Rogue Engineering Front Control Arm Bushings

[RobertRO]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

The measurement does not really have to be that precise. Your 21mm measurement is good enough to make some educated guesses on fitment, once I (we) get some more data. In fact you could have taken measurements of the other axis and those might have been good enough also.

My car is stored for the winter in another town than the one I live in.
Next time I'll be there is mid January. With that occasion I'll take more measurements and report back - unless other user on this forum does it sooner than me.

[Shipkiller]

Ian,

If they were really going to do it, it would already be done. It's been over six years since the Z4M was released. Hell, they just did a facelift on the E89.... There is just very little money to be made on these cars and in the economic situation we all find ourselves in, with car people not spending the money like they use to before 2008, it makes very little sense to develop a part with little or no financial gain. Most of the Z4M drivers will not buy them.

If you look at the trend here on ZPost, there are only maybe 20 or so real enthusiasts who would actually go out and buy these.

I put the Bimmerworld/PowerFlex RTABS on the car last month when I changed the dampers. To me, they were defiantly worth it, but for the majority of drivers, who complain about the harshness, back issues etc, no freakin way. I know you would do the upgrade. So would Finnegan, Kitty, F360, Caddy, Tony, ect. and a few others, but the market is just not there.

There is still hope I am just flat wrong....but don't bet on it.



.

[RobertRO]

I just found another manufacturer of aftermarket control arm bushings for BMW E46: Treehouse Racing. I've never heard of them before, but they seem to have an interesting product:
http://www.treehouseracing.com/new/?...rm-bushing-set

I found it interesting because, from the pictures posted on their Website, the bushing insert seems to be quite slim.
More, it seems to me that they also sell the busing inserts separately:
http://www.treehouseracing.com/new/?...y-all-fitments
Unfortunately, there's no picture for the bushing inserts only.

If that turns out to be true (meaning: 1. bushing inserts have the outside diameter just a few mm larger than the control arm finger hexagon, and 2. bushing inserts are sold separately), then all we need to do is to design and manufacture solid aluminum adapters that fit the OEM brackets ("lollipops") and have an offset inner hole where the Treehouse Racing bushing inserts can be fitted.

If I am not wandering, and the theory above seems coherent to you, too, then maybe a Z4M owner living in the US could find some time and get in touch with Treehouse Racing - then report back.
It would be easier, considering the timezone and language issues that I am facing.

[GuidoK]

I don't have a z4m, but wouldn't these fit?

http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetai...od=SF095-2558K

66mm bonded shell, I only don't know if the offset is the same.

[RobertRO]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I don't have a z4m, but wouldn't these fit?
http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetai...od=SF095-2558K

GuidoK, we need to investigate it, but at the first look it seems that you found the real thing! Thank you for your post.

[inTgr8r]

Wow!... Nice find!

Looks like an interesting solution with the hex insert.
Now we need to determine the offset.

[Beedub]

^^^^^ even more interesting that company is only like 50 miles from my crib...... i'll call these mofo's next week when the re-open after the holidays.
do these just Press in place????

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Beedub

^^^^^ even more interesting that company is only like 50 miles from my crib...... i'll call these mofo's next week when the re-open after the holidays.

Fantastic

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Fantastic

what specific questions do i need to ask yo determine whether these will fit???

[inTgr8r]

Since our control arm is the same as the E46 M3, the hex size should be a non issue.
I think it boils down to the amount of offset.

What I find strange is that they have an offset bush listed under E46 at all; I thought all E46 had a straight (non-offset bush)

I really have hopes up for these

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

Ian,

If they were really going to do it, it would already be done. It's been over six years since the Z4M was released. ........ There is just very little money to be made on these cars and in the economic situation

There is still hope I am just flat wrong....but don't bet on it.
.

I hear ya, & I completely agree about the economics of it.
It usually takes a specialty or race shop that needs something themselves & then makes it available.

I plan to do the RTABs this spring & would love to do the fronts at the same time.
:fingers crossed: for above vender

[inTgr8r]

Interesting.....
The powerflex pic on Bimmerworld shows straight & offset bush as well.



:edit:

Looking again, the poweflex are not offset.
....just the angle of the pic

[GuidoK]

I don't know if any action already has been taken about the superflex bushes, but this guy sells them on ebay.uk as being z4 M offset bushes:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-M-O...-/330855932966

[inTgr8r]

Interesting.

They sure look like they will fit.

[mpm3]

sooo what the verdict ! who's taking the plunge !

[BIMMERGUY91]

Somebody try one of these bushings and let us know! I want to do this bad!

[inTgr8r]

Beedub?
...just around the corner

I do wish that Powerflex would get their's out soon.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by BIMMERGUY91

Somebody try one of these bushings and let us know! I want to do this bad!

I guess I'm the guinea pig.
....ordered

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I guess I'm the guinea pig.
....ordered

Thanks Ian!

[Jumbosock]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I guess I'm the guinea pig.
....ordered

"like"

[Shipkiller]

I am sure they will work. I have a feeling that when control arm is moved outward to the center of the FCAB (from the edge), it will push the other end of the control arm 'forward' a slight amount, increasing the caster a small amount. And of course other parameters of the suspension will change also.

If you have the alignment printouts from the previous alignment, you will find out the delta when the car is aligned after installation.
I will most likely be getting these also, since I have the power flex in the rear of the car.

.

[inTgr8r]

^you're thinking that the offset isn't the same??


I'll take some measurements when they come in.
I'll also recorded camber caster before & after.