Lemforder suspension query

[Smudgemanuk]

I could do with some new front wishbones.

Lemforder seem to be regarded as one of the best by many, and £88 per side for wishbones seems reasonable
However, they do not come with the back rubber mounting bracket or bush

Lemforder make the bush but do not seem to make the bracket

So I guess the best option is to get a decent brand, bracket with the bush

Any suggestions either for other options like, original bracket and lemforder bush?
Or views on how much I can trust SKF

Much appreciated, thanks

 

[Pingu]

Any of the reputable suppliers will do. You can get a set of two bushes for the price of a single lollipop, but you need a press to fit them.

You will need a press to fit the bush onto the suspension arm, anyway.

 

[Zephyr]

You picked two of the best brands. Go for it.

 

[DrWong]

Put Lemforder on mine, been spot on.

Re: lollipop bushes, wish I’d gone for the solid (concentric) rubber ones as found on Z3M and certain E36 M3s, instead of the standard E36/Z3 ones with gaps in the rubber.

Apparently tightens up the steering, so might be worth considering

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Ooo tempting

I will consider that

 

[Stevo7682]

I would highly recommend solid bushes have them on 2 of my zeds vastly improves steering and braking.
You see the solid bushes listed a M ones with the hole off center not sure that these would work right on a standard z3 as M has vastly different suspension geometry
The ones i have are commonly available on Autodoc at around £50 a set and in my view worth the money as durability seems to me good my oldest set are now around 7yrs old with around 36k on them still look fine.
Stephen.

 

[DrWong]

View attachment 342371View attachment 342373View attachment 342375
I would highly recommend solid bushes have them on 2 of my zeds vastly improves steering and braking.
You see the solid bushes listed a M ones with the hole off center not sure that these would work right on a standard z3 as M has vastly different suspension geometry
The ones i have are commonly available on Autodoc at around £50 a set and in my view worth the money as durability seems to me good my oldest set are now around 7yrs old with around 36k on them still look fine.
Stephen.

Ahh yes that’s right, they’re eccentric on the Z3M because the suspension geometry is different, e.g. front drop link is much longer on the M.

E36 M3 started with eccentric then reverted to concentric ones in 1996 I believe.

 

[FLZ_Boy]

I used the Meyle Bracket and Bushing on my new Lemforder Control Arms. It provides a nice cushy ride (with new Sachs Struts).

 

[Althulas]

I wished the wishbones for the ///M were only £88 a side. Over £200 a side from BMW.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Why buy new brackets when you can replace the old ones with new bushes? I fitted Powerflex polyurethane bushes, and never looked back. Solid rubber or poly bushes should be mandatory, particularly with seventeen-inch wheels, as they stop the usual fight with the steering wheel on less than perfect roads, and are the best thing I have ever fitted to my car. I do not know what BMW thought they were doing to fit the usual gapped bushes with seventeen-inch wheels, the tyres of which have far less compliant sidewalls than those fitted to sixteen-inch wheels.

 

[Ade33]

My Z3 is fitted with 17" rims and felt pretty skittish and was tramlining when I purchased it...I took this guys advice from a previous post and had them fitted by Lee genuine new BMW rubber bushes in the lollipop bracket


"When you change the front control arm rear bushings, don't use the standard bushing as it is the main cause of tramlining in the Z3. Use the Z3M bushing. Its got more rubber so is stronger and lasts longer."

Part number 31129069035

They are not solid rubber as fitted on earlier Z3M models..I was concerned i'd find the solid ones too harsh...

Very happy..all skittshness gone and zero tramlining

 

[IainP]

The eccentric M bushes add more caster, which gives more camber change in cornering. Story goes that BMW changed back to concentric because owners were complaining their power steering was faulty during cornering. The increased camber either gives more “feel”, or makes the steering slightly “heavier”, during cornering. Depends on point of view. Or whether the driver is just an idiot imo.
Anyway, we only use eccentric bushes.
Completely solid M3 concentric bushes don’t add any harshness at all, it’s only rubber, it can still deflect, it just does so much, much less than the standard bush, which is hopeless, again, my opinion.

 

[Ade33]

The eccentric M bushes add more caster, which gives more camber change in cornering. Story goes that BMW changed back to concentric because owners were complaining their power steering was faulty during cornering. The increased camber either gives more “feel”, or makes the steering slightly “heavier”, during cornering. Depends on point of view. Or whether the driver is just an idiot imo.
Anyway, we only use eccentric bushes.
Completely solid M3 concentric bushes don’t add any harshness at all, it’s only rubber, it can still deflect, it just does so much, much less than the standard bush, which is hopeless, again, my opinion.

I guess the question is then if the solid rubber ones don't add any harshness why didn't BMW fit these as standard across the Z3 range instead of the standard ones which as we know have not a lot of rubber and a lot of holes!

 

[IainP]

Cost.
Same as all the other companies. By and large though, BMW are cheapskates.