Replacing Trailing Arm Bushings on Project BMW E46

I’ve explained everything.

Well, almost. I have explained the hows, whys, dos and don’ts, but I haven’t explained my DIY method for replacing the RTABs.

I could torch and hammer them out, like the subframe bushings. However, since I am installing a new rubber bushing, care has to be taken on reassembly. I can’t just hammer them in and call it a day. To that end, a quick Google search showed various people renting out a tool specifically designed to press out and press in RTABs. I found a seller renting one for about $30, and hopped on it.

The MIS tool is, effectively, a hand press with fixtures that fit onto the RTAB housing and press bushings in and out. As my video shows, it’s just a matter of lining up the tool and cranking it down to push out the old bushing. As previously mentioned, some amount of care has to be used when installing the new bushings. They are a press fit bushing and are supposed to sit in their housing very tightly. Due to the design of the bushing it is possible to install them crooked, which is bad. It’s just a matter of holding the bushing square on to the opening and pressing it in slowly. It’s not hard, but it is possible to get wrong if you’re not careful and toast those brand new bushings.

With the bushings pressed in to the housing, installing the RTAB limiters is a cakewalk. Simply rest a limiter on either end of the bushing, and then reassemble as normal.

And that’s it for this episode of Project E46. It was a lot of words, and a lot of suspension theory, so to those of you who read the whole thing, thank you. And for those that didn’t, jokes on them, they probably installed polyurethane RTABs and have bad handling. Speaking of bad handling, stay tuned for next week’s episode of Project E46 where I weld my differential for maximum drift-ability.

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Jake Stumph

Jake Stumph is a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, and former content editor for Internet Brands Automotive which he joined in 2015. His work has been featured by several other prominent automotive outlets, including Jalopnik and Autobytel.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Ohio State University in 2013, then pivoted from covering politics and policy to writing about his automotive adventures, something that, he says, is a lot more fun. Since that time, he has established connections with most of the world's major automakers, as well as other key brands in the automotive industry.

He enjoys track days, drifting, and autocross, at least, when his cars are running right, which is uncommon.

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