Removing/Replacing Rear Carrier Bushings E34

[onZedge]

The "official" BMW tool to do this was over $600.00 USD. Screw that. I searched the interweb and looked at procedures and videos made by other BMW owners.

This is the "extraction tool" that I came up with:



First, I used a pneumatic impact hammer gun with a flat hammer bit to dive out the bushing center pin - out in seconds.

I used a large bearing separator, clamped on the outside rubber part of the bushing, just tight enough that you could still rotate the separator with some force. This provides a perfect surface from which the thrust of the "extraction tool" can be applied.



The big U-shaped steel piece is from a industrial valve actuator bracket that happen to fit the scope perfectly. A 4" diameter iron or steel pipe nipple, 4-6" long, would work as well (you just wouldn't be able to observe the extraction progress).

On top, I used a 3" bearing race driver puck with a large backup washer and double nuts. Use a box wrench on the top double nut to keep the threaded rod from spinning.

On the bottom I used a greased up nylon washer sandwiched between two heavy 1/2" "thrust" washers. Use a generous application of wheel bearing grease on the threads of the rod and bottom nut - DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!



As stated in others' procedures and videos, I would not even attempt to remove these rear carrier bushings without a similar tool.

Procedure:
1) Remove the rear seat bottom and seat buckles, chock front wheels, jack up and support the car with jack stands on the frame rails (cushion with 2x4 pieces about 6" long), knock out the bushing center pin into the rear passenger compartment, prepare and assemble the "extraction tool" device.
2) Crank the bottom nut until a sharp rise in torque is felt.
3) Crank two or three full revolutions and wait about 10 seconds as the bushing "creeps". Repeat this until the bushing pops out. You can heat the bushing holder with a heat gun, as noted in the BMW service manual, but I don't feel this step is necessary with such a robust "extraction tool".

It take about 10 minutes to extract each 25-year old bushing, and even less to install the new PowerFlex bushing - a little copper grease makes this a snap. Disassembling and reassembling the car actually takes much much longer.




No more "rear wheel steering" effect.

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

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