Rear axle bushing

B

bmwz3tower

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I'm going to hazard a guess that my rear axle bushing is shot. If so are there any MOT experts that could tell if it would be a fail?

20250309_154411.webp
 
As it is in the photo I would pass and advise. IF it was stting hard on the plate below then I would fail as the Bush had obviously failed totally.

Tony.

ps. But, I'm not a tester any more.
 
bmwz3tower said:
I'm going to hazard a guess that my rear axle bushing is shot. If so are there any MOT experts that could tell if it would be a fail?

View attachment 330961
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Can confirm in that photo you can see they are shot, You can see the bush is rubbing on the plate leaving a semi circle mark. There should be a gap between the bush and that plate when the car is on its own weight (your on an axle stand in the photo)
 
Most MOT testers will be more concerned about surface rust on your rear coil springs in my experience 😂
 
That's because they could make a whole lot more, easy money, changing springs rather than nasty rubber bushes.

Tony.
 
Mine were knackered and never got picked up on any previous MOT!
 
t-tony said:
That's because they could make a whole lot more, easy money, changing springs rather than nasty rubber bushes.
Tony.
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Thankfully then in Northern Ireland we have a different system; first MOT I took my 1998 1.9 to told me the bushes were worn and would need replacing before the next MOT. Second and third MOTs have passed them no bother. The Test Centres do not carry out repairs so are more or less independent.
 
TriumphZ3 said:
Thankfully then in Northern Ireland we have a different system; first MOT I took my 1998 1.9 to told me the bushes were worn and would need replacing before the next MOT. Second and third MOTs have passed them no bother. The Test Centres do not carry out repairs so are more or less independent.
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And that's how it should be over here too. When I had my garage I took my tests to the local Council Workshop, where they had no dog in the fight (not looking for work - easy or hard) and did an honest and fair test.

Tony.
 
My current opinion on bmw z3 rear subframe bushes is this
Its all but irrelevant how many miles your zed has done if its not had bushes they will be worn and need replacing.

I have seen under and mot'd a good few zeds including 5 that are under 40k on clock and all need them as @Lee has already said with with car on its wheels if the bushes are sitting on the plates and Dont have a 10-15 mm gap ( approx) then done .

Now as for the Mot test even when worn the dont exert excess movement ( even though changing them vastly improves the rear end ) so majority as pass and advise at worst
The reason they don't get picked up on is like said dont show excess play so most testers not seeing anything like a zed 3 very often will just pass as they dont know anything wrong .
We only know better as we know the cars better.
Stephen.
 
Would it be best to remove the axle with all the trailing arms / wheel hubs / diff all still attached or to remove all the parts and then the axle itself?

Additional what over bushings/ parts should I replace whilst I've got it out, I'm thinking the diff bush and anti roll bar bushings?

Thanks for all the advice so far
 
I took mine out as one lump and then stripped it, much easier to access all the bits. As for which bits to change, everything springs to mind, 25 year old rubber ain't what it used to be. The handbrake cables may well be past their best, and a lot easier to deal with without the rest of the gubbins in the way.
 
  • Agree
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