Holy rear suspension disassembly batman

DR.ZED · 06-11-2009, 06:09 PM

I've spend two weeks slowly working at this. Holy crap I'm glad I didn't take this car to a shop to get this done.

(85 325e with 320,000 kms - no rust)

Some interesting notes... how the heck do I get the driveshaft out of the wheel bearing? Is there a snap ring I am missing?

The diff to axle carrier bolts weren't as hard when you have a 1ft box wrench then add another to the end of it for leverage. Neither were the bolts to the RCAs.

Now the complete PITA was the axle carrier to body mounting. The one side literally snapped off and left part of the locating pin in the body (that was fun drilling out). The other side wouldn't move at all. I had to literally swing the axle all the way around the parallel the opposite side of the car until it popped and dropped out.

So... here were are. After a lot of reading I'm going stock RCA bushings (not the escentric) and stock axle carrier mounts.

Enjoy the pix!!!

cirrusblau · 06-11-2009, 06:26 PM

There's apparently a special tool, but my solution has been to get a centre punch in the centre drill on the half shafts and pound away. The halfshafts came out very easily on my 1987 325i, but on my 1986 325e parts car, I mushroomed the centre punch a bit. Regardless, all 4 came out fine and that was using a wimpy 8 oz. hammer.

e30_kid89 · 06-11-2009, 06:42 PM

Good work, id put in some poly bushings at least in the subframe so you wont have to deal with that nightmare again...When I undo the 22mm nuts and punch out the pins my subframe literally pops free from the body, even after a year of inital install

SamE30e · 06-11-2009, 08:31 PM

Yep, the rear subframe is a bitch to get out. The aluminum oxidizes itself to the body. I had the same thing happen.

guibo · 06-12-2009, 01:05 PM

was the no rust comment sarcastic?

**T.Dot_E30** · 06-12-2009, 01:19 PM

i have been putting off doing mine for over a year now.

I ordered all the parts, I even have a spare sub-frame and trailing arms. I planned to re-do the entire rear end......but the parts are still sitting in my closet.

DR.ZED · 06-12-2009, 03:28 PM

Nah.. the car has literally no rust on it. I made that comment to validate the work involved.

guibo · 06-12-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR.ZED

Nah.. the car has literally no rust on it. I made that comment to validate the work involved.

all i see is rust in your pics

Bullet Ride · 06-12-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guibo

all i see is rust in your pics

It's pretty near impossible to have a 24 year old car with absolutely 100% zero rust on the under body. For its age its in good shape.

BMW BMXer · 06-13-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guibo

all i see is rust in your pics

Are you kidding me?

Its an 85 bro (That spent most of its life in Atlanta), that's nothing. Being the previous owner I take offense to that lol.

If you want to split hairs, there is not ROT on that car.

Boxer2 · 06-13-2009, 09:52 AM

in order to take the driveshaft out of the wheel bearing you have to first remove the dust cap, then take off the 30mm nut with an impact wrench, than you can use an air hammer with a pointy bit that fits into the recessed area on the end of the shaft, and drive it out, it should come out really easy...but this really isn't necessary to remove it for the job your doing, I would just leave it in, it will save you some time when you start putting things back together....I've done subframe bushing several times on E30's, and I must say it's so much fun, I love it.

guibo · 06-13-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW BMXer

Are you kidding me?

Its an 85 bro (That spent most of its life in Atlanta), that's nothing. Being the previous owner I take offense to that lol.

If you want to split hairs, there is not ROT on that car.

well i take offense to people who say that their car is 'rust-free' when it really isnt. how many cars on sale say 'rust-free, 100% no rust anywhere' and then you go see the car and realise it was a big ****in waste of time.

rust free is rust free. NO ****IN RUST. i just spent the entire winter and now summer removing rust from a 'rust-free' e30. you can say, no visible body rust with normal underbody rust for an 85. fine, thats acceptable.

craz azn · 06-13-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guibo

well i take offense to people who say that their car is 'rust-free' when it really isnt. how many cars on sale say 'rust-free, 100% no rust anywhere' and then you go see the car and realise it was a big ****in waste of time.

rust free is rust free. NO ****IN RUST. i just spent the entire winter and now summer removing rust from a 'rust-free' e30. you can say, no visible body rust with normal underbody rust for an 85. fine, thats acceptable.

Sorry Dave, but I have to agree with this man here ^^ He hit the nail right on the head. I too hate it when people say no rust, rust free, etc etc and ya, well... ya know lol.

I am not going to lie about my car, Its surely NOT rust free, but considering its driven year round, and been a Canadian car all its life, its in pretty good shape. Not mint, not rust free, just... emm... errr.. goodish? haha.

Regardless, damn you rust!!

echo · 06-13-2009, 08:42 PM

I'm always shocked by the rust on cars on overseas forums. We just don't seem to have the same problems over here. Yes, there are plenty of rusty cars, but the sort of rust I'm seeing on e30s on forums is like the rust on our cars from the 60's and 70's.

I see alot of rust in this thread. But none of it looks particularly terminal I have to admit.

BMW BMXer · 06-14-2009, 07:16 AM

Alright I'm not going to continue to thread jack... not my ride anymore.