Poly vs oem bushings

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Best practice is to rebuild the entire suspension rather than part by part. Worn parts put more stress on new parts as do new parts on worn parts. If the entire suspension is rebuilt with OE or OEM life should be 75 to 100,00 miles or more.

I have done a lot of work improving the handling. I have not seen the need to use poly bushings in other than the subframe. Suspensions are designed so that it all works together to result in particular handling characteristics. I stayed with parts that were designed to work together. Primary reason was that the X5 understeers more than I like already. I didn't want to risk increasing understeer. I don't think the increased cost of poly bushings pass the value equation.

Same, on both sentiments. Whenever I buy a new (used) BMW I do the entire suspension. It costs more up front, but saves loads of headaches and time. I have never been a fan of poly bushings on anything short of a race prepared vehicle.

[TiminIndy]

OK, so I'm thinking about getting the Meyle HD bushings only and getting them pressed. It doesn't sound like my indy mechanic likes to deal with pressing bushings. What type of shop could I look for that will just press them into my old control arms?

[Lamby]

I took them to my local garage, anywhere that has a decent press, I mean, not sure you could get old rusted ones out with a 1 ton bench press. My local had a 20 ton press and popped them out like they where bottle caps.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by TiminIndy

OK, so I'm thinking about getting the Meyle HD bushings only and getting them pressed. It doesn't sound like my indy mechanic likes to deal with pressing bushings. What type of shop could I look for that will just press them into my old control arms?

Once you find a shop willing to replace the bushes for you, print this page and give it to them.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...nsion/G9xAusEj

They'll still screw it up (most likely) but hey, at least you tried...

I'm buying my own press - real soon.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Best practice is to rebuild the entire suspension rather than part by part. Worn parts put more stress on new parts as do new parts on worn parts. If the entire suspension is rebuilt with OE or OEM life should be 75 to 100,00 miles or more.

I have done a lot of work improving the handling. I have not seen the need to use poly bushings in other than the subframe. Suspensions are designed so that it all works together to result in particular handling characteristics. I stayed with parts that were designed to work together. Primary reason was that the X5 understeers more than I like already. I didn't want to risk increasing understeer. I don't think the increased cost of poly bushings pass the value equation.

After having to replace thrust arm bushings twice in 70k miles. I switched to the poly bushings. I tried them on the control arms as well, but I think the design doesn't work well. Way too much movement in them. Switched back to factory control arm bushings and left the thrust arm poly bushings in. I haven't noticed any increase in under steer and the steering and handling feel firmer. Plus I'll likely never have to replace the thrust arm bushings again. And if I do, they'll be free as Powerflex bushings have a lifetime warranty.

[bcredliner]

Only way to know if handling has changed is to disengage the turn traction control and go around a turn fast enough so that one end or the other breaks loose. From doing that I know the changes I made reduced understeer. If one doesn't push the limits frequently I don't think it matters either way. IMO replacing the bushings twice in 70,000 miles indicates something else in the suspension or the bushing quality, pressing or install, is a significant contributing factor.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Only way to know if handling has changed is to disengage the turn traction control and go around a turn fast enough so that one end or the other breaks loose. From doing that I know the changes I made reduced understeer. If one doesn't push the limits frequently I don't think it matters either way. IMO replacing the bushings twice in 70,000 miles indicates something else in the suspension or the bushing quality, pressing or install, is a significant contributing factor.

I rebuilt the entire suspension using Lemforder parts, so I wouldn't expect quality to be an issue, but maybe it is. I replaced the control and thrust arms complete. I didn't just press in new bushings. Install was done per the manual and alignment done by a local shop.

[RFaber]

Ive used a vice, and a few different diameter pipes to 'press' out a bushing, worst case is you have to 'cut' the old one out with a reciprocating saw etc and then use some anti-seize to lube the new one as you press it in!
I have since bought a press, and I do the job frequently on lots of diffferent cars. I have the Meyle HD ones in my X5, mine has about 100k km on the 'new' bushings with no complaints! (total of about 330,000km on the odometer!)

anything is possible with the right tools, or improvisations of such!

[TiminIndy]

A friend told me that Car-X muffler shops will press them for $25. I got the Meyle HD bushings in and dropped them off at CarX Thursday night. He wouldn't say how much it would be and he didn't end up getting to them on Friday, so I will pick them up Tuesday and see how they did / how much.


I had also called AutoHaus Merkle, a very reputable German shop in Indy. They said they would do them for an hour of labor, but CarX is much closer and should be less $$. Merkle didn't really sound like they wanted to deal with it.

[crystalworks]

Shouldn't any machine shop be able to do it? Seems they would be way cheaper too.