bmwz3tower
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Points
- 28
I'm going to hazard a guess that my rear axle bushing is shot. If so are there any MOT experts that could tell if it would be a fail?
Rear axle bushing
- Thread starter bmwz3tower
- Start date
As it is in the photo I would pass and advise. IF it was stting hard on the plate below then I would fail as the Bush had obviously failed totally.
Tony.
ps. But, I'm not a tester any more.
Tony.
ps. But, I'm not a tester any more.
Can confirm in that photo you can see they are shot, You can see the bush is rubbing on the plate leaving a semi circle mark. There should be a gap between the bush and that plate when the car is on its own weight (your on an axle stand in the photo)
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
Pass and advise for me. And while you're in there you'll find a whole load more bushes that will (probably) need doing.
And then there's the dampers.
And the front end.
The Z3, the car that keeps on giving.
And then there's the dampers.
And the front end.
The Z3, the car that keeps on giving.
That's because they could make a whole lot more, easy money, changing springs rather than nasty rubber bushes.
Tony.
Tony.
bmwz3tower
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Points
- 28
The good news is the pair I've got on there are rusty, should keep them distracted. The MOT is early April and if I'm to do the bushes myself I'd rather it be some time in the summer.Most MOT testers will be more concerned about surface rust on your rear coil springs in my experience
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2023
- Points
- 49
Thankfully then in Northern Ireland we have a different system; first MOT I took my 1998 1.9 to told me the bushes were worn and would need replacing before the next MOT. Second and third MOTs have passed them no bother. The Test Centres do not carry out repairs so are more or less independent.
And that's how it should be over here too. When I had my garage I took my tests to the local Council Workshop, where they had no dog in the fight (not looking for work - easy or hard) and did an honest and fair test.
Tony.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 218
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
My current opinion on bmw z3 rear subframe bushes is this
Its all but irrelevant how many miles your zed has done if its not had bushes they will be worn and need replacing.
I have seen under and mot'd a good few zeds including 5 that are under 40k on clock and all need them as @Lee has already said with with car on its wheels if the bushes are sitting on the plates and Dont have a 10-15 mm gap ( approx) then done .
Now as for the Mot test even when worn the dont exert excess movement ( even though changing them vastly improves the rear end ) so majority as pass and advise at worst
The reason they don't get picked up on is like said dont show excess play so most testers not seeing anything like a zed 3 very often will just pass as they dont know anything wrong .
We only know better as we know the cars better.
Stephen.
Its all but irrelevant how many miles your zed has done if its not had bushes they will be worn and need replacing.
I have seen under and mot'd a good few zeds including 5 that are under 40k on clock and all need them as @Lee has already said with with car on its wheels if the bushes are sitting on the plates and Dont have a 10-15 mm gap ( approx) then done .
Now as for the Mot test even when worn the dont exert excess movement ( even though changing them vastly improves the rear end ) so majority as pass and advise at worst
The reason they don't get picked up on is like said dont show excess play so most testers not seeing anything like a zed 3 very often will just pass as they dont know anything wrong .
We only know better as we know the cars better.
Stephen.
bmwz3tower
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Points
- 28
Would it be best to remove the axle with all the trailing arms / wheel hubs / diff all still attached or to remove all the parts and then the axle itself?
Additional what over bushings/ parts should I replace whilst I've got it out, I'm thinking the diff bush and anti roll bar bushings?
Thanks for all the advice so far
Additional what over bushings/ parts should I replace whilst I've got it out, I'm thinking the diff bush and anti roll bar bushings?
Thanks for all the advice so far
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
I took mine out as one lump and then stripped it, much easier to access all the bits. As for which bits to change, everything springs to mind, 25 year old rubber ain't what it used to be. The handbrake cables may well be past their best, and a lot easier to deal with without the rest of the gubbins in the way.