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  2. Instructions

Rear Trailing Arm Bushing (RTAB) replacement on a BMW E46

Some pictures from a typical RTAB replacement. This car had the rear subframe out for subframe bushing replacement, but removing the subframe is NOT necessary. This RTAB bushing replacement is almost always done while still mounted in the car.
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We cheated and used a BMW-specific bushing removal/installaiton kit. It has a huge C-clamp and all of the proper sized inserts to press the various BMW bushings in and out. Super easy with the right tools.<br /> <br /> If you don't have this you can cut/drill/hammer out the old RTAB bushings, but you will need something to press them in place. You can fasion a tool with some beefy all thread and 2" pipe caps. Its "fun".
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We cheated and used a BMW-specific bushing removal/installaiton kit. It has a huge C-clamp and all of the proper sized inserts to press the various BMW bushings in and out. Super easy with the right tools.

If you don't have this you can cut/drill/hammer out the old RTAB bushings, but you will need something to press them in place. You can fasion a tool with some beefy all thread and 2" pipe caps. Its "fun".

  • This car had the entire rear subframe out of the car, to it was easier to install the RTAB bushings, but this is NOT necessary.
  • We cheated and used a BMW-specific bushing removal/installaiton kit. It has a huge C-clamp and all of the proper sized inserts to press the various BMW bushings in and out. Super easy with the right tools.<br /> <br /> If you don't have this you can cut/drill/hammer out the old RTAB bushings, but you will need something to press them in place. You can fasion a tool with some beefy all thread and 2" pipe caps. Its "fun".
  • The stock bushings have these raised sections on one side.. we cut them off with a cut-off wheel to allow our bearing cups to seat flat.
  • Here's one side with new bushing installed and Vorshlag RTAB limiters in place.
  • This bushing is removed and you can see the tool is setup to press in the new E46 M3 RTAB bushings, at left.
  • The new M3 RTAB bushing goes in from the outside edge. The tool is lined up to start pressing it into place.
  • An air impact gun is used to turn the main screw to force the bushing into place. <br /> <br /> Its used to remove these bushings with the same setup, and the old bushing pops out into the larger hollow cup at right.
  • A similar bushing install tool kit can be purchased from BMW for about $450.
  • The RTAB limiters conform to the raised "dimples" inside the RTAB "cassette" - the frame side mounting bucket that the the RTAB bushing lines up into and bolts through.
  • You can see the matching surface on the RTAB Limiter and the bushing cassette
  • Once the RTAB bushing is pressed into the trailing arm this is how the cassette and Limiters are pushed into place.
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