e36 rear trailing arm bushings

[jimwilli]

Hi All

First post

I have recently found out the trailing arm bushes on our E36 are shot it. Got a decent price (anyone hazard a guess?) off a local specialist to replace using OE lemford replacements. He says these make the BMW bushes so sound just as good. The car is a daily driver for the missus and a 316 so performance obviously isn't too much of a consideration. Is it worth getting some limiters fitted at the same time to increase the lifespan? Tbf I think these are the first replacements the car has had since new so probably unnecessary!

Jim

[helix402]

No need for limiters.

[jimwilli]

Thanks for reply.

[E-bmw]

Just make sure they torque up the centre bolts when the car is on its wheels & not supported.

[jimwilli]

Cheers, any idea what I'm paying? I had an outrageous price of a local indy specialist I used to use. They've gone into sales and I don't think they're as interested in work now

[E-bmw]

Shouldn't be a lot but as to money, no idea as I have always done my own spannering.

Just ask around your local garages, it isn't a specialist job.

[Touring442]

Don't use the 'split' bushes, the ones with slots in the outer steel casing. They are easier to fit but can 'walk' out of the trailing arms. Use solid ones that require the special tool to remove and refit.

It's a hard job to price as much can go wrong. One of the three retaining bolts snapping off in the body, or dropping the trailing arm and finding that the metalwork the arm sits into is as rotten as a carrot. If all goes to plan it is 2 hours a side. However, the newest E36 has had 23 stty British winters.

[TWOKWACKS]

After rear bush replacement a geometry check is required as the bracket which has to be undone adjusts the rear toe .

[jimwilli]

Thanks I will get the 4 wheel alignment afterwards from a nearby tyre place.

Hopefully it's not in bad nick underneath. Been garaged most it's life and I've had the underside done with dinitrol

[e21Keith]

Did both sides on my driveway in 2 hours, it's a straight forward enough job, there's a puller for removing/fitting the bushes. I went for the Lemformer (OEM). The originals had lasted 160k miles.

[jimwilli]

That must've been the make he said. I will let them do it for what they've quoted I think it's reasonable enough, change out of a couple of hundred incl parts

[jimwilli]

All done today. Chap did the mileage bulb for me too which I had bought and was intending to fit myself before this job arose. Did this foc so I gave him a drink.