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Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 8:57 pm
by andym3
I've been to two different garages now for the 4 wheel alignment to be done and both have said they cant do it as the rear swing arm bolts (toe & camber bolts) are seized!
Are these bolts hard to change? Can these be changed jacked up on a driveway?  :( :))

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:51 pm
by Horizon
Be carefull one member had a bolt sheer off whilst having an alignment done, Stormingmike I seem to remember?
I think they had to weld it up , or it had to be recovered to his Indies.
Also if realignment is showing it is usually the bottom ballpoints that are worn, this causes the geometry to be out of alignment.
You have to support the vehicle and unload the air suspension by deflating the bags to be able to see the wear, as when the suspension is loaded it masks the play in the joint

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:54 pm
by andym3
Ok thanks  ;)
Anyone know of any garages near Brighton that wont charge the earth the moment they see a BMW X5?  :'(

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 10:17 pm
by X5-D-Sport
Meanwhile, squirt the nuts n bolts with WD40 several times a day...

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 8:12 am
by Greydog
Morning
Maybe a bit further than you want to go but try Andy Walker Walker Autotech 01403 751646 they are BMW specialists and have been great with my X5 and sensible with prices.
They are close to Billingshurst

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 8:19 am
by andym3
Ok thanks  8)

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 10:29 pm
by rhinoman
Buy new bolts, a few quid on ebay, drop the air out before you shear the old ones off changing them :)

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 10:03 pm
by andym3
[quote="rhinoman"]
Buy new bolts, a few quid on ebay, drop the air out before you shear the old ones off changing them :)
[/quote]
I tried looking for them on ebay, but couldn't find them! Don't suppose you've got a item number?
Is it easy enough to change them? Shear/cut old bolts & pop in new ones?

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 10:21 pm
by rhinoman
Just checked my purchased items as i bought the lower camber bolt about 8 weeks a go but the listing has been removed., it was £7.99 delivered for the bolt and washer/nut but I sure I payed around the same from BMW for the other one last year.

One of mine sheared under force but was then easy to remove and replace (once the air is released.)

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 9:01 pm
by andym3
Ok thanks! Was looking the other day and the bushes the bolts go through look like they could do with changing!  :-[

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 9:15 pm
by rhinoman
The camber bushes can be bought from a Polish seller on ebay, mine came in a couple of days, Lemforder make them but they are very hard to do even with a press etc., you can buy the complete arm from BMW but its quite expensive. I think these is the least wearing bush from my car. The outers where the arm attaches to the hub were shot (and everything else...)

The toe adjustment bushes is the complete arm, not too expensive but I would buy a decent make like Febi or Lemforder else you'll need to do them again next year. This is the most common cause of issues with  rear alignment along with the rear subframe bushes.

My tip having replaced mine pair by pair is to do the front and or back of the car in one go as doing a pair at a time just takes out the next weakest link in the chain as you stiffen one part up.

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 9:20 pm
by storminmike
[quote="Horizon"]
Be carefull one member had a bolt sheer off whilst having an alignment done, Stormingmike I seem to remember?
I think they had to weld it up , or it had to be recovered to his Indies.
Also if realignment is showing it is usually the bottom ballpoints that are worn, this causes the geometry to be out of alignment.
You have to support the vehicle and unload the air suspension by deflating the bags to be able to see the wear, as when the suspension is loaded it masks the play in the joint
[/quote]

Yes...it was me. Cost me a whole new swing arm. They offered to weld the nut back on temporarily as they couldn't drive the bolt out....I declined and took it to my indy on a flatback FOC....which I should have done in the first place

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 9:57 pm
by andym3
Was thinking about buying these - 351369238133 & 350748182149

How much do you recon a garage would charge to fit?

The rear will be totally re-newed then! I've had all the front bushes/arms etc changed a couple weeks ago!  8)

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:56 pm
by rhinoman
2nd part is fine but the first one i'd pick a known brand like Febi.

What about the subframe bushes? I fitted MeyleHD, couldn't justify Poweflex.

Re: Seized Rear Swing Arm Bolts

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 8:04 pm
by andym3
Will do subframe bushes at a later date, ive had a look and they look ok! Wondering if they've been replaced before my ownership of the car!