[smdubovsky]

FWIW, You need a 'fork' to press the bushings out w/ a press. You have to be able to get in and support the frame between the two ear/cutouts in the bushing. I'll take a pic of the one I made. But having an extra person to help position it and support it are almost a must w/ a press. IIRC, the E30 subframe needs the fork tool no matter which way to do it. The lip you have to press on is completely covered by the bushing flange except at those two notches.

[N0tt0N]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

This is what I feel like when I HoF one of my own threads:

Attachment 50973

Sometimes a Benevolent Dictator is a good thing for the people. Congratulations from your fawning courtiers.

[Jazzbass]

Yesterday was delivery day for most of the parts. More evidence that these cars are 80% rubber - all of this is "replace old rubber parts", no performance upgrades at all. Here's what we're looking at for the rest of the project:



1. Tie rods (both boots torn) and tie rod boots (one torn)
2. Motor and transmission mounts (all cracked and broken)
3. Front drop links (right side broken)
4. Front control arm bushings (worn out and cracked)
5. Shifter rebuild kit, new shift pins, and clutch hose
6. Driveshaft rubber - giubo, center carrier bushing, centering bushing
7. Differential seals and CV boots (all are leaking and/or starting to crack)
8. Rear suspension bushings/ball joints (10 total)
9. New fuel filter (not shown: new fuel hose)
10. Differential bushings (3 total)
11. Subframe bushings (4 total)

[86911TLCAB]

Well done Chris...good source of info when I try this on my back in my liftless garage...smile.

[Handlebar]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

Yesterday was delivery day for most of the parts. More evidence that these cars are 80% rubber - all of this is "replace old rubber parts", no performance upgrades at all. Here's what we're looking at for the rest of the project:

Attachment 51112

Is this doable without a lift?

Without a lift, what is a possible guesstimate for the time to replace the rubber bits?

I am impressed (intimidated?) by the quality of work. Looks great!

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Handlebar

Is this doable without a lift?

Absolutely, you'd just need some decent jackstands. Worst part would be pulling the exhaust.

Originally Posted by Handlebar

Without a lift, what is a possible guesstimate for the time to replace the rubber bits?

Depends on how experienced the person is doing it and how OCD they are. I'm pretty experienced but also very OCD, so I take the same amount of time as a n00b who is not OCD. To do everything, realistically probably 2-3 weekends and some days in between.

Originally Posted by Handlebar

I am impressed (intimidated?) by the quality of work. Looks great!

Thank you.

[cmartin]

Dont let his modesty fool you, Jazz has raised his already high bar on this one. Not many folks take the time to clean and paint a subframe on a e46 just to mention one example. Well done Chris. Most dont replace every bushing, only the worst in such a job.

[Rob in VA]

Originally Posted by Lupin..the..3rd

...All you need now is some Spec E46 logos and numbers for the doors!

Jazz is doing this under the guise of his daughter. Yeah, we don't believe that for a second.

[BlackTalon]

He's secretly installing a bunch of movement sensors and a wireless communication system. So if the BMW comes close to starting a rockin', the next sound heard will be Jazz's shotgun a cockin'

[HughA44s]

Can't tell if there are wheel bearings in that pile but these seen to start losing pre-load on the bearings at 100k miles or so. The tell tail sign is that the inner circumference of the outer surface of the brake disk starts to wear alot - digging a wide groove. I have seen this teching BMWs alot. This is not something that can be found by our usual wheel wiggle test. I did these when I did the RTABs and it is a quick and easy progress. Just a suggestion to spend some more of your time and money.