Back to stock RTABs

[jmo69]

RESOLVED

After putting poly RTABs in my e36 coupe, I'm considering going back to stock rubber bushings. The reason being that it is so loud in the car I hate driving with the windows up. I've checked everything I can think of that might be the source of the noise. The wheel bearings are fine as is the CSB and no noises from the dif or transmission. I've backed off the parking brakes and even driven it with the rear calipers off the rotors. What I need to know is where to position the new bushing in the trailing arm. I know if you replace stock with stock you measure the gap between the bushing flange and the arm with feeler gauges but the polys that are in there have no gap. Just center it or what? Any help will be appreciated, TIA.

It turned out that the noise was a rear wheel bearing, the one that had been replaced once already. If nothing else a few other items got replaced in the process of finding the cause. New center support bearing and both camber bolt assemblies and bushings. Acquired a few more tools and learned how to do more repairs so it was definitely a learning experience.

[pbonsalb]

My powerflex purple rtabs were no louder than stock. If you go stock, you can use limiters. Also there is one stick rtab that is stiffer than others. Might be a Z4M application. There is info on it at the Vorshlag website.

[bluptgm3]

The new factory RTABs no longer have flanges…


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[jmo69]

I've got the red ones from UUC and it's the only thing I can think of. It went from speeds above 35 to most any speed now. The other day when I went from 65 to 55 mph the sound got louder. The strange thing is I can't hear anything outside of the car. That's why I figured it was NVH. These are the bushings I have. Bluptgm3, does that mean I should center them?
uuc_rtab (2).jpg

[bluptgm3]

If those fit centered on you RTA, the clamp-up bushing was flush on both ends, and you were able to align the Toe correctly, then yes use those flange thicknesses as a guide.


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[jmo69]

I'm looking at the kit from FCP with Lemforder bushings and limiters and I'm waiting for a response from them because the kit is listed as not fitting my 328 coupe. But it fits every other non M e36, the same with the zm kit.

[bluptgm3]

I'm looking at the kit from FCP with Lemforder bushings and limiters and I'm waiting for a response from them because the kit is listed as not fitting my 328 coupe. But it fits every other non M e36, the same with the zm kit.

If it fits M3/323/318/325 then if fits 328


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[pbonsalb]

Beware some sell poly limiters that may squeak. Delrin may be better.

[bluptgm3]

Also there is one stock rtab that is stiffer than others. Might be a Z4M application. There is info on it at the Vorshlag website.

Thanks for that tip, interesting.
https://vorshlag-store.com/collectio...-bushings-pair



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[pbonsalb]

The split bushings are more of a pain to install, since you have to compress the split as you press them in.

[bluptgm3]

The split bushings are more of a pain to install, since you have to compress the split as you press them in.

Right, can I still purchase a Lemforder 'flanged' bushing?


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[acgrossen]

Mine were very noisy and horrible to deal with until I greased them up with copper anti seize. OP, did you grease them properly?

[jmo69]

Mine were very noisy and horrible to deal with until I greased them up with copper anti seize. OP, did you grease them properly?

Yes, they were greased with copper anti-seize and a grease designed for extreme pressure and wet conditions, aka ring grease for redi-mix trucks.