Subframe Bush Inserts Fitted - what a difference!

[abdul]

How hard is it to change the subframe bushes and whats involved to do it

[M-R-P]

You mean changing the actual bushes or just fitting the inserts?

Changing the bushes is probably a right ball ache tbh.

[abdul]

Changing the bushes

[abdul]

Putting new bushes then fitting the inserts

[M-R-P]

Changing the bushes

Yeah, probably a right pain in the arse.... Fitting inserts has gotta be the way to go, surely.

[JamesT5]

Just fit inserts, they take up the 'slack' left behind by worn bushings.

[JamesT5]

By the way, do one bush insert at a time and only have one bolt out at a time unless you want your engine to potentially fall out on to the tarmac.

[M-R-P]

Lol, there's a bit more holding the engine up than the subframe James.

[JT]

Putting new bushes then fitting the inserts

If your going to the trouble of removing the bushes,
Replace them with solid ones, they make a massive difference!!

My nephew drove my car the other day and now wants a set for his! Lol

[p fandango]

If your going to the trouble of removing the bushes,
Replace them with solid ones, they make a massive difference!!

[M-R-P]

They're not gonna make much difference to handling if you hang the subframe from the garage wall Duane

[claymore]

Just fit inserts, they take up the 'slack' left behind by worn bushings.

The purpose of the bush inserts isn't to compensate for knackered bushes, it's to improve subframe location, so would it not have been better to fit new bushes first, after all you have black polybush everywhere but worn out subframe bushes?

[silverhorse]

LINKY for where to buy good 'uns please someone!!!

PS Good work James!

[JamesT5]

The purpose of the bush inserts isn't to compensate for knackered bushes, it's to improve subframe location, so would it not have been better to fit new bushes first, after all you have black polybush everywhere but worn out subframe bushes?

Thing is, are my bushings knackered? Who knows but I can tell you the inserts have made a massive difference.

[Jimmie]

Cool I will have a go at mine after seeing this

You don't know where they are and neither do i .
I did put them in a safe place though.

[claymore]

Thing is, are my bushings knackered? Who knows but I can tell you the inserts have made a massive difference.

You wouldn't push the inserts half way in by hand even with a lot of lube on them if the bushes were any good, and you would have almost certainly broke the insert pushing it in with a socket on one side of the insert.
so for people thinking of doing it, yes it is straight forward but it won't be quite as easy as James's if your bushes are in decent condition to start with.

[p fandango]

They're not gonna make much difference to handling if you hang the subframe from the garage wall Duane

alot easier to fit onto the spare subframe than its going to be putting them onto a car lol

[volvokid]

You don't know where they are and neither do i .
I did put them in a safe place though.

Haha there in a box in your office unless you have relocated them again

[stribo]

They're not gonna make much difference to handling if you hang the subframe from the garage wall Duane

His car never moves, so it doesn't matter what it handles like.

[LeeT5]

I've been busy today, I went out and after a year of them sitting in a box, I fitted my 4 x subframe bush inserts I got from 'Sponge'. It's made a huge difference to the car and I'm impressed with how much more 'solid' the ride feels under my bum. There is a little more road vibration than before but the cornering and handling feels miles better and I'm waiting to see if it's cured my front o/s 'rattle' on rough surfaces as it could have been subframe related - only time and driving will tell me that.

Anyway, once I got the bolt out these were pretty easy to fit, I managed to push them around half way in by hand and then used the trolley jack with a 24mm socket on the end to gently press it in to the void. Then all the bolt was refitted and done up as "FT" and I was done. Top job!

It must have been left like that from the turbo refurb but I've tightened it up now so it's ok.

Correct torque setting for the large subframe bush bolt is 77ft/lb + 120 degrees.

The smaller 14mm bolts on the rear subframe bush plates should be tightened to 37ft/lb.

Also, you should have applied thread lock to the bolt, not reinsert dry.

As mentioned, lubricant should have also been used on the inserts. This prevents them from 'creaking' under torsional stress.

N.B. What I have just written is not for James benefit cos he doesn't like me and he will choose not to listen to me, it's for anyone else reading the thread. Hopefully, they will install there's correctly and not risk stripping the threads on the Subframe by doing up the bolts -'FT'.

Here's a 4 minute video from IPD on how to do the job properly...