differential cover bushings available separately?

[0-60motorsports]

Interesting… I got them as a clunk riddance device because they were plug and play fit. Dayenu. I had no idea there was a difference in material. I wonder why. Most engineers would simply carry over the part.

maw

At the end of the day I've had it for years and they are fine. Many other cars have installed them and are fine so I wouldn't sweat it. Go with what you feel happy with.

[maw1124]

At the end of the day I've had it for years and they are fine. Many other cars have installed them and are fine so I wouldn't sweat it. Go with what you feel happy with.

Like I said, mine have already been done. This isn’t an active question for me. Idle curiosity. Mine are on the car. At this point I’ve had them for years too.

maw

[Obioban]

Interesting… I got them as a clunk riddance device because they were plug and play fit. Dayenu. I had no idea there was a difference in material. I wonder why. Most engineers would simply carry over the part.

maw

If they carried them over, we could likely still press them in 🤣

[maw1124]

If they carried them over, we could likely still press them in 🤣

Right. I’m wondering if they didn’t change the design just so they’re not stuck with a bunch of diff covers in inventory from people just buying the bushings. You know, don’t make it too easy for people to just buy the rubber.



My guys didn’t realize the E36M bushings were a direct fit until I told them (thanks a ton to the folks here). I said “do the diff bushings”, they said “you have to buy the whole cover”, I said “no you don’t, the E36M ones are a direct fit”… “really?!”… “yes, trust me, I’m not guessing.”

maw

[Kdubski]

I have a diff cover with AKG black bushings for sale.

[George Hill]

Right. I’m wondering if they didn’t change the design just so they’re not stuck with a bunch of diff covers in inventory from people just buying the bushings. You know, don’t make it too easy for people to just buy the rubber.



My guys didn’t realize the E36M bushings were a direct fit until I told them (thanks a ton to the folks here). I said “do the diff bushings”, they said “you have to buy the whole cover”, I said “no you don’t, the E36M ones are a direct fit”… “really?!”… “yes, trust me, I’m not guessing.”

maw

They are not 100% the same size. Outside diameter: yes. Length: no, they are just a little shorter than stock E46.

With that said they came in Euro E36 M3s that made just slightly less power and we've been running them in a ton of cars for years with no issue.

[Tbonem3]

They are not 100% the same size. Outside diameter: yes. Length: no, they are just a little shorter than stock E46.

With that said they came in Euro E36 M3s that made just slightly less power and we've been running them in a ton of cars for years with no issue.

Do you center them or press them to be flush with the backside (the side that mounts to diff/sub)?

[George Hill]

Do you center them or press them to be flush with the backside (the side that mounts to diff/sub)?

Flush, that way they sit firmly against the subframe mounting point. IF you centered them and then tightened I feel like eventually they would "move" towards the subframe and then make the bolts loose.

[fattycharged]

e36 ones are softer, so a performance downgrade (probably NHV upgrade).

If you want new stock, the only option is a new cover. Other than the e36 bushings, everything you can press in in place of stock is a huge NHV penalty.

They're not, been running them a decade