F10- Track Control Arm- Fitting help..

CAR: BMW 2011 F10- 520D

Last weekend I changed both Lower Rear control arms, the OEM part maker was LEMFÖRDER so have used those.

Only thing is when tighten them up I haven’t put the suspensions under load. Car seems fine, but is this really likely to damage the bushes?

If I must I can take a day off and get it loosened and re-tighten it with suspension under load. I have heard mixed messages that only the older models need to be tightened with load and the new BMW’s don’t..

Could really do with some helpful opinions?

Thanks

 

Just noticed this post.

I'd personally tighten up when in loaded position, rubber bushes need to be relaxed at the normal ride height.

Peter

 

The problem is that if you tighten them when the car is jacked up then when the car is on the ground the bush is already wound round and under tension. When you drive the car and the suspension further compresses the bush is further twisted and can tear.

If you tighten up when on the ground then the bush is relaxed under normal conditions and can twist either way without over extending itself.

Polybushes where the middle can spin don't have this issue but the moulded rubber types where you clamp the centre do.

 

I'm not sure which type the ones on the F10 are, does the pic above help?

Thanks Peter too.. I will see if I can get them back into the ramp to get it re-tightened under load.

 

Those are the 'ordinary' rubber bushes, for comparison the yellow ones are Polybushes

 

Picture shows arm with vulcanized (fixed) bushes. Other pictures show the same.

 

Thanks guys..

Look like it'll need be taken off and have them re-tightened with load.

Thanks.

 

They don't need to be taken off - on a ramp they can just be loosened and re-tightened.

 

Thanks, I meant to say loosened and tightend under load.

 

Far too late for this but may help any others looking at the arms, pdf attached.