Supplementary Article for control arm bushing options:
https://www.rtsauto.com/e30-control-arm-bushing-upgrades-also-applicable-to-e36-comprehensive-guide-on-control-arm-bushings/

Recently picked up a E30/E36/E46 control arm bushing specialty tool which made the job extremely easy as far as getting the finished bushing carrier with bushing onto the control arm shaft.

This article only really applies to OEM rubber bushings as poly and solid bushings slide on by hand. My personal preference is against using poly or solid bushings and thus I benefit from these tools.

Lets start with the tool that I bought:

Koch tools Part number: KT20249

Price: $140

As far as I am concerned this is also the same EXACT tool sold by Baum under part number B1858 for $250.

Then there is MIS tools part “BMW E30/E36/E46/Z3 FCAB Tool”

Price $100

Then there is the homemade route:

“To whip up a handy tool to install the new bushing/brackets on to the control arms, drill holes in the end of the 3/8″ steel pipe that match up with the widest slots on the harmonic balancer puller. The all-thread passes though the holes, washers and nuts secures the all-thread. Assemble the pipe/all-thread/puller on the control arm. The pipe fits though the rear most hole in the control arm, the all-thread pieces bolt though the pipe, the puller slips over the all-thread, washers and nuts hold that mess together. A large socket (1-1/4″) makes a great adapter to allow the center bolt of the balancer puller to push the bushing on to the end of the control arm.”

Three quick tips while doing this job:

If you get M3 E36 centered control arm bushings you will notice there is no arrow indicating the orientation like other bushings or offset bushings. There is a correct alignment. Either of the raised tabs on the bushing has to match the carrier raised mark:

Second tip is how to install the bushing into the carrier (to remove just sawzall or air hammer it out). If you take an old front wheel bearing from an E30, without the inner race the inner diameter of the hub assembly is just slightly bigger then the size of the bushing, which allows you to push the bushing into the hub allowing you to center your new bushing in your carrier:

Third tip is to get a vise, it will be the best investment you will ever make! A solid industrial vise will be able to install any bushing on an E30 without trouble and I find is much better then using a hydraulic press.

I have a Rigid F-60 and love it.

This entry was posted on September 17, 2014 at 2:27 pm and is filed under Do it Yourself. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.