Bushings Replacement DIY for Rear Lower Control Arm / Swing arm

[Bmwe5320023.0]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Isn't that kind of Amazon's whole business model? Supply cheap crap and make up fake reviews to make it look great?

Yes and no lol
I bought the subframe bushing removal tool from Amazon, no reviews, but geez that thing worked like butter! For $73 Canadian, which is like $50 usd

[nextelbuddy]

i need to do this. I replaced everything with the 20 piece Lemforder kit from FCP Euro and still cant get better than -2.5 camber in the rear and im chewing up tires in 6 months or less.

Alignment person pointed out the swing arm bushings but i told him i didnt see them as being available but i found this thread.


my question is do i replace both bushings in one swing arm? or only 1?

i planned on getting the Poly bushings from

https://psbushings.com/product/2-x-b...poly-psb-bush/


am i correct that i need to order 2 kits aka 4 bushings total for both swing arms?

[andrewwynn]

Camber not the cause of tire wear. But when bushing or ball joints go, the tires toe out on braking and that will shred tires very quickly.

Mine went thru the "redneck wear bars"* in Indy two weeks!

*Aka steel belts. Driving along about 69 mph one day and I hear the craziest sound. Pull over and find about 30" tail whipping around that's peeled off the tire.

Utility knife cut it off and drove the 45 min. home at a reasonable 50-55 mph. Swapped the tires with spares and ordered the full rear kit from FCP three next day.


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[nextelbuddy]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Camber not the cause of tire wear. But when bushing or ball joints go, the tires toe out on braking and that will shred tires very quickly.

Mine went thru the "redneck wear bars"* in Indy two weeks!

*Aka steel belts. Driving along about 69 mph one day and I hear the craziest sound. Pull over and find about 30" tail whipping around that's peeled off the tire.

Utility knife cut it off and drove the 45 min. home at a reasonable 50-55 mph. Swapped the tires with spares and ordered the full rear kit from FCP three next day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

right thats what everyone says "camber is not the cause..."

however it is a major contributor in regrds to toe out/in

having your wheels slanted at -2.5 degrees doesnt help at all

so thats what i mean when i mention camber in regards to chewing up tires.


do you know if you replace both bushings in each swing arm or only the one that has the camber eccentric bolt pass through?

no where in this thread does anyone mention replacing both in each swing arm .

it seems weird to only replace one bushing in the swing arm instead of both even tough the one with the camber eccentric bolt would be the major one to change.

[andrewwynn]

Either one worn will cause exactly the same time problem. Add you are surely aware adjust either camber or toe it affects the other.

The lower outer aft ball joint is the worst offender at causing tire wear butt it that's already new the bushings on the "swing arm" (bmw has even weirder name for it) are very likely culprit.


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[nextelbuddy]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Either one worn will cause exactly the same time problem. Add you are surely aware adjust either camber or toe it affects the other.

The lower outer aft ball joint is the worst offender at causing tire wear butt it that's already new the bushings on the "swing arm" (bmw has even weirder name for it) are very likely culprit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes understood. outer ball joint was replaced from the lemforder 20 piece kit from FCPEuro. it didnt help alignment and did not help with trying to get camber more on the tighter side of -1.5 to -1.8 regardless of the toe adjustment we tried.

the passenger side could be brought in to -1.8 at max camber adjustment on the ecentric bolt but the driver side could only be brought to -2.5 indicating that the driver side swing arm bushings are significantly more worn than the passenger side ones.


i read through the entire thread and didnt see anyone mention if both bushings in one swing arm are identical and the same size. if they are then it sounds like i can order 4 poly bushings to replace all 4.


just hoping someone can confirm that with out me going under the car with calipers to confirm myself.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by nextelbuddy

Yes understood. outer ball joint was replaced from the lemforder 20 piece kit from FCPEuro. it didnt help alignment and did not help with trying to get camber more on the tighter side of -1.5 to -1.8 regardless of the toe adjustment we tried.

the passenger side could be brought in to -1.8 at max camber adjustment on the ecentric bolt but the driver side could only be brought to -2.5 indicating that the driver side swing arm bushings are significantly more worn than the passenger side ones.


i read through the entire thread and didnt see anyone mention if both bushings in one swing arm are identical and the same size. if they are then it sounds like i can order 4 poly bushings to replace all 4.


just hoping someone can confirm that with out me going under the car with calipers to confirm myself.

The bushings are two different sizes. There are two part numbers for each swing arm. One is the front and one is the rear. Four bushings total. Check RealOEM and it will give you the part numbers.

[nextelbuddy]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

The bushings are two different sizes. There are two part numbers for each swing arm. One is the front and one is the rear. Four bushings total. Check RealOEM and it will give you the part numbers.

Real OEM actually doesnt show those bushings with part#s unfortunately. only the hardware for them but not the bushings them selves.


i found the 2 different part#s on PSB website.

the original person who posted about Poly bushings, never posted the link to the bushings only the youtube video which only links to the Front bushing PSB653


the rear bushing is also available and is PSB654

not sure if everyone else just clicked on the video and bought just the front bushing but it makes no sense to remove the swing arm and replace only 1 of the bushings if you can replace both at the same time.


front bushing PSB653 - https://psbushings.com/product/2-x-b...poly-psb-bush/

rear bushing PSB 654 - https://psbushings.com/product/2-x-b...poly-psb-bush/

i knew there had to be 2 because in the YT video at the end it shows both front and rear bushings replaced in the swing arm. it stinks to have to hunt around. you would think PSB would include a link or part# in the description or at least say. BYW there is also a rear bushing we offer as well.


and attached is the screen shot of realoem not showing the part#s to the 2 bushings. i do try to research first before asking seemly repetitive questions.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by nextelbuddy

Real OEM actually doesnt show those bushings with part#s unfortunately. only the hardware for them but not the bushings them selves.


i found the 2 different part#s on PSB website.

the original person who posted about Poly bushings, never posted the link to the bushings only the youtube video which only links to the Front bushing PSB653


the rear bushing is also available and is PSB654

not sure if everyone else just clicked on the video and bought just the front bushing but it makes no sense to remove the swing arm and replace only 1 of the bushings if you can replace both at the same time.


front bushing PSB653 - https://psbushings.com/product/2-x-b...poly-psb-bush/

rear bushing PSB 654 - https://psbushings.com/product/2-x-b...poly-psb-bush/

i knew there had to be 2 because in the YT video at the end it shows both front and rear bushings replaced in the swing arm. it stinks to have to hunt around. you would think PSB would include a link or part# in the description or at least say. BYW there is also a rear bushing we offer as well.


and attached is the screen shot of realoem not showing the part#s to the 2 bushings. i do try to research first before asking seemly repetitive questions.

You're right. Forgot BMW would rather sell an $800 part instead of replacing the bushings. I found the part numbers FCP.

[nextelbuddy]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

You're right. Forgot BMW would rather sell an $800 part instead of replacing the bushings. I found the part numbers FCP.

appreciate the help!