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Last edited by JB3; 07-09-2015 at 01:45 PM.
I read those horror stories as well. But if you have the right tool for the job it's very quick and easy... I rented the tool from a forum member here... Don't have to spend $$$ for it... I replaced the diff bushing twice on my car (the big one at the rear the first time and the 2 smaller front ones the second time) First time took me 9 hrs and the second time took me about 5 and the car was on jack stands... But both times it took me about 15 min to take out and install the new bushing...
Edit: I followed bockchoys method...
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Last edited by san; 05-21-2015 at 09:03 AM.
2006 Coupe | Black Sapphire Metallic | Natural Brown | Gruppe M Intake | Corsa TSE3 | Michelin PSS on Apex ARC-8 | Koni Yellows |
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Last edited by JB3; 07-09-2015 at 01:45 PM.
the koch tools tool is $300 shipped - it looks to be worth every penny. i just bought one, haven't received it yet. should allow you to replace almost any bushing in the car with it.
i assume your garage is attached to the house? yeah, it might be a little loud.
i have a small pancake compressor and while it does cycle often, it's been getting the job done for almost 20 years now. just have to be patient.
an impact wrench/gun, whether air- or electric-powered, will make taking the driveshaft and axle bolts off easy stuff. i wouldn't bother wasting time without one.
i have removed lots of bushings with my sawzall - it just plain works, every time. drill a few holes through the rubber between the sleeve and the outer shell, get the sawzall blade in there, and cut through the outer sleeve. then pound out with a small sledge and a drift of appropriate size. if you're doing this with subframe bushings, likely it's fine without the specialty tool because you should be replacing them with polyurethane. but if you're putting OEM subframe bushings back in, you'll need the tool.
peter
peter
2004 330i ZHP
2005 330iT ZHP
2010 328iT M Sport
i think there are folks that say that poly in the rear diff mount location creates a lot of audible diff whine in the cabin. but rubber wears out fast.
personally, i'm trying the poly bushing. i bought the ECS-branded unit as it was on sale and appears to be of a soft durometer.
peter
peter
2004 330i ZHP
2005 330iT ZHP
2010 328iT M Sport
AKG Bushings. Recommended for street or performance use.
His - 2004 Imola Red / Alcantara 330i | 6MT | ZHP |
Her's - 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic / Black Leather 330i | 6MT | ZHP |
are you running those, vas?
peter
2004 330i ZHP
2005 330iT ZHP
2010 328iT M Sport
I run AKG FCABs & RTABs. Very happy with them.
I'm just catching up with this thread. Charlie asked me to chime in. So here is my two cents..
Swapping the diff is one of the easiest things I've done on the car. You don't even have to take the tires off. I did drop the exhaust and the sway bar. As others said, you may be able to do it with the exhaust hanging down.
Just take off the axel shafts at the inner flange and drop the drive shaft. (I didn't take out the axels or drive shaft.) The heat shield is in the way of the drive shaft bolts just take out the screws holding it in and let it dangle. Drop the sway bar, take out the three bolts holding the diff in and your done.
I'd definitely get an air ratchet at the minimum. You'll be there all day taking out all of those axel and drive shaft bolts by hand.
It took me two hours by myself using a floor jack, jack stands and air tools... if you haven't done this type of work before, I'd double that time.
EDIT: looking at the pictures I posted... it looks like I left the exhaust on the first time I did it lol
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