The installation process for the E36 and E46 is identical. The only difference is the E36 control arm bushing mount area is round and the E46 has a hexagonal cross section. If you used the BMW recommended lube, the "drying" is to all intents done about 30 minutes after you've applied it. I suspect the bushings will find their correct location with a bit of driving regardless and the lube is more needed to get them positioned so you can bolt them to the car frame.
Caster issue
I recently replaced my '92 318i's lower control arm and bushings. After doing that I was able to trust more in the feel back in the steering wheel, having to use very little pressure or back pressure to hold a turn especially at near lock. Going over things in my head I realized that the picture in the Bentley had the bushing in the middle of the area for it on the control arm, however it was all the way on when I took off the old ones from my car. I did what the manual said and put the bushings where they were previously, however I believe that is the wrong place and some previous mechanic was short coming with his work. My Question is now how do I return it to where it belongs, what is the process for figuring out the placement of the bushing on the control arm. And being on a budget I don not want to hear to take it to BMW.
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This x100000000Photos aren't really what's important here. We all know that you can't adjust the placement of the control arm bushing on the control arm. The bushing lollipops anchor to the chassis in a fixed location, and the control arms themselves are anchored in a fixed location by the ball-joints which are bolted to the sub-frame. You can't move the either the control arm or the bushing fore or aft, since they were not designed by BMW to be adjustable in any way. As mentioned in an earlier post, the only variable is how far into the lollipop you pressed the bushing. But even then, it's probably only going to vary by a matter of millimeters, which won't have a perceptible effect on handling. And there is no "orientation" for the non-M control arm bushings, since they are centered.
Basically we have a car here which has had what sounds like one of two control arms replaced (they should be replaced in pairs), both FCABs relaced, and (I think...) no alignment performed afterward. That is a perfect recipe for wonky handling. And then of course there is the possibility of other unrelated/coincidental factors. But if you removed centered FCABs from the car and then installed new centered FCABs, the bushings are not what is causing whatever symptoms you are experiencing.
If this car really has not been aligned after the work was performed, do that first before wasting any more time trying to figure out what's going on. Trying to troubleshoot a misaligned car is pointless.
The orientation of the slots doesn't have any influence on caster, though.
Side question, what is the BMW recommended lube?The installation process for the E36 and E46 is identical. The only difference is the E36 control arm bushing mount area is round and the E46 has a hexagonal cross section. If you used the BMW recommended lube, the "drying" is to all intents done about 30 minutes after you've applied it. I suspect the bushings will find their correct location with a bit of driving regardless and the lube is more needed to get them positioned so you can bolt them to the car frame.
Thank You. There was more to Pelican's article than I noticed with the quick skim.If you mean the slots in the non-M FCAB, yes, it does make a difference:
"New bushings usually come separate from the wishbone brackets. Press the bushing into the bracket using a vise or an industrial press. Make sure the bushing is centered width-wise in the bracket when you have finished pressing it into the wishbone. Each bushing has a small arrow cast into the rubber that should line up with the corresponding dot on the outside of the wishbone bracket (inset photo)."
(from the Pelican Parts DIY)
The bushing I have extra do not have the arrow. However there is enough of the bushing visible to properly orient the bushing if the bracket/wishbone has the dot.
I'm past the "caster" issue. I just want my car together correctly.The orientation of the slots doesn't have any influence on caster, though.
As I have read on here, BimmerForrums, and Pelican, The lubricant listed in the Bentley does not exist (or not anymore). However the solution I used, because I read about it on multiple posts, was dish soap. Though I do not know the dish soap's drying time.Side question, what is the BMW recommended lube?
It's a kerosene based lube. The kerosene gives it a low initial viscosity and when the kerosene evaporates it leaves a very high viscosity compound that's almost adhesive like.Side question, what is the BMW recommended lube?
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