Is this possible? RTAB replacement...

[tim88325is]

Hi, after searching I didn't come up with any clear answer on whether the rear trailing arm bushing can be done without removing the halfshafts from hub and/or diff.

Could I ...

1. Remove the suspension spring.
2. Loosely install a junk shock absorber to hold the trailing arm in position and keep stress off the halfshaft.
3. Unbolt trailing arm bolts and pull the trailing arm back or down a few inches allow the threaded rod setup to press out and press in the bushings.

Or should I just plan on removing the trailing arms entirely?

Thanks for any ideas or experience...

Tim

[bmwpower]

Do yourself a favor...remove the arms.

[jlevie]

Unless they've previously been replaced, I'll hazard a guess that you also need new subframe bushings. The RTAB's a pretty much a piece of cake with the subframe out of the car. I go even further and replace the diff mount, rear wheel bearing, and the soft brake lines that run over the subframe if I'm replacing RTAB's. Rather a "do it all at once" approach.

[ak96ss]

Unless they've previously been replaced, I'll hazard a guess that you also need new subframe bushings. The RTAB's a pretty much a piece of cake with the subframe out of the car. I go even further and replace the diff mount, rear wheel bearing, and the soft brake lines that run over the subframe if I'm replacing RTAB's. Rather a "do it all at once" approach.

+1

This is much easier to deal with:



Of course, getting to this point is difficult, but as long as you're in there replacing rubber, may as well get it all.

Going back in:

[bmwpower]

Yea, but you installed it backwards. :)

It's not too bad of a job, just not something that is quick to do.... a lot of ancillary parts that need to come off.

Which bushings did you go with?

[ak96ss]

OE rubber - I figured they last a long time and, in my experience, urethane bushings aren't well-suited to a daily driver unless you live where the roads are all perfect.

[Jean]

Deff. drop the whole thing out at once... and replace trailing arm bushings, subframe bushings, brake lines, brake pads / e-brake shoes, adjust e-brakes, check your muffler hanger, check the driveshaft guibo/csb/u-joints while there. Now would also be a good time to replace the wheel bearings if needed.

I also went with all new oem bushings, it sure made the longer drives smoother. Just put 300 miles over the weekend to the last autorcross for this year and new rear bushings do make a difference.

[tim88325is]

Cool, thanks for the info. I do need, at the very least, new subframe bushings which I was planning to try to do on the car as well. I thought I read here where you can cut out the rubber, bang out the center metal bushing, and then carefully cut the outer metal sleeve to pry out.

Can one person get the subframe assembly down with a jack? Or is that too sketchy?

I did just replace the driveshaft myself which involved removing the entire exhaust.

Thanks again... Tim

[ak96ss]

Yes, one person can do that, I've done all the work myself in the driveway on jack stands.

[Scotaku]

Wanna help me do mine???

[ak96ss]

Sure, if I can get my schedule to cooperate. When did you want to do it? Do you have real tools? :)

[MajorLaser]

Nice pic helps I'm about to start replacing bushings in the rear...wish it wasn't such a B*%&$