Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[Slideways]

Any ideas on what to use to remove residue from cylinder walls?

WD-40 and scotchbright. Best to put rags in the cylinders to catch any the debris falling into the piston rings.

[Slideways]

If they have that green O-ring, that means they'd need to be replaced, yeah?

Yes, TIS states to replace the entire plug. I have taken out the o-ring to measure it and it shouldn't be too difficult to find a bag of replacement o-rings.

The older style plugs, which I kept in case I want to revert back, did use a crush washer, but realOEM no longer lists a part number for the crush washer for the E46. You have to go to an older model, like the E31, where they still have it on the diagram funny enough.

[sbay]

Any ideas on what to use to remove residue from cylinder walls?

[IamFODI]

The ones on older cars had a crush washer, the ones you buy now have a green o-ring.

If they have that green O-ring, that means they'd need to be replaced, yeah?

[bmwfnatic]

No crush washer then? Thank you so much!

The ones on older cars had a crush washer, the ones you buy now have a green o-ring.

[BRiley]

This is the case for the differential since they have built in o-rings. Transmission plugs are reusable and don't have a sealing ring.

No crush washer then? Thank you so much!

[Slideways]

Dumb question on transmission fluid change. It seems that some websites / DIY's say you need to replace the transmission fill / drain plugs when changing fluid. Is that true? Why not just the crush washer?

This is the case for the differential since they have built in o-rings. Transmission plugs are reusable and don't have a sealing ring.

[BRiley]

Dumb question on transmission fluid change. It seems that some websites / DIY's say you need to replace the transmission fill / drain plugs when changing fluid. Is that true? Why not just the crush washer?

[Tbonem3]

Right otherwise it won't stretch. They need tension.

Or add loctite?

[jayjaya29]

Do torque marks work for removing and reinstalling a fastener at the same torque?

Why I ask:
I've made a bunch of changes to my ride height. I was thinking it wouldn't hurt to loosen and retorque any non-sperical control arm bushings at the new ride height. The rear upper control arms won't fit a torque wrench with the diff in place now, I was thinking what I just mark it as it's properly torqued now then refasten with a box wrench to the marking.

I would tighten just a little past the existing torque mark just to be sure.

[ugaexploder]

IMO I think the offset of stock rear wheel (+26) is perfect for 18x9. I'm on coilovers and ran 255/40 without any spacers.

thanks for the suggestion, just ordered another square set of wheels at 18x10, and thinking i might order a set of 18x9 to run them staggered and sell the other staggered set

[zzyzx85]

what offset would be ideal for a 18x9 wheel up front to run without spacers? have full adjustability with coils, camber plates, etc

IMO I think the offset of stock rear wheel (+26) is perfect for 18x9. I'm on coilovers and ran 255/40 without any spacers.

[bavarian3]

Do torque marks work for removing and reinstalling a fastener at the same torque?

Why I ask:
I've made a bunch of changes to my ride height. I was thinking it wouldn't hurt to loosen and retorque any non-sperical control arm bushings at the new ride height. The rear upper control arms won't fit a torque wrench with the diff in place now, I was thinking what I just mark it as it's properly torqued now then refasten with a box wrench to the marking.

[L0okitzRaj]

Same issue being that yours are cracked as well, or also have the creaking sounds too? Lmk what you end up replacing them with

cracking.

so this picture is from last year and probably after 50k (at least) of driving on these. After rethinking maybe yours are failing pretty fast if they are only a few years old. This was daily driving and a handful of track days.

You can see a crack developing.


overall the car has done 50k miles (realistically I think closer to 60-70ish) on these and don’t squeak. They did however squeak for the first 500 miles or so.

i probably will replace them soon with new units as i love the feel… compared to stock. Don’t remember how the poly ones did in comparison

[Keith_MN]

One of the two hood lock assemblies. You'll want to figure out how it broke off and probably get a new assembly before driving the car.

Amazing. Thank you!