Powerflex anti roll bar bushes

Tr1ppy · 08-09-2016, 05:37 AM

I'd like to suppress the tendency to roll of my E93 and without resorting to measures as new and thicker anti roll bars.
Its an MSport but I have replaced the springs with Eibach Pro's.

As a first step I'm thinking about replacing the anti roll bar bushes with powerflex items. There are two at the front and two at the rear (attaching to the body/chassis).

Has anyone tried this? Do they make any noticeable difference to the handling?

I understand powerflex bushes can tighten and stiffen the handling slightly but they can add greater NVH too.
Will swapping just the arb bushes induce noticeably more NVH?

Thanks in advance

matteblue3er · 08-09-2016, 09:15 PM

Sway/rolls bars should be used to fine tune a suspension. Companies that advertise other wise are misleading you to get sales.

Bushings for the sway bars will make little difference. I suggest you look into a better spring and shock combo that is matched correctly to work with each other. Or a coilover or cup kit setup.

justpete · 08-09-2016, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matteblue3er

Sway/rolls bars should be used to fine tune a suspension. Companies that advertise other wise are misleading you to get sales.

Bushings for the sway bars will make little difference. I suggest you look into a better spring and shock combo that is matched correctly to work with each other. Or a coilover or cup kit setup.

^^ What he said.

The spring rates are too low, the car is too heavy, and/or the CG is too high, etc. Roll bars, as he says aren't primary and bushings are nearly negligible in their contribution to roll rate. They'd be the last thing to consider, if then.

Tr1ppy · 08-10-2016, 07:56 AM

Brilliant, thanks for the replies guys!

I had a feeling uprating the springs and shocks would be the way to go. Time for some more research

Kgolf31 · 08-12-2016, 09:36 PM

While Stock OE bushings are quite soft, ARB bushings won't gain you much.

Only time I justified swapping ARB bushings was on my old Eibach Swaybar. The Bushings were too wide and starting to create bind on the corner bends of the bar. I swapped to E90 M bushings which were a thinner bushing and helped reduce bar bind. Couldn't notice any NVH either.

AtlasM · 08-15-2016, 12:47 PM

I have poly bushings on my 335xi's stock front sway bar. Totally minor upgrade, I only did it because I upgraded the rear bar to an E93 M3 rear bar and wanted a little something for the front. While some other bushings like the rear subframe are a pretty major upgrade, the sway bar bushings are more just a tiny something extra.

08-09-2016, 05:37 AM	#1
Tr1ppy Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 276 Posts Drives: E93 330i M Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: North West, UK iTrader: (0)	Powerflex anti roll bar bushes I'd like to suppress the tendency to roll of my E93 and without resorting to measures as new and thicker anti roll bars. Its an MSport but I have replaced the springs with Eibach Pro's. As a first step I'm thinking about replacing the anti roll bar bushes with powerflex items. There are two at the front and two at the rear (attaching to the body/chassis). Has anyone tried this? Do they make any noticeable difference to the handling? I understand powerflex bushes can tighten and stiffen the handling slightly but they can add greater NVH too. Will swapping just the arb bushes induce noticeably more NVH? Thanks in advance
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08-09-2016, 09:15 PM	#2
matteblue3er Captain 241 Rep 949 Posts Drives: Racecar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	Sway/rolls bars should be used to fine tune a suspension. Companies that advertise other wise are misleading you to get sales. Bushings for the sway bars will make little difference. I suggest you look into a better spring and shock combo that is matched correctly to work with each other. Or a coilover or cup kit setup.
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08-10-2016, 07:56 AM	#4
Tr1ppy Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 276 Posts Drives: E93 330i M Sport Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: North West, UK iTrader: (0)	Brilliant, thanks for the replies guys! I had a feeling uprating the springs and shocks would be the way to go. Time for some more research
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08-12-2016, 09:36 PM	#5
Kgolf31 Brigadier General 473 Rep 4,531 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (4)	While Stock OE bushings are quite soft, ARB bushings won't gain you much. Only time I justified swapping ARB bushings was on my old Eibach Swaybar. The Bushings were too wide and starting to create bind on the corner bends of the bar. I swapped to E90 M bushings which were a thinner bushing and helped reduce bar bind. Couldn't notice any NVH either.
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08-15-2016, 12:47 PM	#6
AtlasM Captain 289 Rep 615 Posts Drives: '11 E92 335xi 6MT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Rockville, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i xDrive [8.00]	I have poly bushings on my 335xi's stock front sway bar. Totally minor upgrade, I only did it because I upgraded the rear bar to an E93 M3 rear bar and wanted a little something for the front. While some other bushings like the rear subframe are a pretty major upgrade, the sway bar bushings are more just a tiny something extra.
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