Upgrading shocks on 2001 Z3 3.0i roadster

Ianmc

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Is that a total of 7 bushes replaced on the rear axel, including the diff bush?:thumbsup: Has anyone had this done by a garage, if so what might it cost please?:)
 

mrscalex

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Is that a total of 7 bushes replaced on the rear axel, including the diff bush?:thumbsup: Has anyone had this done by a garage, if so what might it cost please?:)
There’s 3 types of bushes. Rear beam, trailing arm & diff. With 2 parts, 4 and 1 respectively. So 7 bushes strictly speaking.

The garage bill would be eye watering to do what Sean did. 2 days labour maybe, especially as you would be paying for them to learn on the job. So £1,000 plus before and shot-blasting and re-painting. But there are quicker ways. The beam bushes can just about be done in situ. As can the diff. The trailing arm bushes are sometimes passed over as they don’t wear as badly. But then you don’t get lively shiney bits like Sean’s.
 

Ianmc

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Thanks @mrscalex , not worried about the shiney aspect. So would you say beam bushes and diff bush are generally the priority, both being possible to replace "on car"? Would around 4 hours garage labour seem about right for this?:thumbsup:
 

mrscalex

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Thanks @mrscalex , not worried about the shiney aspect. So would you say beam bushes and diff bush are generally the priority, both being possible to replace "on car"? Would around 4 hours garage labour seem about right for this?:thumbsup:
I am not expert like the Zedshed! But I know they can do the whole lot with a dropped axle in 8 hours. Which I think is very fast compared with any garage other than a specialist. So I think 4 hrs should be okay I situ if they are used to doing it.
 

the Nefyn cat

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Actually in Nefyn. My, that took a while.
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You can just use a hack saw as I did, this is wht it looks like before going back
View attachment 96686
Hacksaw worked for me, too. Used to do lorry spring-eye bushes the same way, no real need to go cutting into the beam itself, you only need to cut the steel sleeve in the bush so it can be collapsed a bit and then the bush pushes out pretty easy. Powerflex bushes are a lot easier to deal with.
 

mrscalex

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Hacksaw worked for me, too. Used to do lorry spring-eye bushes the same way, no real need to go cutting into the beam itself, you only need to cut the steel sleeve in the bush so it can be collapsed a bit and then the bush pushes out pretty easy. Powerflex bushes are a lot easier to deal with.
Yeah I cocked it up big time to be honest. It was the end of a long day and I didn’t get it right.

All the same a new 12 ton press was £80 and a second-hand bespoke E30 bush pressing tool kit was a bargain £50. The press will get used for other things too. The tool kit is £200+ worth if I ever sell it as they are sought after. So pretty good investments and for me the way I prefer to do it as saws are the one tool I’ve always struggled to use properly. Watching the bush press out (after heating the beam barrel) was an extremely satisfying experience requiring virtually no effort.
 
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