FCAB shot after only 8 tracks.

[AriuSen]

So, i purchased the superflex bushing for the z4m. I know I push the car a lot, but I didnt think these would be shot only after 8 track days =((((
I will be going to aluminum this time so I dont have to replace every year.

I wanted to know if you guys know if any company started making aluminum bushing for our car?
thanks

[inTgr8r]

Looks kind of dry.
What did you use for lube?

[AriuSen]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Looks kind of dry.
What did you use for lube?

Honestly I don't know cuz my mechanic installed it. I would beleive its dry cuz of the day I went off track when it was all muddy, or other times when it was dry, but here, if you go off, it's all dirt.
But like you said, since my ball joints are bad, it caused the bushing to go bad too.
Just to make something clear here to everyone. I didn't make this post to bash the company. I'm just stating what happened to me. It could be cuz of the dryness or cuz my ball joints are bad.
Expensive week for me. Gotta buy new bushings plus two lower control arm. This sucks. Gotta pay to play.

[gmd2003]

Originally Posted by AriuSen

Honestly I don't know cuz my mechanic installed it. I would beleive its dry cuz of the day I went off track when it was all muddy, or other times when it was dry, but here, if you go off, it's all dirt.
But like you said, since my ball joints are bad, it caused the bushing to go bad too.
Just to make something clear here to everyone. I didn't make this post to bash the company. I'm just stating what happened to me. It could be cuz of the dryness or cuz my ball joints are bad.
Expensive week for me. Gotta buy new bushings plus two lower control arm. This sucks. Gotta pay to play.

On a tracked Z4M the front control arms are an every two year replacement item . Downside of ancient McPherson strut design . Can't believe BMW still hasn't gone to double wishbone on M cars even today !

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by gmd2003

On a tracked Z4M the front control arms are an every two year replacement item . Downside of ancient McPherson strut design . Can't believe BMW still hasn't gone to double wishbone on M cars even today !

curious how much track time in those 2 years?

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by gmd2003

Downside of ancient McPherson strut design . Can't believe BMW still hasn't gone to double wishbone on M cars even today !

MacPherson isnt 'more ancient' than double wishbone (in contrary).

And bmw uses double wishbone on for example the current M5

They probably dont use double wishbone here because of space. The engine is mounted fairly tilted to achieve lower point of gravity, which takes up space (width).
There is not much room between the headers and the strut tower.
For a larger car (like the 5 series) that's less of a problem.

Macpherson also has less parts which can mean lighter or cheaper.

I think the lifespan of the fcab's is more a result from the L shaped suspension arm. Current 1/3 series with the wishbone/tension strut design are maybe less failsensitive. But I dont know if they achieve the same effective arm lenght with that.

[gmd2003]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

MacPherson isnt 'more ancient' than double wishbone (in contrary).

And bmw uses double wishbone on for example the current M5

They probably dont use double wishbone here because of space. The engine is mounted fairly tilted to achieve lower point of gravity, which takes up space (width).
There is not much room between the headers and the strut tower.
For a larger car (like the 5 series) that's less of a problem.

Macpherson also has less parts which can mean lighter or cheaper.

I think the lifespan of the fcab's is more a result from the L shaped suspension arm. Current 1/3 series with the wishbone/tension strut design are maybe less failsensitive. But I dont know if they achieve the same effective arm lenght with that.

The new M3/m4 doesn't have a double wishbone either , and the Z4M has the same mcpherson front suspension as the E46 M3 . It's a very old design at this point , (I was referring to the specific Z4M geometry) . There is a ton of forces because of the design on that bushing . The McPherson struts main disadvantage versus double wishbone is lack of dynamic camber. Thus me having to run -3.5 on track. For a performance car it's just not as good as a double wishbone on track period . It IS a wear item because of the design so kind of negates the cost advantage lol .

[AriuSen]

Originally Posted by gmd2003

On a tracked Z4M the front control arms are an every two year replacement item . Downside of ancient McPherson strut design . Can't believe BMW still hasn't gone to double wishbone on M cars even today !

What do you think of this lol

http://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-Ra...trol-Arms.html

[gmd2003]

Originally Posted by AriuSen

What do you think of this lol

http://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-Ra...trol-Arms.html

That's for a full on race car set up , I have not heard of anyone doing that conversion on a Z4M . Would be interesting but wouldn't want to be the first to do it lol .