Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[fattycharged]

Look like it broke right at the cast line


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[BigRussia]

Dont want to spam the dumb questions thread with my FCAB issue too much, but figured followup with pics of my findings. So; faulty install by my indy’s mechanics when doing the new LCAs last year (had the Turner FCAB installed by them prior that, ~2 years ago) OR had the FCAB just failed/broken?
Passengers:

Drivers:


Thing is i had seen that the passengers side had that crack right after the lca install but didnt think much of it… i didn't complain to the shop thinking it was just a superficial plastic outer piece and there was no noise or creaks at the time. I feel if it was broken before they did the lca install they would've said something.

Also I wasn't able to replicate the creaking sound with the front end in the air unfortunately.

[Calb]

Looking to upgrade to led tail lights. What’s a fair price for supposedly mint lights from 2004?

[Slideways]

Hmm are these the PF offset FCAB you’re thinking of?

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspension-Steering/Control-Arm-Bushings/Powerflex-Black-Series-Front-Control-Arm-Bushings-E46-M3-Eccentric.html

They look good and I could use more caster even with my GC race camber plates, I too hope it is a new design cause yeah I've heard terrible things with their poly stuff falling apart, especially their FCABs. Ive actually made it a point to remove poly anything from my car, hence why I had went with the monoball FCAB and RTAB; the only thing still poly on my car is the AKG 90A diff mounts, which I’ve had no issue with but also i guess since they dont articulate or move like suspension bushings do.

Yeah, those look just like the Schirmer bushings with an alloy housing. The PF street version have a urethane housing and those are the ones that would tend to fall apart.

[BigRussia]

If they don't offer those separately, Powerflex has a similar offset bushings for the Z4M. PF poly FCAB bushings have not been great in the past, but maybe they changed the design as they don't look like their old poly bushings that used to fall apart. Bimmerworld is another option, but those are not offset.

The Lemforder rubber bushing from the factory for both the E46 M3 (not offset) and Z4M (offset) are solid rubber, so deflection shouldn't be that bad. Another option if the aftermarket bushings don't work out.

Hmm are these the PF offset FCAB you’re thinking of?

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspension-Steering/Control-Arm-Bushings/Powerflex-Black-Series-Front-Control-Arm-Bushings-E46-M3-Eccentric.html

They look good and I could use more caster even with my GC race camber plates, I too hope it is a new design cause yeah I've heard terrible things with their poly stuff falling apart, especially their FCABs. Ive actually made it a point to remove poly anything from my car, hence why I had went with the monoball FCAB and RTAB; the only thing still poly on my car is the AKG 90A diff mounts, which I’ve had no issue with but also i guess since they dont articulate or move like suspension bushings do.

[Slideways]

Yup, made sure to properly lubricate the new Hotchkis bushings to prevent any noise Thats why i thought if not the FCAB maybe the endlinks but they were tight as can be too ha. Planning to get under the car this weekend to properly inspect where the noise is coming from, assuming if can replicate it with the front wheels in the air.

Interesting, yeah i did notice they dont run monoball FCAB as well when i was scrolling through their webstore in the past researching roll center correction/bump steer kits. I wonder if its worth seeing if can just buy their offset FCAB without needing to buy the whole kinematics kit. Even if these monoball FCAB just need some grease, reaching the grease nipple is a a PITA with needing to remove the aggregate reinforcement plate :/

If they don't offer those separately, Powerflex has a similar offset bushings for the Z4M. PF poly FCAB bushings have not been great in the past, but maybe they changed the design as they don't look like their old poly bushings that used to fall apart. Bimmerworld is another option, but those are not offset.

The Lemforder rubber bushing from the factory for both the E46 M3 (not offset) and Z4M (offset) are solid rubber, so deflection shouldn't be that bad. Another option if the aftermarket bushings don't work out.

[BigRussia]

It sounds like the grease is new on the Hotchkis poly mounts, so it could be those turner FCABs. A few people have gone back to stock FCABs.

