[MotorenWerkeN52]

Why are the E90 Sway bar bushings glued to the sway bar? If I replace them with a new set that is not glued, will there be any negative effects? Will it allow the sway bar to have lateral movement when it didn't before?

[juld0zer]

I don't think they are but there is a soap-like substance on them which acts like a lube to prevent noise and aid installation. It goes on wet but dries to a soap-like finish. If you replace the bushes with new genuine/OE ones, you are supposed to use a special lube 83192405829

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

83192405829

I really wish I'd known that part number when I did my rear subframe bushings! Couldn't find it at the time.

Edit: bushings are glued on the front sway, seemingly!

[juld0zer]

The official instructions still reference the old product which was Circo Light (83199407771). It appears the 83192405829 has superseeded Circo Light and is available in ETK.

I googled around and ended up using car wash detergent as Circo Light was ex Germany via BMW, but it wasn't enough. Quite a lot of rubber ribs got ripped by the subframe when the bushes were pulled in. I seem to remember someone using hose clamps to compress the bushes to aid installation.
Circo Light is supposed to be slick when wet but gets absorbed by the rubber over time and disappears, leaving no slippery residues. Either way, my bushes have stayed where they should be and they are silent.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

The official instructions still reference the old product which was Circo Light (83199407771). It appears the 83192405829 has superseeded Circo Light and is available in ETK.

I googled around and ended up using car wash detergent as Circo Light was ex Germany via BMW, but it wasn't enough. Quite a lot of rubber ribs got ripped by the subframe when the bushes were pulled in. I seem to remember someone using hose clamps to compress the bushes to aid installation.
Circo Light is supposed to be slick when wet but gets absorbed by the rubber over time and disappears, leaving no slippery residues. Either way, my bushes have stayed where they should be and they are silent.

Yeah, that's what I found too. Though this new stuff doesn't seem to be widely available either...

I had exactly the same as you when installing mine. I used jubilee clips too... I tried duck oil when installing mine...didn't seem to do much, but smells nice at least! Not had any issues anyhow.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by MotorenWerkeN52

Why are the E90 Sway bar bushings glued to the sway bar? If I replace them with a new set that is not glued, will there be any negative effects? Will it allow the sway bar to have lateral movement when it didn't before?

I've replaced both front and rear sway bar bushings and neither sets were glued/vulcanized to the sway bar like on other makes.

Circo Light is quite interesting, especially its miscibility with rubber. A quick Google search found P80 temporary lubricant as an alternative, but I wonder if silicone lube would also work in a pinch?

Edit: for posterity, the M-sport specific bushings are indeed vulcanized to the bar, possibly for a higher spring rate.

[Tambohamilton]

I've definitely heard of people using silicone lube for bushing installation, yes. Never tried it myself.

[gjm120]

I just did an OE rear sway a couple of weeks ago and used no lube of any sort. They came with the ARB and were used like the arb.

Am I going to get noise eventually? They were quite a chore as the subframe had to be dropped some.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by freedomfries

I've replaced both front and rear sway bar bushings and neither sets were glued/vulcanized to the sway bar like on other makes.

Circo Light is quite interesting, especially its miscibility with rubber. A quick Google search found P80 temporary lubricant as an alternative, but I wonder if silicone lube would also work in a pinch?

Interesting find! In addition to this I’ve used Boeing T9 in these applications. The research I did leads me to believe it has nothing that would degrade rubber. At least not in the stock bushing realm, anyway. I’ve been using for the better part of a decade. Great for bikes, cars, tools, etc.

[colorado.e9x]

When my front sway bar bracket broke off (long story) I used some silicone spray on both the bushing and the new bracket when I installed it. Made it much easier than trying to install it dry

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by freedomfries

I've replaced both front and rear sway bar bushings and neither sets were glued/vulcanized to the sway bar like on other makes.

Circo Light is quite interesting, especially its miscibility with rubber. A quick Google search found P80 temporary lubricant as an alternative, but I wonder if silicone lube would also work in a pinch?

Silicone grease will work. Silicone won't deteriorate the rubber compound in the bushing

[MotorenWerkeN52]

So basically I ripped off the old bushings using a screw driver. There was a layer of rubber left on the bar itself for which I used 80 followed by 200 and 300 grit sandpaper to smooth out. This also took the paint off the sway bar exposing bare metal which I painted using black Rust-Oleum paint. Fingers crossed the paint holds.

My car has 125,000 miles and there is a noticeable difference while driving. If I had known the bushings we're glued on prior to ripping them off, I probably wouldn't have bothered replacing them. Sanding off the glued rubber was annoying.

Also considered the M3 bar or an aftermarket eibach bar but didn't want to risk unbalancing the car.

[MotorenWerkeN52]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

I really wish I'd known that part number when I did my rear subframe bushings! Couldn't find it at the time.

OP, as above there's no glue on them. They just adhere over time and with pressure, and with the lube/mild adhesive/soap mentioned too.

I thought the same thing but found that when you buy the sway bar new, it comes with the bushings glued to it. Part #31356793312

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/m-sports-front-sway-bar-265mm/31356793312/

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by gjm120

I just did an OE rear sway a couple of weeks ago and used no lube of any sort. They came with the ARB and were used like the arb.

Am I going to get noise eventually? They were quite a chore as the subframe had to be dropped some.

Any opinions on this?

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by MotorenWerkeN52

I thought the same thing but found that when you buy the sway bar new, it comes with the bushings glued to it. Part #31356793312

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/m-sports-front-sway-bar-265mm/31356793312/

Well look at that. I sit corrected! The rear sway bars certainly don't come like that...I wonder why the front ones do.

[colorado.e9x]

That's so weird, neither of mine are glued yet appear to be original

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Any opinions on this?

That won't be a problem. Noise will only occur when they get (very) old and worn out.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

That won't be a problem. Noise will only occur when they get (very) old and worn out.

Thanks. I bought the sway bar off of EBay and it the bushings and brackets were stuck on with the clamping of the brackets on the rubber. There was no glue of any sort and they easily came off and went on when I installed the bar.

[juld0zer]

They can't be glued as that would impair the bar's function by restricting its ability to twist when transferring load. They probably felt glued but more like over time the original installation compound has dried up/worn off.

I wonder it tyre installation soap would work also? It's water miscible and dries up waxy.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

impair the bar's function by restricting its ability to twist

You mean it would increase the stiffness of the bar. While I don't really understand why they'd be glued, I don't think this proves that they aren't glued.

Tyre soap is probably a really good shout. Designed to lubricate a rubber component's installation, then dry out and lightly adhere it in place...without damaging the rubber. Ideal

[gjm120]

Doesn't the bar need to rotate within the bushing as the suspension compresses and decompresses??

[Tambohamilton]

Nah. Think of the wishbone bushings, which get torqued down at ride height, and stay there despite suspension movements. Bushing windup is part and parcel of rubber bushings. In fact, rubber is not very wear resistant, so if parts were rotating in contact with it, it wouldn't last long!

...and maybe that is why front sway bushings are glued to the bar; to prevent/minimise wear.