Whilteline FCAB installation question

[E46m3zcp]

Hey,

I ordered these Whiteline FCABs from Vorshlag. It came as in the photo below, with lubricant. They're advertised as "with internal reservoirs" My newbie question is: how do you lubricate those? Do I pop the center part and lubricate the inside? If that's the case how am I supposed to press the inner core back after lubing them?

Before posting I tried looking up instructions online, but couldn't find any. If you have a link to share it would be great!

My intuitive approach would be to slide the inner cores out but not remove them entirely, apply the grease, then slide them back in place. Confirmation that this is the way would be great though...

Thanks!!

[bigjae46]

That's pretty much it. The inner bushing rotates in the outer sleeve. Lubricant helps the part rotate freely. I'm willing to bet that poly bushing will squeak unless you regularly service it (add more grease) which is why OEM is a better choice.

[E46m3zcp]

That's pretty much it. The inner bushing rotates in the outer sleeve. Lubricant helps the part rotate freely. I'm willing to bet that poly bushing will squeak unless you regularly service it (add more grease) which is why OEM is a better choice.

Thanks. That's one of the reasons why I have 2 M3s: one for experimenting (higher mileage, too) and another one that's 100% OE / original (lower miles).

[E46m3zcp]

update: I tried to get the core out a little bit to put grease but ended up popping it out, and now it seems impossible to put it back on... If anyone has some experience we these, I'd greatly appreciate some advice.

[bigjae46]

update: I tried to get the core out a little bit to put grease but ended up popping it out, and now it seems impossible to put it back on... If anyone has some experience we these, I'd greatly appreciate some advice.

Press it back in...maybe use a bench vise?

[E46m3zcp]

Yeah, I'm trying to do this, there is a pretty large difference in diameter btw the core and the outside so I'm struggling rn

[bigjae46]

Yeah, I'm trying to do this, there is a pretty large difference in diameter btw the core and the outside so I'm struggling rn

that's what she said

try more lube

[E46m3zcp]

that's what she said

try more lube

lol 🤣

Well... she was wrong. It ended up slipping in.

For anyone looking for the same thing: bench vise will work, but I had to use another C-clamp to squeeze the rubber for it to go in... it was a real pain.

So to summarize why this is hard for those not familiar with the Whiteline bushings, the center core and the shell have a conic shape. When they pop out you have to fit back the wider part of the cone into the narrower hole in the shell. The trick is to grease both well and seat one side of the core onto the hole in the shell, so it will want to slide in when you close the bench vise. Then you work your way around the core with a c-clamp, pressing the polyurethane material inside the shell while at the same time closing the bench vise. It took me 2-3 attempts before it went in.

My other approach would have been to press in the narrower part with the "mushroom hat" from the wider end of the shell up, but I don't think that would have ended up working, as the core would likely have gotten stuck.