New Meyle HD bushings installed.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Meyle HD bushings: more solid and sporty feel than OEM while lasting longer, and won't cause you to feel every shake,bump and shimmy on the road. Good balance of performance and comfort. (like M3 control arm bushings vs series bushings with E36 and E46 platforms) .

I had the Meyle HD Bushings installed in my E46 a few months ago and they are amazing.

[TowX]

I'm getting the occasional brake shudder at highway speeds. Not all the time so it's not the rotors. So I took a look at the thrust rod bushings that my dealer told me were shot (for the 3rd time in 80K miles) and they aren't fluid filled, but solid rubber. Looks like when the dealer replaced them the 2nd time under warranty that they used the HD mounts, is that even allowed under warranty? Very interesting.

I'll pull them out next weekend and see if I can find a part number on them. If they're the supposed HD all rubber units, they only lasted about 20K on my X. Original ones lasted 39K miles, 1st replacements lasted 3K (yes, 3,000 miles but those were just the bushings so the dealer thought perhaps one was installed wrong by the tech so they put two new strut arms in), 2nd replacement 18K miles, and the ones in there now about 20K.

[Weasel]

Solid rubber? The Meyle HD bushings look physically the same as the OEM ones... Maybe a pic to shop what you're talking about? Also, brake shudder can be accentuated by worn thrust arm bushings, but doesn't usually cause it. Quite often the shudder is caused by a worn ball joint end of the lower control arm.

[TowX]

Good points. I'm going by what the dealer told me needed replacing last time it was in there to have the trans replaced. And I think I was confusing the thrust arm bushings with the control arm bushings. I've two 2 cars apart at the moment- reinstalling the custom valved Bilstein RSR struts on the 911 along with poly-bronze bushings, and replacing a front hub bearing on the 528. Too many repairs on the brain at the moment.

The interesting thing is that the brake shudder wasn't too noticable all winter, but once the weather got warmer the shake came back so I assume the cold air was effectively raising the durometer stiffness of the bushing's rubber.

For the shudder, I can run locally for days without an issue. And in stop and go on the highway where I'm hitting the brakes frequently even at 50+ there's rarely a shudder. But if I drive for several miles on the highway then hit the brakes, I get the usual 2 or 3 shakes of the wheel then it settles down. And if I hit the brakes right way again there's no shake. And it's worse when I'm pulling the trailer. Last time I had this problem it was the thrust rod bushings. Had them replaced (that was the 3rd replacement) and it fixed the problem.

I'm beginning to wonder if pulling a heavy trailer is contributing to the frequent replacement of these bushings. After all, when accelerating away from a toll booth or pulling long hills, all 4 tires are being driven. When unloaded the burden on the suspension isn't so bad, but with 4500 lbs (now 5800) behind me, the amount of torque being applied to all parts of the drivetrain and suspension is accentuated. And of course the opposite is true when braking even with trailer brakes. So I'm probably tugging on all those bushings far more severely than when not towing. No facts to back this up, just my thoughts.

[Jordo]

My symptoms exactly! I just ordered them, I dont even need to look and confirm mine are warn out. The clunk under brakeing one time in reverse and one time again the first time you hit the brakes going forward. The sutter at high speed brakeing......

Thanks so much for the info! Damn I love this place!

[ArtMan]

Originally Posted by Weasel

...Quite often the shudder is caused by a worn ball joint end of the lower control arm.

My thoughts exactly. Will place an order from ECS for new febi set of lower control arm sets. Thanks

[cavx5]

i also need to change mine but i am concerned that the ride will be a bit harsh due to the roads. i live in the ny metro area and the roads are terrible...dont know what to do..oem or meyle...what do you think

[Weasel]

Meyle is not harsh at all, and I still have had zero problems with mine.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Meyle is not harsh at all, and I still have had zero problems with mine.

Agreed. To me, the Meyle felt the same as the OEM. I wonder if that will change over time as the rubber hardens

[spngr311]

Anyone know where I can buy the Meyle HD ones? I can't seem to find them.