Uwbuurman: 1986 e30 325iA cabrio

[uwbuurman]

30 December 2015 was e30 day all over. I figured a way to repair the swingarms. Las week I got the hold of some pipe, but that turned out to be 1,5 mm to small. Nearby is a scrapyard, so I went over and got a piece of pipe I needed.



Got the first swingarm to get the bushings out and get it cleaned.





They are not only very old but also not as tight as the new ones anymore.





I got the new BMW bushings, but also ones from Lemforder. Funny to see, just like the ZF powersteering filter, this is just a BMW rubber, but the sanded the number and BMW logo off.



Any way, bushings out, ABS sensors off and the wirebrush on the grinder.




That was a good cleanup. After that I decapitated the rotten part.



I found two drainingchannelsB underneath the round plate. Of course, totally clogged with dirt.



After that time fors ome construction work.





Cut to size and grinded down.



The end result!



I put Rustico Gel on the swingarm, to get is derusted. After that I will apply epoxyprimer. The other swingarm will get the same treatment.

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

I got on with the differential. The mounting point was broken, the rubberbush came out. 4 years ago I coated the diff, and back then it was ok. But anyway, it had to be repaired, so I called the dealer again…. I also will replace bearings and seals.



Drained the diff. No metal particals in the oil, so that is good news. The rubber is out very easy, but the cage that holds the rubber did put up a fight. I won.





New rubber has a little different shape.



Cover back on.





Seals replaced











And a nice diff again.

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

17 januari 2016, time for the second swingarm. This one is worse than his brother.



But this one is also repaired, brushed, sanded and coated in rustico gel. I redid that 3 times and then I had nice and clean swingarms.





And in the epoxy primer







Sanded and black epoxy applied.

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

Then the front legs. Same recipe, brushed, sanded en Rustico gel.





And 2K primered







After that a black coat:

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

Since I was playing with paint and stuff, I also painted some small but important parts.
Plate that holds the axle to the sill



Spring cups from the front legs



And the bushing holders fort he front swingarms.



Nice and black

[uwbuurman]

3

[uwbuurman]

2

[uwbuurman]

1

[uwbuurman]

more on the next page!!