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Thread: thrust arm bushing gone under 10k miles..........

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA.
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    571

    Default thrust arm bushing gone under 10k miles..........

    my dreaded 55-60 shake has gotten much worse in the past month with a new clunk noise & now it is starting to feel like a safty hazard.
    what else should i replace? something must be eating these up.
    i only got about 1,000mi. out of the set on the car when i purchased it, so i installed a set of 750i bushings & had gotten about 15k even though i did not torque under load & this set (m5 lemforder) did not last 10k with being torqued under load.
    i am planning on replacing everything wearable in the spring time, but i do not know if i can stand waiting that long.
    thanks
    tim s.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    baton rouge, loserana
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    Default

    in about 4 years of installing m5 bushings i've yet to have a set crap out and come back to my shop, i have 46k miles on my set and short of track driving i am about as hard as you could be on them on the street, the closest i get to a **** up is on a road trip after i put a couple hundred miles on it or so without using the brakes they get pretty cool and i get a wobble or two when i finally use them and then it's gone, the main things i go after when squashing the shimmy is of corse replace any loose/worn/sloppy components first, then m5 bushings, new brake rotors (if it shimmeys under braking) strut inserts, things to pay attention to are, the idler arm, if you can move it up/down it needs a new bushing, the center link aka center tierod, if you can twist it or get any other play in the joints it's toast, loose steering box can screw with it a little too, sometimes you can adjust it but i find usually the later boxes the wear is in the bottom of the box and it's screwed, odditys i've come across, loose pittman arm and bad rag joint on the steering shaft. this may or may not be useful to you in your quest so good luck
    all america wants is cold beer warm cat and a place to take a poop with a door on it

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA.
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    Default winfred..............

    the last time i replaced my bushings i also replaced the center link & idler arm.
    the steering box arm felt tight & we adjusted the screw on the box to tighten the on center feel. most of the shimmy is at 55-60, but i do get a shimmy under braking every so often. i do not feel the shimmy in the steering wheel that much, it is mostly felt through the floor & seats.
    could my tired struts inserts be tearing up the bushings prematurely?
    could my control arms be causing some of this?
    thanks
    tim s.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
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    14,839

    Default

    any play will cause the same symptom as worn thrust arm bushings and if you have struts that are bad those will also cause that...but if their worn that will accellerate bushing wear.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  5. #5
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    Dec 2003
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    PA
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    Default

    My 750 bushings went in about 20k miles too, torqued properly.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    baton rouge, loserana
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    Default

    id need to drive the car to say for sure but it's possible you have a warped rear rotor with a braking shimmy in the seats.
    the struts would be need to be totally dead to kill the bushings, it'd be like the car from the movie uncle buck (seen quite a few that bad)

    Quote Originally Posted by tim s
    but i do get a shimmy under braking every so often. i do not feel the shimmy in the steering wheel that much, it is mostly felt through the floor & seats.
    could my tired struts inserts be tearing up the bushings prematurely?
    could my control arms be causing some of this?
    thanks
    tim s.
    all america wants is cold beer warm cat and a place to take a poop with a door on it

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA.
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    Default i am beginning to think that...............

    they could be wearing out quickly due to a combination of old struts, springs, & control arms bushings. i did not replace the control arm bushings since i have alum. arms. this sucks because i will not have the cash to replace everything till february.
    i am planning on new factory springs, but still debating on the 3mm thinner spring pads, (i need the near factory heigth for bad weather driving), bilstein hd struts & shocks, new lemforder alum. control arms, new lemforder thrust arms, m5 thrust arm bushings again, tie-rods, sway bar links, rear sub-frame bushings, dog bones, & a set of heavier sway bars.
    as far as i can tell the struts & springs are original.
    i am open to suggestions for what sway bar set to purchase.
    i hope to eliminate some of the cars body role.
    thanks
    tim s.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    PA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tim s
    they could be wearing out quickly due to a combination of old struts, springs, & control arms bushings. i did not replace the control arm bushings since i have alum. arms. this sucks because i will not have the cash to replace everything till february.
    i am planning on new factory springs, but still debating on the 3mm thinner spring pads, (i need the near factory heigth for bad weather driving), bilstein hd struts & shocks, new lemforder alum. control arms, new lemforder thrust arms, m5 thrust arm bushings again, tie-rods, sway bar links, rear sub-frame bushings, dog bones, & a set of heavier sway bars.
    as far as i can tell the struts & springs are original.
    i am open to suggestions for what sway bar set to purchase.
    i hope to eliminate some of the cars body role.
    thanks
    tim s.

    For what its worth, mine failed, all my suspension is brand new... arms, struts, springs, spring pads, bushings, tie rod ends, etc. They still failed.

    All E34's have aluminum control arms from factory. DON'T BUY NEW ALUMINUM ARMS. Get the steel ones. They add some heft into the steering it seems and they're cheaper and stronger. You are not saving much weight by using aluminum arms.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Austin, TX
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    1,181

    Default

    large wheels kill the bushings. I swapped to 16" 225/55 tires and rims from 17", and the bushings lasted 80k, vs 20k with 17" 235/45
    1995 540iA M-Sport - 76k miles. 1 of 1 auto AW3 cars.
    1995 540i/6 - Misc Parts donor for above.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA.
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    Default i am still using the original 15" wheels.

    Quote Originally Posted by bimmerd00d
    large wheels kill the bushings. I swapped to 16" 225/55 tires and rims from 17", and the bushings lasted 80k, vs 20k with 17" 235/45
    tim s.

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