Front suspension bushes

[Tractor]

Hi all first post so thanks all for this great resource and community.
I bought my first Z3 in November 22
.
2002 2.2.
I haven’t had the chance to do much driving yet but passed the mot no problem in January.
I do find that the front end doesn’t handle as well as it should and suspect the wishbone bushes are a bit soft.

Also the small Anti roll bar drop links look pretty worn.
Is it worth replacing those wishbone rear bushes or replace the complete unit?

 

[DrWong]

Most people just tend to change the whole thing rather than the bush, as cost difference is negligible and most don't have access to a press etc.

Those rear lollipop bushes in your photo aren't part of the wishbone, but same principle for the wishbone, i.e. it's not much more expensive and less effort to change the whole thing rather than individual bushes.

Polyurethane is a popular option on the lollipop bushes for sharper handling, instead of the standard rubber BMW ones which have gaps. Or you can fit solid concentric rubber bushes from the e36 M3, which is something I'd like to do in the future.

 

[Tractor]

Okay thanks,I didn’t explain very well in the original post.
when I say bad handling it tends to tramline and follow the camber and rough patches in the road.
would those lollipop bushes cause that as I can move them quite easily with a small pry bar?
Recent mot and no mention of any play in the wishbone bushes.
Do the lollipop bushes need a press and is it worth the price of poly bushes?

 

[BillyB]

Welcome @Tractor . Replace these lollipops first as they are knackered, then just work your way around the front changing what is required and what makes it feel better as your budget allows, each component if original will be 20+ years old . Good tyres and correct pressure /alignment are also a good check on these. I would say the majority of us with a 3 will have had the dreaded tram lining to some degree. Good luck

 

[Oddly Godly]

Some tyres tend to tramline more than others. Mine when I bought it had some cheap tyres on which tramlined very badly. I replaced with Hancock tyres and it was fine. Avons seems to be the tyres of choice for many on here.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Okay thanks,I didn’t explain very well in the original post.
when I say bad handling it tends to tramline and follow the camber and rough patches in the road.
would those lollipop bushes cause that as I can move them quite easily with a small pry bar?
Recent mot and no mention of any play in the wishbone bushes.
Do the lollipop bushes need a press and is it worth the price of poly bushes?

I've had a bad case of tramlining, and in my case, I had both on brake caliper seized, plus all bushes worn. With the help from the chaps of the ZedShed (Midlands) I got new lower arms and lollipop bushes replaced. The car's handling was transformed, even keeping the nondescript tyres it had.

As mentioned by @DrWong, the price of bushes only or lower arms plus the back carriers (with buses installed) is negligible. Without a press, replacing just the bushes is a nightmare. Having said that, @t-tony came up with an ingenious ways of pressing the bushes in.

See: So what are we doing here?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

When it comes to tramlining having a set of matching tyres helps more than you may believe.

 

[Tractor]

Okay thanks all.
I’ve ordered complete lollipops and drop links for a start and hopefully fit them next weekend.
The car came with nearly new tyres Continentals on the front and Pirelli’s on the back all 245/40/17.

 

[Witchsilver]

Okay thanks all.
I’ve ordered complete lollipops and drop links for a start and hopefully fit them next weekend.
The car came with nearly new tyres Continentals on the front and Pirelli’s on the back all 245/40/17.

I did mine today, (Control arms, lollipops and bushes) - one thing I did learn was to grease/lubricate the lollipop bushes before you fit them - makes it so much easier to push them down the shaft of the control arm - I used a simple silicon based ptfe spray which did a great job!
Re-assembling, I discovered through trial and error, to fit the lollipop end first and then install the other bolts etc.

 

[Dakar Z3]

Hello,

If you have 245 40 17 all round this may be your problem with tramlining.

The tyres should be 225 45 17 on the front, 245 40 17 are the rear tyre size.

hope this helps.

 

[Tractor]

Hello,

If you have 245 40 17 all round this may be your problem with tramlining.

The tyres should be 225 45 17 on the front, 245 40 17 are the rear tyre size.

hope this helps.

Okay thanks I’ll double check that.

 

[Tractor]

Okay,going slightly off topic now but yes the tyres do seem to mismatched.

Rear rims with Correct size tyres.

Front rim correct size but wrong size tyre.
These were fitted by the previous owner and the tyres are like new so not too keen to change them.
Anyway I’ll hopefully have the bushes changed next weekend and see if that makes much difference.
Also just ordered a pair of sills as the old ones are a bit crispy on the ends so may need to lock the wallet for a while.

 

[Richard29]

Okay,going slightly off topic now but yes the tyres do seem to mismatched.
View attachment 256045
Rear rims with Correct size tyres.
View attachment 256047
Front rim correct size but wrong size tyre.
These were fitted by the previous owner and the tyres are like new so not too keen to change them.
Anyway I’ll hopefully have the bushes changed next weekend and see if that makes much difference.
Also just ordered a pair of sills as the old ones are a bit crispy on the ends so may need to lock the wallet for a while.

I have a new set of 225 on the rear of my 3.0 and was going to change them for a set of 245 that should be on. i would consider doing a swap or selling them once i get new ones if you want. But i am in essex.
Richard

 

[Tractor]

I have a new set of 225 on the rear of my 3.0 and was going to change them for a set of 245 that should be on. i would consider doing a swap or selling them once i get new ones if you want. But i am in essex.
Richard

Thanks for the offer Richard but I think the distance would be a problem.

 

[Richard29]

No probs, where are you?

 

[Tractor]

Herefordshire,the opposite side of the country.

 

[Richard29]

Bit of a distance

 

[Dakar Z3]

Solution,

use Evri to send the tyres, it will cost approx £18-20 to send both tyres. I've sent many tyres with them.

Then you are both sorted.

 

[Ade33]

Okay thanks all.
I’ve ordered complete lollipops and drop links for a start and hopefully fit them next weekend.
The car came with nearly new tyres Continentals on the front and Pirelli’s on the back all 245/40/17.

How did you get on in the end with replacing the lollypop bushes...Did it make any difference?

In the same boat as you were..I believe my 21 year old Z3 is still running on original bushes but has just sailed through the MOT..but if I can improve the handling for road use I'd like to..Reading through the threads I'm thinking replacing with genuine BMW may give me what i'm looking for

 

[Tractor]

How did you get on in the end with replacing the lollypop bushes...Did it make any difference?

In the same boat as you were..I believe my 21 year old Z3 is still running on original bushes but has just sailed through the MOT..but if I can improve the handling for road use I'd like to..Reading through the threads I'm thinking replacing with genuine BMW may give me what i'm looking for

Quite a tricky job to change them at home with just a jack and axle stands I found and the results weren’t as good as I’d hoped for.
Also changed the front tyres to the correct size which made more difference.