i can rent it
igorolen at gmail dot com
Last edited by champaign777; 11-12-2011 at 11:26 AM.
Replacing bushings is a waste of money and time. Just my own opinion LOL!
Not always, something older cars with lower mileage have softened bushings due to age, but the ball joint still have plenty of life.
My car has 42k miles and I'm sure the ball joints are just breaking in, but the front end does feel a bit soft, so for me some new bushings might be quite an upgrade.
because trust arm bushings last 30-50k ( $40-$80 value ) where trust arm ball joints last 70-120k ( $130-$180 value )
The life of whole trust arm = 2 lifes of trust arm bushings
Last edited by champaign777; 11-13-2011 at 12:22 PM.
Can you say "wheel alignment"? I thought you could!
Replacing the bushing doesn't change length of control arm, but changing the entire arm probably will.
Can you say "Zombie thread revival?"
I didn't think so.
Wtf.
Photobucket is GARBAGE
But thread is valid
+1 and why would you want to keep the same worn out arm ball joint? Installing a high end monoball on a new arm makes sense but to hang a bushing only on the old arm?!?
the next post will be, "I have this vibration at 40-75 mph, what do you think it could be, as I have replaced the easy parts?"
Last edited by StephenVA; 09-08-2020 at 08:16 PM.
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