Control arm bushing replacment

[MR 325]

I have heard word of a special type of grease needed from BMW to install the control arm bushings on to the arms, is this true or am I on crack? If true will the dealer have this?

[KenC]

The Bentley mentions some special bmw grease. I just used a tube of white lithium grease... and it was still a bitch.

[Chris325/325i]

Liquid dish soap works fine. The special BMW lube dries in 30 min, dish soap will take longer. I let mine sit overnight just to make sure.

[KenC]

I had zero luck with dishsoap.

[nando]

dish soap is the answer. leave it in a warm soapy solution for a good hour, then keep applying the soap to it as you hammer the bushing onto the control arm. just make sure you don't put them on the wrong sides..

I wouldn't use grease, the lubrication is supposed to dry out, I don't think lithium grease would.

[Ryan Stewart]

KY or turpentine is what most independents use. Use a shit load and then once you put the car back together let it sit for an hour or so till it dries.

You want to use either of those so they dont attack the rubber or leave a nasty residue to pick up shit.

[KenC]

I wouldn't use grease, the lubrication is supposed to dry out, I don't think lithium grease would.

It'll degrade and dry out over a while. But does it really matter that much? The Treehouse bushings don't even 'hold' the end of the arm.

[DanGillan]

at the shop we use napa (or some other random brand) stuff called "SylGlide" you put it on the control arm, and on the inside of the bushing, with both ball joints of the control arm still attached to the car, you just slide the brackets with bushings on, its hard, but it goes on most of the time with just one person pushing. sylglide is only a few bucks, try it out, works well.

[Ryan Stewart]

It'll degrade and dry out over a while. But does it really matter that much? The Treehouse bushings don't even 'hold' the end of the arm.

Think about how much shit will get kicked up there and how well it would stick to a viscous fluid.

[MR 325]

Used dishsoap to get them on but I will be hoenst Ryan, I tried the KY first :)

Thanks guys.

[demlotcrew]

Dish soap is the key, but i boil the bush first and it fits with slight pressure from ussing your hand!

Andrew