Rear Subframe bushes

[Kristian]

For those who are interested I did the rear subframe bushes on Saturday. took me all day. i removed the whole subframe from the car. used drill and jigsaw to cut through rubber then hacksawed throught the shell and knocked it out. heated the subframe up with a blow lamp and then bashed the new ones in with a very large socket over the bush. theyve stopped the knocking but the rear end still feels a bit soggy to me but not sure what they were like when new so its difficult to tell.All i know is its feels nothing like a skyline GTR i recently drove!!! think the back subframe bushes are shot aswell. think i'll leave it a while untill next time.

[Mannie]

Hi Kristian,

I've had a go at mine over the last couple of weekends and still haven't finished. I was hoping the bush would seat itself in when I drove the car as it was still sticking out about 10mm.

I thought at the time it would be so much easier if I took the sub-frame of the car.

How long did it take to take it off and re-assemble?

[Kristian]

You dont really have to unassemble too much. heres a list of what to do.
Put rear wheels on ramps or jacks. undo subframe bush bolts front and rear. undo other subframe bolts next to front subframe bushes. undo wheels. jack car up a bit more and place on axle stands. I did this just in front of the front subframe bushes. i think where the cars jack goes? take wheels off. remove brake calipers and rest on subframe. remove handbrake cables from where they attach to front part of handbrahe cable. undo subframe nuts most of the way but not completely. then from inside the boot, undo the two nuts that secure the struts. Now the subframe should drop down. now undo clamp around the diff oil pump motor and release it. Then undo and remove two of the oil pipes. one from motor to oil cooler and one from oil cooler to diff. the subframe should then be free. position two jacks or some sort of trolley under subframe. remove the four subframe bush nuts and then lower the subframe with the jacks and remove rearwards. then remove the old bushes. I then heated the subframe where the bushes reside with a blow torch for about five minutes. then place the new bushes in with grease on them. they drop in a bit and then need a good wack. i used the a very large socket which just sat on the outside of the rubber on the bush. do not hit the centre of the bush! if you can get something round that sits on the metal outer cage thats what you want. Then quickly while its all still hot bash it in. it takes a few wacks but you get there in the end. then push it back under on the jacks line it up and reverse the above sequence. it took me from 10am until 7pm working all day.

[Mannie]

Did you split the diff from the prop shaft or pull the prop shaft from the gearbox?

[Kristian]

the bit i foregot. I split the prop shaft from the diff. make sure you get good purchase on the nuts, i slightly knackered one of mine. i found it was best to undo the nuts with them positioned on the near side side of the car so that you pulled down on them. the one i hurt i was pushing up and it was more difficult. than let hand brake off and move prop shaft round. continue for all four. its quite easy really. just watch it doesnt fall on your head!!

[Mannie]

There's nothing worse then knackering yer nuts!

[Mannie]

Cheers for the advice Kristian. The cars gone in for its MOT this morning so if theres nothing else that needs fixing first, I'll give it another go this weekend.

[Kristian]

No problems. Hope the MOT gos according to plan. I find it amazing you even got the old bushes out and the new ones in with it on the car. good effort.