Spring Maintenance!

[mtrhed]

Just replaced my front wheel bearings, RTABs, upper and lower rear ball joints. Had a bit of wiggle from my front right wheel that could be felt in the steering wheel and was driving me nuts! Also, the rear end was feeling a bit floaty and unstable in turns. Took me about five hours at a relaxed pace, pitcher of ice tea and some tunes. SOOO much betta!!! Less noise, vibration and slop. I already had parts on hand but somebody needs to try these out and report back:

http://store.bimmerworld.com/bimmerw...kit-p2138.aspx

Beer thirty!

[jdoublehcubed]

holy shit thats a lot of money for a single pair of bearings. how much to the stock ones cost?

[mtrhed]

Yeah....Stock RTABs are about $37 a set from autohausaz. I run the stock bushings with limiters and they are "OK". I've installed two sets since I've had the car(40K+ miles). It would be worth it to me if the Bimmerworld ones were an improvement over stock performance wise and had better longevity. Maybe after my current RTAB's wear out I'll give these a try.

[Vanne]

nicely done mate, very good work. bet your four loves you

[jdoublehcubed]

Originally Posted by mtrhed

Yeah....Stock RTABs are about $37 a set from autohausaz. I run the stock bushings with limiters and they are "OK". I've installed two sets since I've had the car(40K+ miles). It would be worth it to me if the Bimmerworld ones were an improvement over stock performance wise and had better longevity. Maybe after my current RTAB's wear out I'll give these a try.

How much work is it to install RTABs? Is it a huge task like subframe bushings? I could understand paying such a premium if that was the case.

[mtrhed]

Originally Posted by Vanne

nicely done mate, very good work. bet your four loves you

Thank you. And yes, Gudrenn does love me!

[mtrhed]

Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed

How much work is it to install RTABs? Is it a huge task like subframe bushings? I could understand paying such a premium if that was the case.

Not as bad as sub-frame bushings as you don't need to disassemble much to get to them. Actually pretty easy with a bushing press tool like the MIS one I have. Performance and longevity would have to be a lot better to make them worth it. Less dynamic toe change mid-corner is a good thing in my book.

[Vanne]

Lol Gudrenn...

What's next on the menu? Cheers

I did a similar maint last winter, but should have gone with the rtab limiters.. Easy install if your doing it anyways..

[Shipkiller]

I have had these installed for that last two years:

http://store.bimmerworld.com/powerfl...px?Thread=True

Just remember, the RTAB's do not do anything for ride quality but for thrust alignment during acceleration.

[mtrhed]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

I have had these installed for that last two years:

http://store.bimmerworld.com/powerfl...px?Thread=True

Just remember, the RTAB's do not do anything for ride quality but for thrust alignment during acceleration.

Thanks Ship!

I think I might give those a try here soon. I ordered the Superflex urethane FCAB's so I might as well give urethane a try on the trailing arms

[jdoublehcubed]

just noticed you did all that in 5 hours? mind blown.

do you own the BMW specialty tools for every one of those jobs? i don't think i could do both wheel bearings in 5 hours alone, let alone that whole list.

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by mtrhed

Thanks Ship!

I think I might give those a try here soon. I ordered the Superflex urethane FCAB's so I might as well give urethane a try on the trailing arms

So when did Superflex come up with the proper FCAB's for the ///M???
Are they offset like OEM to give you more caster?

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

So when did Superflex come up with the proper FCAB's for the ///M???
Are they offset like OEM to give you more caster?

I have had these installed for a loooong time now.
Yes they are offset.

[Shipkiller]

Ian, that looks like a picture of my FCAB's and I have the Whiteline's. I thought you had the Powerflex FCABs?

Are the Powerflex and Superflex the same? Now I am very confused.

[mtrhed]

Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed

just noticed you did all that in 5 hours? mind blown.

do you own the BMW specialty tools for every one of those jobs? i don't think i could do both wheel bearings in 5 hours alone, let alone that whole list.

I do have the Koch kit specifically for the ball joints and RTABs, and MIS RTAB tool also which I prefer for that job. I used to make my own tools with all-thread and pipe caps but I broke down and got specialty tools when I had an e46 as I had little spare time then. TOTAL BREEZE with the right tools!
I have been using the same method for the front wheel bearings for about fifteen years. Brake the axle nut loose, loosen lug nuts, put car up, remove wheel, remove caliper, carrier, rotor. Mount wheel back to hub, finger tight lugs and wiggle wheel fore and aft gently pulling towards you. Bearing usually comes right of with no fuss. Drivers side bearing/hub came off in 2-3 wiggles, passenger side came off by hand! It wasn't total toast, but it wasn't healthy! So worth it. Car/steering is tight again.

[mtrhed]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

Ian, that looks like a picture of my FCAB's and I have the Whiteline's. I thought you had the Powerflex FCABs?

Are the Powerflex and Superflex the same? Now I am very confused.

He's got the Superflex FCAB's as it was his post's about them that made my mind up to order them. They are offset, which the PowerFlex ones are not. Have not installed them yet. Probably not until summer as mine are fine for now and I go back to sea this week for two months.

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by mtrhed

I go back to sea this week for two months.

What ship?

[mtrhed]

Oh, nothing as noble as your gig. I'm Merchant Marine and spend most of my time with the fishing fleet in the Bearing Sea. I will be relieving the mate who's been up there for awhile and I'll finish out the Pollock season. Then I'll change hats and be the engineer for a mini ship yard. YAY.....

[Shipkiller]

I have spent a lot of time in the Bearing Sea (under it).... As for being noble, people who brave that weather to feed others are noble as hell....

[mtrhed]

Why thank you Sir! It's a job I enjoy 99% of the time and we do help feed the world. Chicks dig it too!

[jdoublehcubed]

Originally Posted by mtrhed

I do have the Koch kit specifically for the ball joints and RTABs, and MIS RTAB tool also which I prefer for that job. I used to make my own tools with all-thread and pipe caps but I broke down and got specialty tools when I had an e46 as I had little spare time then. TOTAL BREEZE with the right tools!
I have been using the same method for the front wheel bearings for about fifteen years. Brake the axle nut loose, loosen lug nuts, put car up, remove wheel, remove caliper, carrier, rotor. Mount wheel back to hub, finger tight lugs and wiggle wheel fore and aft gently pulling towards you. Bearing usually comes right of with no fuss. Drivers side bearing/hub came off in 2-3 wiggles, passenger side came off by hand! It wasn't total toast, but it wasn't healthy! So worth it. Car/steering is tight again.

Thats clever as hell, I would never have thought of that for removing bearings.

Could you give me a link to the Koch kit you mentioned?

[mtrhed]

I found my set on EBAY years ago. I believe they can still be found there. Or here: http://www.kochtools.com/. Makes the job very easy, can be done on car. I just unbolted bottom of shock and rear caliper for the upper and lower rear ball joints.