front suspention bushes

kasbatts

kasbatts

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
799
Reaction score
1
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Have spent the 2 weeks on and off scraping and cleaning under seal of the car and the last two nights re seam sealing, all done laying on my back on a creeper with the car barely 350mm above my head, FUN!:) am almost ready to apply new under seal and then reinstall all my newly painted /reconditioned suspension.

In doing so have removed all suspension for a clean and repaint, rear sub frame is all done and ready to go (will post pictures of this soon for those interested, I have made the rear arms on the car adjustable for camber and toe with an eccentric bolt/washer set up, works a treat)

however, I thought that while the front end is out I would re bush with urethane bushes.

My question is, do any of our parts supplier sell these? I'm after the lower arm to front cross member bushes and bushes for both ends of the track rod where it joins the sub frame under the front sway bar mount and where it bolts to lower arm.

My second question is (because I haven't had a good look at them yet), are all of these original rubber bushes press in and out? or are they 2 piece, and come apart after the center steel tube is removed?

Thanks in advance


Steve
 
Last edited:
Bushings

All bushings are one piece. In shopping for parts these past many years, I can't remember seeing any urethane for the front end aside from sway bar links. I've got all new rubber in the front end, and urethane in the trailing arms. Needless to say, after adjusting the steering box play, the difference is amazing. Not so sure you want the harshness of urethane running through the steering system unless you're running on the track? I've been wrong before (so says my better half).

Please post if you find them. I'm curious about experience/performance.
 
I'll be following this thread hoping to see what experienced E9 drivers have found to be their ideal bushing recipe. Was thinking I would go all stock rubber and use poly on sway bars and rear trailing arms on my Coupe.
 
OK, thanks guys, you maybe right about harshness with urathane, I'll keep thing about this one??

So if the big bush in the front of the sub frame is one peice, whats the procedure for getting this out? must be a b#*ch of a job?
 
Put urethane on my 2002, what a mistake, ride is way too harsh for my tastes. Probably is great on a nice smooth surface
 
kasbatts said:
So if the big bush in the front of the sub frame is one peice, whats the procedure for getting this out? must be a b#*ch of a job?
Click to expand...

They actually came our very easily for me. They are old and soft. Use one of the harbor freight kits or adequately sized washers and bolts.
 
A arm bushings

Installation and removal tool is one in the same, and it can be a PITA depending on the robustness of the tool. I made mine from a piece of pipe roughly the length of the bushing along with some threaded rod, nuts, and flange for the pipe which the threaded rod goes through. The idea is to jack the bushing out of the housing and into the pipe cavity. The pipe edge butts up against the bushing's housing and is big enough for the rubber to fit inside without interfering. (Manual says 68mm bore). Getting the bushing out is easier than getting it in.

Installation is the same idea using soap on the leading edge of the bushing pulling it into the housing with a longer rod/bolt. I used the existing cupped washer to help support and push the bushing in. Trick is to keep everything square and centered. You might have to grind the pipe edges if the OD is too big as it is a tight fit for the pipe when it is positioned to pull from the backside of the housing.

If I'm not painting the right visual, it's a lot easier to check it out in the blue factory manual in the front axle section. There's some decent photos. And there might be some other tools you might use that could do the job...not sure.
 
bushes for both ends of the track rod where it joins the sub frame under the front sway bar mount
Click to expand...

When I replaced mine a few years ago (others are correct, probably the most difficult bushing to replace in the car), I was able to get a heavy duty rubber version from W&N. I believe they still have it. Probably not quite as stiff as urethane.

Are you replacing the motor mounts as well? Ireland Engineering has urethane mounts. I have not noticed any additional harshness or vibration using these.
 
Here they are going in. Silicon grease works well. Took 5 minutes to do both.

P1030785.JPG


The end cup and the sleeve are from 2 different HF bearing installing kits. Between those two I've found it possible to attack most (all?) bearing and bushing install/removals in French, Italian and German cars.

P1030786.JPG


P1030790.JPG


P1030792.JPG


P1030793.JPG


Like I said above, when they are old and tired as seen below, they slip right out with the same tool arrangement. Zero drama or fighting.

P1030504.JPG
 
Last edited:
Hi Matthewp

Do you happen to have a part # for the SuperPro bushes? I couldn't find a listing on their site for the E9.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top