Team Schirmer offers an offset FCAB mount with an insert in their full kinematics kit. They setup dedicated Nurburgring track cars, so there might be a reason why they have not gone monoball in that location.

Yup, made sure to properly lubricate the new Hotchkis bushings to prevent any noise Thats why i thought if not the FCAB maybe the endlinks but they were tight as can be too ha. Planning to get under the car this weekend to properly inspect where the noise is coming from, assuming if can replicate it with the front wheels in the air.

Interesting, yeah i did notice they dont run monoball FCAB as well when i was scrolling through their webstore in the past researching roll center correction/bump steer kits. I wonder if its worth seeing if can just buy their offset FCAB without needing to buy the whole kinematics kit. Even if these monoball FCAB just need some grease, reaching the grease nipple is a a PITA with needing to remove the aggregate reinforcement plate :/

[Slideways]

How do you know it’s time to re-grease monoball FCABs? Hearing creaking from the front end this weekend at Sebring track event during low speed driving when turning the wheel, tapping the brakes, and even when engaging clutch to start rolling out. Can even slightly feel the creaking so has me thinking it must be LCA related. Have Turner monoball FCAB and my indy had supposedly re-greased them when installing new LCAs a year ago..

Only other recent front end install was a Hotchkis fsb but I had made sure the GC endlinks were installed tight to prevent any end-link clanking/play. Iirc i was hearing the creaks slightly even before the fsb install, just more pronounced now after two b2b days at Sebring.

It sounds like the grease is new on the Hotchkis poly mounts, so it could be those turner FCABs. A few people have gone back to stock FCABs.

Team Schirmer offers an offset FCAB mount with an insert in their full kinematics kit. They setup dedicated Nurburgring track cars, so there might be a reason why they have not gone monoball in that location.

[BigRussia]

How do you know it’s time to re-grease monoball FCABs? Hearing creaking from the front end this weekend at Sebring track event during low speed driving when turning the wheel, tapping the brakes, and even when engaging clutch to start rolling out. Can even slightly feel the creaking so has me thinking it must be LCA related. Have Turner monoball FCAB and my indy had supposedly re-greased them when installing new LCAs a year ago..

Only other recent front end install was a Hotchkis fsb but I had made sure the GC endlinks were installed tight to prevent any end-link clanking/play. Iirc i was hearing the creaks slightly even before the fsb install, just more pronounced now after two b2b days at Sebring.

[IamFODI]

I guess it's a vibration damper because that's what BMW calls it. I've always thought the dual mass flywheel was the more effective harmonic balancer in the system.

If it's a damper, that means it works by absorbing vibrations.

A balancer is different; it has a counterweight on it to balance the rotating assembly (and probably a damping element as well).

Without a damper, your engine would make more NVH and not live as long. Without a balancer, your engine would run like a jackhammer and grenade in short order.

Pretty sure the crank pulley and maybe the flywheel in this engine act as dampers but not balancers. The engine is internally balanced. I can't imagine how an I6 would ever need an external balancer.

You might be right about the DMF technically doing more than the crank pulley to absorb vibration, though I'd imagine they absorb different frequencies from different sources, so they're probably complementary more than comparable.

[fattycharged]

How much, if any, play is acceptable on the output of the trans?

*rotational



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[zzyzx85]

Harmonic balancer or vibration damper?

I guess it's a vibration damper because that's what BMW calls it. I've always thought the dual mass flywheel was the more effective harmonic balancer in the system.

[L0okitzRaj]

crank hub doubles as a harmonic balancer. I would start looking to get that replaced.

damn. thats what i was scared of.

thanks for the input.

[IamFODI]

crank hub doubles as a harmonic balancer.

Harmonic balancer or vibration damper?

[Slideways]

Thank you, yep for installation. Found a nice YouTube short demonstrating install for anyone interested
https://youtube.com/shorts/8JBrwvAL8...pp7Xhms9cXSgqO

I remember seeing the procedure done somewhere. Turns out it was Sreten's video of the valve seal on an X5 - skip to 24min