View Full Version : RTABs
zcasavant
12-16-2004, 11:43 PM
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
SteveM
12-16-2004, 11:46 PM
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
What's an RTAB?
zcasavant
12-16-2004, 11:52 PM
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
What's an RTAB?
Rear Trailing Arm Bushing
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
I haven't done it, but having looked at the DIYs, it's something I would spend the money to have someone else do. Looks like a giant PITA.
Jason C
12-17-2004, 12:02 AM
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
I haven't done it, but having looked at the DIYs, it's something I would spend the money to have someone else do. Looks like a giant PITA.
Yup, front-end work. Occasionally dangerous, often excruciating, and always dirty. If you have the tools and the instructions, go ahead if you'd like - but we warned ya!
zcasavant
12-17-2004, 12:08 AM
Anyone here ever install RTABs? Doug? Is this worth doing myself or should I just have it done? :dunno:
TIA
I haven't done it, but having looked at the DIYs, it's something I would spend the money to have someone else do. Looks like a giant PITA.
Yup, front-end work. Occasionally dangerous, often excruciating, and always dirty. If you have the tools and the instructions, go ahead if you'd like - but we warned ya!
Rear end, actually. I think you guys scared me away sufficiently. I'll get it done.
Jason C
12-17-2004, 12:11 AM
Rear end, actually.
No, "front-end work" is a generic term in the technician trade. It refers to tasks involving the wheels, tires, steering, suspension, and alignment. So yes, RTAB would be classified as "front-end work."
:twisted:
zcasavant
12-17-2004, 12:12 AM
Rear end, actually.
No, "front-end work" is a generic term in the technician trade. It refers to tasks involving the wheels, tires, steering, suspension, and alignment. So yes, RTAB would be classified as "front-end work."
:twisted:
I thought it might be that. :oops:
Want to come on over and work on my rtabs with me? I'll supply the beer.
:D
Jason C
12-17-2004, 12:15 AM
Rear end, actually.
No, "front-end work" is a generic term in the technician trade. It refers to tasks involving the wheels, tires, steering, suspension, and alignment. So yes, RTAB would be classified as "front-end work."
:twisted:
I thought it might be that. :oops:
Want to come on over and work on my rtabs with me? I'll supply the beer.
:D
Uhh, I think that the cost of Shop doing zcasavant RTAB < zcasavant buying round-trip plane ticket from SF to Boston + Unspecified amount of beer.
My math might be off... but I doubt it. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
zcasavant
12-17-2004, 12:17 AM
Rear end, actually.
No, "front-end work" is a generic term in the technician trade. It refers to tasks involving the wheels, tires, steering, suspension, and alignment. So yes, RTAB would be classified as "front-end work."
:twisted:
I thought it might be that. :oops:
Want to come on over and work on my rtabs with me? I'll supply the beer.
:D
Uhh, I think that the cost of Shop doing zcasavant RTAB < zcasavant buying round-trip plane ticket from SF to Boston + Unspecified amount of beer.
My math might be off... but I doubt it. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
I'm coming to CA in February on vacation. SF and then a drive down to SD. I'll bring my trailing arms. ;) :lol:
Jason C
12-17-2004, 12:26 AM
I'm coming to CA in February on vacation. SF and then a drive down to SD. I'll bring my trailing arms. ;) :lol:
"Excuse me, sir? You're not allowed to carry that onboard the plane."
Ok... so they'd probably not even notice. It would be funny though, if some large, irritated-looking security personel asked you to explain that item. :lol:
I paid to have mine done.
If you rent the proper tools it's not bad just time consuming. You'll need a front end alignment, though some may argue you can do it without effecting the alignment.
I am a little more timid than some people about doing my own work, but I know I wouldn't even think about trying rtabs. I came to this conclusion after I saw the shop did before they even had them exposed when they installed the new suspension.
I thought you would need a full alignment afterwards, but I am not about to argue with Doug who: a) knows more about it than me; and b) apparently did it himself. :D
Are you sure you need them? I know they changed the bushing design somewhere along the line. The rtabs in my car showed no wear even at 50k miles and my mechanic told me there wasn't any reason to change them. I suppose they could have changed them for '99 though. Or maybe 50k miles wasn't enough to wear them out.
zcasavant
12-17-2004, 01:41 PM
I am a little more timid than some people about doing my own work, but I know I wouldn't even think about trying rtabs. I came to this conclusion after I saw the shop did before they even had them exposed when they installed the new suspension.
I thought you would need a full alignment afterwards, but I am not about to argue with Doug who: a) knows more about it than me; and b) apparently did it himself. :D
Are you sure you need them? I know they changed the bushing design somewhere along the line. The rtabs in my car showed no wear even at 50k miles and my mechanic told me there wasn't any reason to change them. I suppose they could have changed them for '99 though. Or maybe 50k miles wasn't enough to wear them out.
I've needed them for a while. I have 92k miles and my rear wheels are visibly pigeon-toed.
Jason C
12-17-2004, 07:05 PM
If you rent the proper tools it's not bad just time consuming. You'll need a front end alignment, though some may argue you can do it without effecting the alignment.
I'm pretty sure that you'll want to do the 4-wheel alignment regardless, especially if it's a customer vehicle and not your own. Front wheel alignment settings are referenced to the rear, so it'd probably be a good idea. I suppose you could do it without changing much, but I haven't seen the specific procedure.
Mathew
12-17-2004, 11:52 PM
Shit, and I had a hard enough time putting my wiper blades on...
Jason C
12-17-2004, 11:56 PM
Shit, and I had a hard enough time putting my wiper blades on...
http://www.mr2ownersclub.com/images/smilies/noob.gif
We did 3 in a day at a friends house once...but it took till dark
Pinecone
01-10-2005, 10:21 AM
Depends on the model car. On BMW E46s no specail tool required.
BMW E36 is probably the same, since the RTAB design is similar.
For BMW E30/Z3/tis, you can do it without special tools, but the tools will make it a bit easier. We did BahnBaum's E30 with a sawsall and three jaw puller.
On the E30 it would be very hard to do without dropping the subframe, which is another job entirely.
Nick M3
01-10-2005, 11:09 AM
Depends on the model car. On BMW E46s no specail tool required.
BMW E36 is probably the same, since the RTAB design is similar.
For BMW E30/Z3/tis, you can do it without special tools, but the tools will make it a bit easier. We did BahnBaum's E30 with a sawsall and three jaw puller.
On the E30 it would be very hard to do without dropping the subframe, which is another job entirely.
He's been talking about coming down here ever since I told him I did mine. :twisted:
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