I am in the market for a pair of E30/E36 offset lower control arm bushings and the purple Powerflex bushings would do nicely. The problem is that I know a few people experienced broken bushings! Does anyone know if the bushing design or material was ever updated to cure this?

you might consider these:

http://www.bmwbushings.com

Z4 thanks for the reply, looks interesting. Do you, or anyone you know have firsthand experience with this product?

I don't think there is a lot of science to these front bushings. I simply want something stiffer than stock, that won't fail before 60k miles and doesn't squeak. The serious stuff (full delrin or GC style bearing units) is too harsh for the street and the stock stuff is too soft. I'd like the all-season tire of performance bushings :stickoutt

Those look like RTRS bushings. I blew out a set.

Yup, definately RTRS. Take a pass on them. Go OEM on this one.

I have made email at Powerflex UK.
They have new design and they will sent me a pair for free.
Just, today the bushing arrived
they feel wery stiff.

And if i have some friends, they will also sent a pair for free !!

here are the pictures from the new bushings they sent me.
but the inside of the bushings are pink.

http://mypage.bluewin.ch/a-z/Ruth_and_Igor/index.html

this is for E36 M3 centered

Very interesting that they are two piece urethane. How soon can you install and give feedback?

I want first get the bracket, dont put the rubber out > hell to due

i think end of the week i can make and give feedback.

and the bushings are real very stiff, must look for spezial wrench or somethings

Have these ever been known to fail?

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=31129061222D

Being that they are solid delrin, I do not see how they could possibly fail.

BMWBushings also offers a delrin version, they don't blow out but are higher maintenance and a rougher ride on the street

they claim that both their Delrin and urethane bushing can be taken on/off the control without special tools, unlike the OE type

What is the higher maintainance involved with Delrin? I was under the impression is was "self lubricating".

yes, but it will eventually wear and unlike a rubber bushing wear in delrin becomes free-play slop. It also substantially increases the stress on the front control arm pivot/ball joint, which will wear out faster. That's generally why they don't recommend them for regular street use.

Having seen the ball joint on an E36 break before, I replace my C/A's a minimum of every other year/season. I replace the bushings at the same time.

I am planning on using the Delrin bushings in my E36.

Originally posted by frayed
Those look like RTRS bushings. I blew out a set.

What was the failure mode? How long had you used them? Any details are appreciated.

Mike

The 2nd version of powerflex seem better than the 1st version. I bought a set of 1st version from bimmerworld.com after 3 months they sent me a set of 2nd version for free. I'd been using them for serveral months now without any problem. Hope this help.

I blew out a set of PF offset bushings bought from Bimmerworld.com the very first time they were used at the track (less than a month old).

They've sent me a replacement set, which are currently getting installed at the shop. No mention of a second revision... they told me I broke the first ones because I drilled the set bolt too deep.

I didn't realize this was a problem inherent to the design... makes me wish I had just installed a set of stock bushings.

- John

"yes, but it will eventually wear and unlike a rubber bushing wear in delrin becomes free-play slop. "

How much slop is too much slop in a delrin bushing? ANY?

I have a set that seem loose, not floppy, but not snug either.

I also have a set of powerflex and haven't blown them out yet. Like the PF ones. Great for the street.

Ric

Originally posted by Mike S
What was the failure mode? How long had you used them? Any details are appreciated.

Mike

They developed slop. From only street use in about 3 months, as I hadn't gotten to the track yet with them. Each developed enough 'play' to cause the control arm to move for/aft under braking that I could feel it in the steering wheel. When I climbed underneath I was unpleasantly surprised. During their tenure on my car, I daily drove it on pretty poor city streets, so perhaps stict highway commuting may have been kinder to them.

I then replaced them with Powerflex, which felt pretty good. But one track weekend, and each had catastrophically failed (mild, low speed of road excursion :)). However, others killed the Powerflexes w/o resorting to 4-wheeling it.

I'm now happily back to stock.

I have a set of new OEM offset bushings for a 1995 M3 that I'd like to sell, forgot I had them, no reasonable offer refused

TeamZ4@roadfly.org

Originally posted by frayed


I then replaced them with Powerflex, which felt pretty good. But one track weekend, and each had catastrophically failed (mild, low speed of road excursion :)). However, others killed the Powerflexes w/o resorting to 4-wheeling it.



I can still hear the screams of the Texas wild flower!!! ;)

Yeah, I blew out the centered old style Pflexs with no daisy cutting at the track. I currently use the 95 offset OE's with no problems.

The new design Pflexs may be the harder black poly of the same appearance of their rear trailing arm bushings rather than the purple/blue poly. Also they've gone to a two piece design which I assume takes some of the twisting forces off the bushings. I do have some of the new design "in the mail" but I see no hurry to replace the 95's for a while. I'll let everyone know what they look like when they arrive.

Bimmerworld is reported to have done or doing some of the field testing of the new Pflexs but I have not heard any results.

My '95 offset Powerflex have held up for 8 months/8k miles, multiple hard canyon runs and three autocrosses. I check them pretty frequently, and see no sign of impending failure. I'm running without the M8 set screws, however. YMMV.