Changing Tie Rods, Tappets and Oil Leak

Ok so my day started alright, my goal was to change the tie rods. Which was fine jacked my car up, wheels off, had all the parts I needed except when I got under the car I noticed I had an oil leak. Now I don't know where it's leaking from. It is coming from higher than the oil sump so its not that gasket and also not from the camshaft gasket, any ideas?



As for the tie rods I only got as far as the inner ball joint, which needs a thin 32mm spanner. No luck on picking one up so thats on order.

So then I was like ok fine I can change out my noisy tappets out for the new ones I had received last week. And because I"m lazy and don't want to take apart the camshaft I used this awsome tool to remove the tappets. Made by Midlock 13168. It depresses the valve spring enough to slide the rocker arm out and then you can just pull the tappet out.









All was well until one of the thrust adapters (sits between the rocker arm and valve spring) fell down a oil filler hole Couldn't beleive I hadn't plugged the holes, just got too excited and rushed it. So I"m hoping to flush that hole with oil and then drain the oil. Fingers crossed it comes out. Oil pan may have to come off at the worst... I hope.

All in all a f***ing fantastic day

Neat tool, bummer of a story. Good luck fishing out the thrust adapter.

I believe the inner tie rod end takes a 30mm service wrench, not a 32. I just changed a set. OEM ones coming off and new ones going on were all 30mm. It was on an E30, but the E30 and E36 take the same tie rods.....

Oh ok that's alright because the spanner I order is a 30/32mm phew. Thanks

Just to add some confusion, I've removed & installed three sets of tie rods on my E36 (the originals, some cheap no-names, and finally Lemforders), and they've all been 32mm. 32mm is also what is found over at Doug's Domain during his front suspension overhaul:

http://www.dvatp.com/bmw/maintenance/e36/2012/06/02/

Totally weird. I've changed the set in Bebe (twice! ), those in Elvira (used but better), and both Eddie's E30 and Amber's, and every one have been 30. Now I have a set of new ones to go in Elvira, and they're 32. Go figure. Glad you got a 30/32 combination wrench coming!

Go figure!

Well either way I should be covered, thanks for the write up may come in handy.

Ok so just a little update on the currrent progress. I have started to locate the oil leak, I'm thinking that it is the gasket or O-ring from the oil filter housing. So I've hit that up started by taking out the air box, alternator and then the plate/bracket for the alternator and then finally the oil filter housing. Can't say that it looked like it was leaking... but hoping new o-ring and gasket will solve that problem. The engine is a M40 btw USA were lucky enough not to get them.





Best part of this job is I get to clean some parts. Best feeling is putting some clean parts back into the engine.



Didn't have any luck fishing out the thrust adapter so guess what the oil pan is coming off Not really looking foward to that job but has to be done. I don't want one of these floating around in the engine



So as soon as I've got a engine support bar and oil pan gasket I'll be set. I need an engine support bar because I will need to remove the front crossmember to get to the oil pan which is supporting the engine. Also have to remove control arms, sway bar and steering rack. Seems like a good time to replace the engine mounts but will see.

So I think thats it I did get my flat spanner 30/32mm for the tie rods but that seems like a long way off haha. My tie rods take a 32mm btw.

Massive news I found the thrust ADAPTER!!! You have know idea how much happiness this brings me, I don't have you remove the oil pan to retrieve it. No engine support needed saved some $$$ there, no removal of the control arms, sway bar, steering rack and crossmember. Major PITA adverted.

This is how I did it, I used a magnetic pick up tool but needed much more length so added this thing and boom first go down the oil overflow hole it went missing in and found it.

Congrats!!!

Originally Posted by hornhospital

Congrats!!!

Thanks man, best feeling.

Oh man, you are one lucky dog! Nice work!

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Oh man, you are one lucky dog! Nice work!

Yeah I know right Hey so I was going ask you what did you use to resecure the tie rod dust boots? I was just going to use cable/zip ties.

I just used regular nylon zip-ties, and tightened them down super well with a pair of pliers to make sure everything was completely sealed. Seemed to work very well.