1990 535i "Clunk"

Mavrick · 02-12-2007, 10:22 PM

The car has a loud clunk when lifting from moderate-heavy throttle. Does not clunk when the brakes are applied. Sound familier? What bushings should i be looking at?

BigD · 02-12-2007, 10:28 PM

Well I'm going to assume that the clunk is from the rear. Your subframe bushings are toast. Go to Charlie (bimmersport), he'll put in a new pair in a few hours.

Mavrick · 02-13-2007, 11:25 AM

Yes sorry, it is from the rear. I just bought the car cause the customer was going to scrap it.. lots of potential though so i am going to fix it.

Problem is, i need to fix it to safety it, before i can drive it. I'll be fixing it myself, i'm an apprentice mechanic. Toronto is over 1.5hours from me as well so it's not too realistic.

What are these bushings worth and where is the best place to get quality bushings? Any tricks to the install? Not too familier with beemers..

talltorontoguy · 02-14-2007, 06:28 PM

It's a bitch of a job. Have to drop the whole rear end basically. If you're going to be doing work on this yourself suggest you get a Bentley's manual - invaluable. Check out www.bimmer.info which is a mainly E34 specific 5 series board... more info there.

Rod

BigD · 02-14-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Yes sorry, it is from the rear. I just bought the car cause the customer was going to scrap it.. lots of potential though so i am going to fix it.

Problem is, i need to fix it to safety it, before i can drive it. I'll be fixing it myself, i'm an apprentice mechanic. Toronto is over 1.5hours from me as well so it's not too realistic.

What are these bushings worth and where is the best place to get quality bushings? Any tricks to the install? Not too familier with beemers..

The trick is to use a tool to pull the bushing out. BMW has one, or you can make one yourself. All you need to do is remove the support plate, support the subframe, unbolt it, and lower it a little to get the tool in there.

The best place to get them locall is Bruno, racingking.net. He can also explain how to remove them (in person's always easier, maybe he has the tool too, or show it to you).

Mavrick · 02-15-2007, 11:03 PM

I found this article.. makes the job sound OK..

http://www.tycksen.com/bmw/tech/subframe/

BigD · 02-16-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrick

I found this article.. makes the job sound OK..

http://www.tycksen.com/bmw/tech/subframe/

The complexity is not what makes this job difficult. It's the fact that each of those simple steps is a f'en pain. There isn't a single step that will go like you think it will. Prepare to get creative with getting the bushings out if they are torn. The torch is your friend - HAVE NO MERCY!!!

BmW1819 · 02-17-2007, 01:56 AM

iam doing my now and wow what a pain just get that thing out what he shows with the vice grips

Mavrick · 02-19-2007, 11:01 PM

Yes.. i figure the bolt will be seized to the inner bushing.. i have a shop to work at so ill have torches on hand!!

Mavrick · 03-03-2007, 03:58 PM

I just finished doing the bushings today, and they were easier than I thought. The inner bushing was not seized to the sleeve at all, the only tough part was removing the old bushing. This was on a 90 535i with 297k on it.. and it hasnt been undercoated or anything.

Boots R · 03-03-2007, 04:11 PM

I get the same clunking in my POS van.

So after replacing the bushings, has the clunk dissapeared?

Mavrick · 03-03-2007, 06:14 PM

Yes, clunking has dissapeared the the car handles much tigheter.. got rid of the wondering/rear steer completely.

What happened with mine, was the rubber bushing ripped apart from the inner bushing sleeve. This left the inner sleeve solidly mounted to the car, and the outter bushing solidly pressed into the subframe. Obviously, the subframe can move around, clunk, side to side etc.

Good luck.

Qube · 03-08-2007, 06:41 PM

Next, go for the delrin subframe inserts

For parts, bmaparts.com is your friend.