RTAB Mount Failure

[m3f_OahuMPower]

If you track/auto-x your car. DO THESE REINFORCEMENTS!!!!



Even if you dont, but drive the car in the winter, this area is PRONE to rust, and failures



This guy didnt hit anything, but completely spun out on a side street during normal DD driving due to the failure



http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...1#post20200518

[m3f_hencini]

If you track/auto-x your car. DO THESE REINFORCEMENTS!!!!



Even if you dont, but drive the car in the winter, this area is PRONE to rust, and failures



This guy didnt hit anything, but completely spun out on a side street during normal DD driving due to the failure



http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...1#post20200518

Yeek. What's involved to reinforce these? If I'm doing the RTABs this winter/next spring, would that be the ideal time to do reinforce or can it be done with the arms still installed?

[m3f_iggy]

If you track/auto-x your car. DO THESE REINFORCEMENTS!!!!



Even if you dont, but drive the car in the winter, this area is PRONE to rust, and failures



This guy didnt hit anything, but completely spun out on a side street during normal DD driving due to the failure



http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...1#post20200518

Yeeeouch!



Cal, are these the reinforcements you recommend?



http://store.bimmerworld.com/e36-rea...-kit-p984.aspx

[m3f_OahuMPower]

Yeek. What's involved to reinforce these? If I'm doing the RTABs this winter/next spring, would that be the ideal time to do reinforce or can it be done with the arms still installed?

Yes, it can be done with the arms still in the car, but I dont recommend it. It's SUX for the welder, and it doesnt take THAT much more to remove them completely.

Yeeeouch!



Cal, are these the reinforcements you recommend?



http://store.bimmerworld.com/e36-rea...-kit-p984.aspx

yes, those are the ONLY reinforcements that anyone sells.

[m3f_M3cosmos95]

****...mine went, and I never tracked or kept the car in a rust prone area for long.



Whenever I get a new e36...these will pretty much be the first things I do.

Yeeeouch!



Cal, are these the reinforcements you recommend?



http://store.bimmerworld.com/e36-rea...-kit-p984.aspx

Those are the ones I used

[m3f_M3cosmos95]

Yes, it can be done with the arms still in the car, but I dont recommend it. It's SUX for the welder, and it doesnt take THAT much more to remove them completely.


yes, those are the ONLY reinforcements that anyone sells.

I heard VAC made a kit...but i could be wrong


edit* i can't find it...nevermind

[m3f_hencini]

Yeeeouch!



Cal, are these the reinforcements you recommend?



http://store.bimmerworld.com/e36-rea...-kit-p984.aspx

Hey man, just what you need, another unforeseen expense for the ///M!!

[m3f_iggy]

Hey man, just what you need, another unforeseen expense for the ///M!!

Hahahaha. Just what I need!



With my luck it will be just like the RSMs that punched through the sheet metal 8 days before Christmas last year.



I've taken a few steps to get my finances more in order so if **** does hit the fan it won't be as bad.

[m3f_shaeff]

When I got my '95, I think the first thing besides rear tires (thanks to the P.O. getting factory alignments) that I did were the RTABs. My stockers were OK, but I replaced them with some UUC polys as preventative maintenance.


Had the OEM's out in just a few minutes per side (thanks to the MIS RTAB tool), but it turned into a much larger project welding one of the threaded bungs back in place. For what it's worth, my car was never tracked from what I could tell, all original everything, and with 99k on it when I got it.


When I did my subframe overhaul, I welded in the BW reinforcement plates. What a PITA! I hope I never have to weld upside-down again! By far one of my least favorite moments of working on a car... EVER.


I was so pissed off and angry when I got done (mind you, it was 100*F here at that time, and I was welding in a sweatshirt, welding gloves, and welding mask) that I didn't even bother to take pictures. It was that terrible. I'm also a n00b welder, so it took longer than it should have, but the welds are solid and those plates aren't going anywhere. Just thinking about it makes me pissed off.


Ever get welding slag in your ear? Down your neck? Burned me pretty well right through a sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt, and short sleeve shirt. Next time I weld upside-down, I'm getting a leather smock.

[m3f_OahuMPower]

yeah... I didnt say welding them in was any fun, just that they should be done.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Mine were tearing out, Ant's were tearing out; hell, I can't remember the last time I knew someone who checked back there whos wasn't tearing out....

[m3f_WK446]

OahuMPower: Thanks for the link. That's a bit scary...

[m3f_Rider]

Yup, on the list of first things to do: RTAB reinforcements, RSM reinforcement plates and RSM replacement.



I don't care if she's only got 25K miles, I'm not taking any chances.

[m3f_Jvanmater]

Mine were tearing out, Ant's were tearing out; hell, I can't remember the last time I knew someone who checked back there whos wasn't tearing out....

me.....jinxing myself right now

[m3f_tbaker474]

Another day, another way my e36 is trying to kill me. Ahh the joys of BMW ownership....