Control Arm bushing is "poped out?" Look - United Bimmer Community

**Numark318i** · 03-12-2008, 11:47 PM

ok so Im pretty pissed at the moment. in the past two months i have had my control arm bushings and arms replaced. Bushings by one installer(a BMW mechanic did it on the side).
and the arms by another installer.

well the other installer...screwed something up i believe. The bushings were not like this after the first installer put them in. Either way looks like its poped out of place, atleast part of it.

so has anyone seen this?

**xsperf** · 03-13-2008, 12:01 AM

thats not so much popped out of place as the bushing has torn in half, and what it comes down to is, someone did it wrong, whichever you had done last, because it looks like whoever installed it didn't quite seat it right and had the bushing stretched and tightened the bolts, and under driving conditions it just gave it and tore

witeshark · 03-13-2008, 12:01 AM

Yeah, that looks wrong.

**Numark318i** · 03-13-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

thats not so much popped out of place as the bushing has torn in half, and what it comes down to is, someone did it wrong, whichever you had done last, because it looks like whoever installed it didn't quite seat it right and had the bushing stretched and tightened the bolts, and under driving conditions it just gave it and tore

see thats what i was thinking. wanted to make sure.

either way im going back.

that same shop also neglected to tighten my tie rods.
im pretty pissed.

**mzbmw325i** · 03-13-2008, 11:03 AM

Looks like the control arm bushing wasn't aligned correct to the lollipop, that's why those arrows are there for.

that's why you have to do work yourself as much as possible i guess.

johnnybayonne · 03-13-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzbmw325i

Looks like the control arm bushing wasn't aligned correct to the lollipop, that's why those arrows are there for.

Quote:

that's why you have to do work yourself as much as possible i guess.

+1 to that!

**94bmw325i** · 03-13-2008, 02:42 PM

yeah, and I bet they didnt put that car down so it wouldnt preload beforehand.

**elsabor67** · 03-13-2008, 03:50 PM

That looks severely wrong. I would definetly make them pay for the repairs.........at another shop that knows how to do it right

**Numark318i** · 03-13-2008, 03:54 PM

yea.i called them. Ima drop it off in the am.

**pswirley** · 03-13-2008, 06:16 PM

Numark, you should also relay their faulty installation into your purchase and need for new tires as a result of the abnormal wear your tires were getting. Make em pay for 2 tires and then get the Michelins.

**mzbmw325i** · 03-13-2008, 11:59 PM

i think i miss-worded something on my initial post, the bushing needs to be aligned to the lolipop, there is an arrow on the bushing and lolipop, they need to match when installed, also once that is done the lolipop has to go in the control arm and place the car down in like a 1/2 hour or something i read about "bonding" process somewhere else, might be a myth though.

You might want to upgrade to stronger bushings too, something from the M side.

**Numark318i** · 03-14-2008, 09:41 AM

fyi those are brand new bushings.

second I just want oem/stock until i do coilovers. Im gonna be moving out of this area in teh next two years so then i can put some money into suspension upgrades, otherwise its pointless to upgrade bushings because of what the car goes through. not gonna spend more money on something thats going to wear out quick

and i dont want PU cause they are to harsh.

good idea though.

*edit*

ok so i went down to the shop. Had them look at it. One guy didnt want to admit that something was wrong. said i didnt know what i was talking about...

Other mechinc(the normal one) came over, showed me that the ring just slips over the front of the bushing to hold it together. So he slipped it back on and told me to come back in a few hundred miles to make sure its still fine. so i guess that works.

also i cant argue for new tires cause basically they are almost flat on both sides. not from the work but from my driving. Its pretty obivous.

**xsperf** · 03-14-2008, 08:18 PM

you mean the lollipop? when i was replacing that on my brother's e46 we had to use soap, a vice grip and eventually a press to get it in! if it goes in that easily that means it will go out the easily as well!(dont take that the wrong way, please)

**Numark318i** · 03-14-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

you mean the lollipop? when i was replacing that on my brother's e46 we had to use soap, a vice grip and eventually a press to get it in! if it goes in that easily that means it will go out the easily as well!(dont take that the wrong way, please)

took the guy a while, two guys and some lube.

*zing*

but seriously..it seemed to take some work to get it in there.

so hopefully it will be fine. ill take it back in a week or so and check it again.