Powerflex CAB failure

[Kilijan]

I just ordered a set of Meyle control arms, and offset Powerflex bushings. I've installed the bushings onto the arms and installed the right side on the car. It was a royal PITA to get the rear bolts installed. With the bushings pushed in as far as they would go, the holes were about 1/4-1/8" off from where they should be.

I went back to install the left side this morning just to find the inner bushing split in half. Has anybody else had any reliability issues with these things splitting in half? I wouldn't think that they would split without any real pressure applied to them. I'm currently waiting for an RMA from Bimmerworld, but if this is a common problem, I'll be trying to get a full refund from them.

[Xenocide]

Sounds like you installed them wrong. Mine was only about 1 inch away when the wheel was in the air and i just forced it up on there...How did you install this bushing, what do you mean by as far in as it would go? You need a hydraulic press to to it properly.

[Kilijan]

The bushing has a cut out that is specific to the right or left arm about 1 inch in depth. It is pressed onto the arm to the full depth allowed by the cutout. Part of the cutout bulges because the cut doesn't match up 100% with the shape of the arm. I also had the bushings fitted at the machine shop that I usually go to, he said that they went on so easily that he could fit them by hand. He also thought they were fairly brittle compared to the urethane bushings he normally sees. The bolt holes were pushed towards the back of the car when the arm was installed. I had to mount one of the rear bolts, get the ball joint positioned, tap it in halfway with a dead blow hammer, put in the second bolt, then tapped the joint in the rest of the way before tightening the rear bolts back down again. It was certainly a lot harder to put the arm back on then when I replaced the bearings on my e30.