ECS Trailing arms...thoughts and experience?

[ECSTuning]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Anybody have a DIY guide? Is it just a matter of jacking up the working side, removing the wheel, unbolting the OEM arm, then bolting the new one on?

You've got the idea, it's a very simple install.

Will this require a new alignment after install?

Due to the arm sharing specs with the factory arm an alignment is not required. However if you find your factory arm is damaged it is suggested to re align the car with true components.

Can the OEM bushings be re-used?

Yes they can!

[Hujan]

Thanks for the response! Much appreciated.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Anybody have a DIY guide? Is it just a matter of jacking up the working side, removing the wheel, unbolting the OEM arm, then bolting the new one on?

Will this require a new alignment after install? Can the OEM bushings be re-used?

Basically that's it. Alignment remains the same. Anyone know what the torque value on these bolts is?

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by italyix

Basically that's it. Alignment remains the same. Anyone know what the torque value on these bolts is?

Bentleys manual shows 100Nm (73.7 ft-lb) for both ends. That is for a 3 series E9x, not specifically an M3, but I would say that is a good value.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

Bentleys manual shows 100Nm (73.7 ft-lb) for both ends. That is for a 3 series E9x, not specifically an M3, but I would say that is a good value.

Thanks!!!!

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by italyix

Basically that's it. Alignment remains the same. Anyone know what the torque value on these bolts is?

Originally Posted by surlynkid

Bentleys manual shows 100Nm (73.7 ft-lb) for both ends. That is for a 3 series E9x, not specifically an M3, but I would say that is a good value.

The ECS page pertaining to these says 74 ft-lbs. too:

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/BMW_E9...013/ES2777155/

[R_lara]

Mine just came in, and one of the oems failed once. pluse the piece of mind knowing i have a stronger rear end.

[cmichaelo]

Reviving an old thread...

Aren't the bushings at each end of this arm even more important to replace than the arm itself?

Btw, this is one hell of a cool looking arm. I can just see myself to my friends, "Guys, come here. Get down on the ground and slide under the rear of the car and take a look at this awesome trailing arm"

[cmichaelo]

Originally Posted by cmichaelo

Reviving an old thread...

Aren't the bushings at each end of this arm even more important to replace than the arm itself?

Btw, this is one hell of a cool looking arm. I can just see myself to my friends, "Guys, come here. Get down on the ground and slide under the rear of the car and take a look at this awesome trailing arm"

Decided to call ECStuning to ask if they can confirm the stock bushings at each end are made of soft rubber. They confirmed this but then proceeded to say that if I wanted to upgrade to a bearing type of "bushing" I'd have to get this upper control arm set:

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-6...per-arms-rear/

I told him that that made no sense since the trailing arm connects directly, and only, to the subframe at one end and to the spindle at the other end, and that I simply wanted to upgrade the bushings at each end. The guy on the phone wouldn't budge. Only way to upgrade was with these upper control arms. I gave up to get more advice from him.

What am I missing here? Isn't there a solution to upgrade just the bushings at each end of the trailing arm?

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by cmichaelo

Decided to call ECStuning to ask if they can confirm the stock bushings at each end are made of soft rubber. They confirmed this but then proceeded to say that if I wanted to upgrade to a bearing type of "bushing" I'd have to get this upper control arm set:

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-6...per-arms-rear/

I told him that that made no sense since the trailing arm connects directly, and only, to the subframe at one end and to the spindle at the other end, and that I simply wanted to upgrade the bushings at each end. The guy on the phone wouldn't budge. Only way to upgrade was with these upper control arms. I gave up to get more advice from him.

What am I missing here? Isn't there a solution to upgrade just the bushings at each end of the trailing arm?

Yes you can buy upgrades. Turner is just pushing their knockoff SPL crap.

4x Lemforder 3067901 or Meyle 3147100005 bearings

[Exclusivs]

^ "Knockoff" might be wrong word - but agreed, sounds like sales guy trying to push unnecessary parts.

I myself am interested in the benefit coming from replacing these to either of the monoball bushings DRLane listed.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by Exclusivs

^ "Knockoff" might be wrong word - but agreed, sounds like sales guy trying to push unnecessary parts.

I myself am interested in the benefit coming from replacing these to either of the monoball bushings DRLane listed.

The "similarities" extend to the other arms as well…

[cmichaelo]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Yes you can buy upgrades. Turner is just pushing their knockoff SPL crap.

4x Lemforder 3067901 or Meyle 3147100005 bearings

Having done a little more digging on the options out there, the playing field is quite confusing, or misleading. I don't know what is a scam or not...

Take a look at these three options for a complete set of trailing arm bearings:

Future Classic (their "own" bearing set): $444
https://futureclassic.us/products/fu...shing-set-rtab

Bimmerworld (their "own" bearing set): $220
https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...ing-Set_2.html

Cars245 (4 x Lemforder 3067901): $77
https://cars245.com/en/item/lemforde...01-ball-joint/


Are the Lemforder bearings the same as the bearings from Bimmerworld and FutureClassic?

[Exclusivs]

^ all good questions : don't think your gonna get a clear answer. I'm in to know as well.

Recall reading about overly tight Bimmerworld tension on their bushings

…unsure if that has been remedied or bypassed

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by cmichaelo

Having done a little more digging on the options out there, the playing field is quite confusing, or misleading. I don't know what is a scam or not...

Take a look at these three options for a complete set of trailing arm bearings:

Future Classic (their "own" bearing set): $444
https://futureclassic.us/products/fu...shing-set-rtab

Bimmerworld (their "own" bearing set): $220
https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...ing-Set_2.html

Cars245 (4 x Lemforder 3067901): $77
https://cars245.com/en/item/lemforde...01-ball-joint/


Are the Lemforder bearings the same as the bearings from Bimmerworld and FutureClassic?

This has been explored in other threads. Marketing, and markups. The ones listed from Lemforder or Meyle are all that's needed. I'm running a combination on the rear plus the BW camber bushing per this thread. No need to pay for the same thing just because they're coming from Future Classic.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1781245

[Redd]

Originally Posted by cmichaelo

Having done a little more digging on the options out there, the playing field is quite confusing, or misleading. I don't know what is a scam or not...

Take a look at these three options for a complete set of trailing arm bearings:

Future Classic (their "own" bearing set): $444
https://futureclassic.us/products/fu...shing-set-rtab

Bimmerworld (their "own" bearing set): $220
https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...ing-Set_2.html

Cars245 (4 x Lemforder 3067901): $77
https://cars245.com/en/item/lemforde...01-ball-joint/


Are the Lemforder bearings the same as the bearings from Bimmerworld and FutureClassic?

Size wise they are all the same. BW say they use Aurora bearings which cost more. Cars245 at least are open that they use Lemforder, and that's a very good price for Lemforder bearings.

I don't know what brand Future Classics use. Schirmer uses Meyle. I suspect both FC and Schirmer mark up the prices greatly cos you're paying for the brand. Back in the day when no one knew what part # to get, these aftermarket suppliers were the only options. Nowadays we know exactly which bearing to use. Either Meyle or Lemforder will be more than good enough.

Stock - BMW 33326763092 ($25.45)
- Inner diameter: 12 mm
- Outer diameter: 46.5 mm
- Length: 47 mm

Meyle 3147100005 ($18)
- Inner diameter: 12 mm
- Outer diameter: 45.12 mm
- Height: 48 mm

Lemforder 3067901 ($35)
- Inner diameter: 12 mm
- Outer diameter: 45 mm
- Height: 48 mm