Rear Diff Mount Bushings (Update - installed new)
 

Anyone changed these bushings? At least one of them is shot. Going to replace all 3. I just turned 250,000 miles and they've never been changed. Looking for info on bushing removal and installation tool. Anyone know if there's an inexpensive tool for this?

I'm not sure if there's a special tool for the rear diff bushings. I bought a bushing install removal tool not that expensive for a nice kit... but it was for the rear subframe bushings :dunno:

After doing some sleuthing, I figured out that the e60/61 diff bushings are the same as the e53, so a tool that works for the e60 "should" work for our e53. Found this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GQP2ETC...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Only $40 , I'm going to give it a go. I also found some poly bushings made in Europe by Strongflex that are sold as specifically for the e53. Powerflex has them for the e60/61, which should fit, but at twice the price. I'm ordering the European made ones. We'll see how they are.

Please if you dont mind, share your install and drive experience with these poly bushings. I'm curious to hear about it.

Absolutely! :thumbup:

Just finished installing the new bushings. I will be doing a write up on it. Needless to say it's a PITA without a lift. It's a fair amount of work lying on your back. I purchased a bushing removal kit that was advertised as being for E60's and a number of other BMWs. The bushings I bought were advertised as being the same size as the E60. So, for $60 I figured I'd take a chance.

The rear bushing is definitely not the same as the E60 if the removal kit is any indication. It's larger than anything going on the E60. I McGyvered a pull cup using a hole saw. It wasn't deep enough, so once the bushing was out half way I used a couple parts from the kit to lift the hole saw up to make more room. That worked. The front bushings can be removed with the parts from the kit except the pull cup needs to be modified. I had to grind a notch in the edge of the cup so it would clear the subframe part holding the bushing carrier. Other than that they came right out.

The poly bushings went in relatively easily. They seem to be tapered so you can push them in by hand and then tap them further in with a dead blow hammer. I used the kit to press them the rest of the way in.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to disconnect the half shafts from the differential, but that was not to be. I couldn't get the diff low enough to get at the bushings without disconnecting them. That added time to the project.

Also had to disconnect the exhaust behind the resonator. Came apart relatively easy except for the top one. It was a PITA.

I took a short ride with them in and they seem good, but I need some more time to really evaluate them.

They're a good price and seem well made. Look as good as Powerflex.

That's it for now will update after I put some more miles on them.