318is R Subframe bushing removal?

[saustin]

I am stuck. I can't figure out if there is a simple solution to removing my rear subframe bushings. I took my car to a garage and they told me they couldn't do it without removing my diff and pulling the entire rear end apart. A six to eight hour job. This sooundsa little crazy to me. Has anybody done this job and do you have recomondations on what needs to be done. Thanks guys.

[jase007]

Saustin:

Do you have an "R" version of a 318is? Not familiar with that one. Here is a link to a tech article on rear subframe bushing R & R.

Good luck.

Jason

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Those BMW R-Types sure are nice arent they?

To do it correctly, yes, you need to remove the entire rear end, diff, trailing arms, springs.. You may also need to burn the old bushings out. You will need a press to get the new bushings back in..

[saustin]

By the way, the "R" stands for "Rear"... as in the rear sub frame mounts...

[Dub-Dub]

Is there much duplicative labor between doing the rear subframe bushings and the rear subframe mounts seperately? I had been planning to have both done together this week, but if dropping the diff is required to do the rear trailing arm bushings, then I should probably wait until I have a new diff to swap in... since I have that down on my list in the near future todo... why pay that labor twice... or more so... why waste anytime doing it myself, if I am practically paying someone the labor to do that anyway?

Help me!!!

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

As far as I am aware the subframe mounts and bushings are the same thing?

[Dub-Dub]

My bad... typing too quickly. Is there duplicative labor between the rear trailing arm bushings and the rear subframe mounts?

Could I get the trailing arms done now, and the RSFMs done later, without unnecessarily paying twice for the same labor. Or should I just wait until I have a new diff and do it all at once?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

You're really better off doing both at the same time. You need to remove all those components to do both jobs, so you might as well do it all in one pass.

essentially it works like this..

the subframe is a large bar/carrier that holds the differential. The trailing arms attach to this bar/carrier by a small bracket that allows them to pivot on it. this is where the trailing arm bushings are located. The bar/carrier is bolted to the body of the car and is isolated against vibration and movement by the mounts. So it makes sense to do both at the same time.

[Dub-Dub]

Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for...

[hunter1]

Did this last summer. Virtually impossible to do without dropping whole carrier. Bear of a job - 12 hours over two days. Bushings had to be cut out with grinder due to aluminum corrosion of the bushing core compressing onto steel connection shaft virtually fusing the whole assembly together. You will need a friend or 3 floor jacks (in is far harder than out). You better hope the steel conn. pin up in the body cavity hasn't broken off (feel loose?)
Trailing arm bushing replacements are a snap at this point if you feel like doing them too. Bentley manual is of no help here.