ARB bushes

[silver141]

A knocking sound started last week on my 1999 e46 when going over fairly small bumps.I had the same thing last year and it was my wishbone bushes.This sounds exactly the same but it cant be them surely.So last weekend I replaced the droplinks but it still knocks.Im guessing now its the arb bushes.Ive just been on the net and there is a couple of different sizes.Does anyone know what size i would need for a 1999 318 e46?Also my front doors seem to rattle quite a bit over roughly surfaced roads etc and its getting on my wick any ideas?

[B3Svert]

If you call your local stealer with your reg number they will tell you the size, there may even be a few different sizes for the model year so best to check by chassis/reg number.

[silver141]

No mate.Just did them my self but didnt use a torque wrench just regular socket and spanner.

[honest_delboy]

How hard/easy was it to change the drop links? My E36 is making a knocking noise.

[8Tech]

ARB bushes never knock so I would check that the new drop-limks are fully tight. You cannot identify the diameter from the chassis number unless you know the suspension options fitted to the car. Best bet is a vernier.

Replacing the drop-limks is a simple 15 min job.

[honest_delboy]

8Tech said:

Replacing the drop-limks is a simple 15 min job.

Do you think i could give it a go with axle stands outside my house? I assume wheels off but hubs stay in place. I've tried to find how-tos on the web but come up blank so far. I'm not adverse to buying a torque wrench and have tackled discs/pads/wheel bearings before on other cars.

[john_p]

Could it be the ARB bushes themselves? Where the ARB passes through.

As for doing it, it's a 1-spanner Haynes job. Axle stands, wheels off, two nuts each side.

I needed to use a 16/17mm cone spanner to hold the back of the ARB drop links in place when I tightened it though. (The old ones were smaller than the new)

Edited by john_p on Friday 2nd July 16:56

[TheEnd]

honest_delboy said:

8Tech said:

Replacing the drop-limks is a simple 15 min job.

Do you think i could give it a go with axle stands outside my house? I assume wheels off but hubs stay in place. I've tried to find how-tos on the web but come up blank so far. I'm not adverse to buying a torque wrench and have tackled discs/pads/wheel bearings before on other cars.

Yea, it's easy enough, you'll want to get the complete front up (if you jack one side, the rollbar will be trying to lift the wheel you are working on)

Undo the link at the wishbone, and it'll pop down, fit the new one, then use your jack to lift up the wishbone and get the bottom screw back into the wishbone again.

Careful not to jack the car off off the stands!