E46 rear end bushes

[Krikkit]

Hi guys,

My Compact feels pretty tired front and rear - I know OEM is the best way to go with the lollypop bushes on the front, what about the rear?

At the moment there's a distinct mush feeling between touching the throttle and the rear tyres actually putting some torque down, I know the engine mounts need doing, but it feels like everything at the rear too.

Is it worth doing polybushes for the trailing arms? What about the diff? It's entirely a road car, but I don't want to take it all to bits to still have that soft feeling through the rear. Ride quality isn't really a bother if it takes a small hit, it's soft enough already.

[helix402]

You can fit M3 bushes to the rear arms. Also change all bushes in the rear hubs. Change the solid lower ones for ball joints as used on the M3.

PU bushes are ok for the diff, not good on the rear arms.

[Krikkit]

OK, that sounds like a good compromise - poly the diff+carrier, M3 bushes top/bottom/main for the trailing arms.

[helix402]

Krikkit said:

OK, that sounds like a good compromise - poly the diff+carrier, M3 bushes top/bottom/main for the trailing arms.

I’ve fitted the M3 bushes/ball joints to my last three E46s and it does work well. One had a pu rear diff Bush too.