Rear subframe bushes

[Da Monkey]

Hey All,

 

I have been getting the skippy/wobbley rear end when going over bumps/drains etc recently, and guessed my rear bushes of some sort were on the way out. So I got it looked at and its the subframe bushes that have split.

 

I have read previous posts about this so know that replacing them is a big job. So I was wondering if the Whiteline subframe alignment and locking kit would solve this problem, or should I ruin my credit card and get the subframe dropped and the bushes replaced?

 

Does anyone know roughly how many hours it will take, so that I can make an estimate on labour charges?

 

Cheers everyone!

[Guest andyduff]

Seen plenty of Zeds with split subframe bushes that drive perfectly. Much more likely cause will be the hicas balljoints or rear shocks worn.

[Yowser]

Hicas bushes and/or Rear shocks

 

If you do want to change Subframe bushes then expect to pay anything from 6-8 hours labour.

 

EDIT... like Andy ^^ says LOL

[taff]

I have the white line pineapple locking rings on mine it does save the bushes and tighten up the rear ,but if there too far gone it wont help them.I fitted mine with good subframe bushes .Its worth a go as you dont have to take subframe of to fit them.

[Da Monkey]

Cheers guys,

 

I replaced my Hicas joints last year, so I am presuming they are ok. Maybe it is the shocks as well then. The Subframe bushes are defintely a bit shot though. Out of the 4, the front 2 are the worst.

 

Do you reckon its worth replacing all the other bushes back there if I am going to have to take the subframe off anyway?

 

Cheers

[Guest andyduff]

Gotta be rear shocks then - like I said I've seen LOADS of zeds with shot SF bushes but they still drive perfectly....

[Retro620ti]

the locking pineapples are not a ideal solution to split bushes, try the z1 locking collars which will require a small drop of the subframe to fit, this will have the added benefit of tightening up the rear end but make the road noise a bit more

[scrawni]

The Duff man knows his stuff mate so go with his direction for a first to keep the car moveing.

 

As and when you want to change the rear bushes I would recommend getting some replacement parts ready to fit when you do drop the subframe as changing the bushes can take twice as long as the rest of the work. You can also plan to underseal it at the same time and do lots of the little jobs around the back end all in one go.

[Da Monkey]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

What extra bits would you recomend, bearing in mind that the only things that have been changed around that area are the Hicas joints, so the rest of it would be 15 years old :-)

[Guest andyduff]

Just a thought, have you replaced both inner and outer hicas balljoints?

[scrawni]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

What extra bits would you recomend, bearing in mind that the only things that have been changed around that area are the Hicas joints, so the rest of it would be 15 years old :-)

 

Get a whole rear subrame and hubs, clean, shotblast repaint and rebush. New wheel brgs, get rid of hicas if you want to, drop the tank and stonechip and paint the underneath, check out your brake lines and handbrake cable, all the sort of stuff you need to get it off the ground for do it all in one go. If you plan on dropping the suspension then get all your arms and coilovers ready to do in one go.

 

That way you know that it will last another 15 years without worrying.