Re: Rear Axle Carrier Bushings (archive)

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The rear axle carrier bushing replacement was a pain but well worth the effort. As for the radiator, I just received my brand new BMW part this evening from Hendrick in Charlotte along with the new fuel pump. My current (leaking) radiator was not OEM and has only lasted 13 months (just outside the warranty period, of course). I decided to use OEM this time for a couple of reasons. First, the OEM radiator has an internal metal collar inside the upper radiator collar, the non-OEM does not have this re-inforcing collar. Second, the original OEM radiator lasted 140,000 miles, the non-OEM approximately 35,000 miles. Finally, the new OEM radiator cost $301 versus $280 for the non-OEM. One other factor I have noticed with the non-OEM radiator is that in traffic or prolonged idling, the temperature needle will creep up just to the right of the 12 o'clock mark. The original OEM radiator was always rock steady just to the left of the middle mark. I don't know if this is a function of radiator efficiency or a result of other factors (for example, having the head re-worked). Over the next few months I plan to watch the temperature carefully and determine if there is a difference in efficiency of the OEM versus non-OEM radiator.

...and, what will I have left? Let me think..... with 191,000 miles I still have the original driveshaft which now needs to be replaced, and it's time again for a new oxygen sensor, and the A/C compressor squeals like a pig, and I have that wonderful faint coolant smell inside the car when the heat is on, and ..... it never stops!

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the post. Guess it makes sense that firmer rear carrier bushings would tighten up the
steering. Congrats on tackling that nasty job...something I sure don't look forward
to....will put off as long as possible. Please post to the board about your radiator replacement. Are you going with an O.E.M. rad this time? Also,
do you have to drop the gas tank to replace the
fuel pump?.....just think, when you get all this
stuff done, what will you have left?...don't answer that...not enough time. Ahh...the joys of
maintaining a high mileage classic.
Best Regards,
George 90 735il/144K

This weekend I replaced the rear axle carrier bushings. The result, significant handling improvement. The car now no longer tramlines or skips sideways on rough surfaces. As an added bonus, the steering is not as loose. I thought at first that the steering improvement was wishful thinking but after my significant other drove the car she beamed that "her car" was almost back to normal. There is still a little looseness in the steering but not as before. I believe that a proper alignment and tire balancing with the Hunter machine will cure this last little problem. On visual inspection, the old bushings did not look particularly bad, just a few surface cracks. However, after removing the bushings it was very obvious that the rubber was soft compared to the new bushings.

Well, for once, a successful repair. Next weekend, fuel pump and radiator replacement and all the joys of bleeding the cooling system.

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