Big job?

[Steve_warner]

Right, Iv ordered a set of upper and lower rear arms and bolts as they are on offer on a parts website.
Iv Read that people have had the upper Bush, fall to bits when they try and undo the bolt. Is it worth me ordering the bush's or shall I just try it with out?
Also if I have to change the bush's what's best was to remove/insert the new ones

[macafee2]

I am a little unclear on what bush you are referring to and so I'm going with the bush at the hub end that takes the upper arm.
This has been recommended
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-E36-E46-Rear-Axle-Ball-Joint-Rose-Bush-Removal-Installer-Puller-tool-Kit/223572120125

macafee2

[Steve_warner]

Sorry, yes thats the one I was refuring to. Thanks for the link

[Captain Crappycrimp]

I recently replaced the arms and the bushes were well and truly cream crackered I would defiantly buy a pair of ORIGNAL MG rover bushes from rimmers. The cheap eBay and “parts supplier” bushes are utter rubbish made from inferior rubber.

[richw]

I am going to need a bit of suspension work in the summer. I am nervous of buying any old counterfeit tat on ebay.,or leaving my garage to pick any old thing.

Anyone used those from DMGRS?

[Steve_warner]

Iv ordered the complete arm kit that's on offer at the moment from them, looks to be worth buying now while on offer

[richw]

Hmm, interesting. It'a dawned on me that I'm not sure what I need! The guy who did my recent service+MOT said that some bits will need replacing in the summer time; he was keener on doing the job when it was warmer, rather than early February, as apparently it makes it slightly easier. He said something about it being a bit of a pig...

The MOT had these advisories:

• Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
• Nearside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened suspension arm
• Offside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened suspension arm

The front doesn't surprise me, as I see that fairly recently, there was a similar advisory on the nearside (so I assume someone replaced only one side).

I am pretty much mechanically illiterate, so what bits-and-pieces are likely to need replacing here? I want to check out my options in advance.

[trikey]

Originally Posted by richw

Hmm, interesting. It'a dawned on me that I'm not sure what I need! The guy who did my recent service+MOT said that some bits will need replacing in the summer time; he was keener on doing the job when it was warmer, rather than early February, as apparently it makes it slightly easier. He said something about it being a bit of a pig...

The MOT had these advisories:

• Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
• Nearside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened suspension arm
• Offside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened suspension arm

The front doesn't surprise me, as I see that fairly recently, there was a similar advisory on the nearside (so I assume someone replaced only one side).

I am pretty much mechanically illiterate, so what bits-and-pieces are likely to need replacing here? I want to check out my options in advance.

You will need the offside front lower arm (And a new rear bush while you are at it)

And a pair of rear upper arms.

Not a terrible job to do.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by trikey

You will need the offside front lower arm (And a new rear bush while you are at it)

And a pair of rear upper arms.

Not a terrible job to do.

if not seriously weakened could they be removed, cleaned (shot blasted) repainted and saved?

macafee2

[richw]

Originally Posted by trikey

You will need the offside front lower arm (And a new rear bush while you are at it)

And a pair of rear upper arms.

Not a terrible job to do.

Thanks Trikey.

a pair of front lower arms, although maybe I could just buy one. Why do I feel as though I'll never need it is I buy two, but if I buy one, it will suddenly become critical?!

Pair of rear upper arms


Anyone used either of these? Looks like there also some ancillaries. Ahh... it gets even more complex. Just on the DMGRS web site, there are loads of other options with kits containing even more bits! Yikes!

Good news that it might not be so bad. I'll bear that in mind when we talk labour. I wanted to have a vague idea on which parts are necessary, as I don't want some random made-of-cheese pattern-part going on and lasting six months.

Thanks for the info.