Gen III Sub-Frame Bushings

[turbo79]

I've read quite a bit about the desirability of installing Gen III sub-frame bushings on earlier SHOs. I have a '92. A few questions about this:

1. Is this because Gen III bushings were improved to address issues with the bushings on earlier SHOs?
2. Does "Gen III" refer to SHOs from '96 to the end of production? (I've seen folks refer to Gen IV so I'm a bit confused, unless they mean Gen IV SLOs.)
3. Are the Gen III bushings a bolt in?
4. Are the Gen III bushings a dealer only item, and what do you ask for, like, say, "sub-frame bushings for a '96 SHO?"
5. Am I missing any other obvious questions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SHOGUN88]

1. Im not aware of what issues the earlier ones had but they are basically more stiff, im not sure about durability.
2.Yes gen 3 refers to 96-99 Shos
3. Yes you would replace them just like the old ones
4. Not sure but they would have them, you could ask 96-99 sho
5. i think thats about it, i have aluminum so somebody with them might have more to add

 

[rubydist]

One reason this is confusing is that if you look at RockAuto, the same part number comes up for 94 as for 97... is that the part that we want or not?

 

[Phoenix]

These are the right ones , I donno about the rockauto ones though.

 

[K-Dawg]

I've read quite a bit about the desirability of installing Gen III sub-frame bushings on earlier SHOs. I have a '92. A few questions about this:

1. Is this because Gen III bushings were improved to address issues with the bushings on earlier SHOs?
2. Does "Gen III" refer to SHOs from '96 to the end of production? (I've seen folks refer to Gen IV so I'm a bit confused, unless they mean Gen IV SLOs.)
3. Are the Gen III bushings a bolt in?
4. Are the Gen III bushings a dealer only item, and what do you ask for, like, say, "sub-frame bushings for a '96 SHO?"
5. Am I missing any other obvious questions?

Thanks in advance!

1) Yes, they are improved over the older bushings. Remember, we are referring to using 4 of the rear bushings from a Gen 3.
2) The bushings are used on the rear of the Gen 3 (96-99) subframe, but I would assume that Gen IVs used the same bushings.
3) They are pretty much a bolt-in. There are some notches that need to be made in the subframe, or you can cut the nubs off the bushings. I'd recommend notching the frame, and the notches go front to back.
4) You can get the bushings from a dealer, or get them from RCM or Fast Parts Network. You want 4 top and bottom rear subframe bushings from a 96-99 Taurus.

The bushings at RockAuto were incorrect the last time I checked.

 

[shobote]

Shonut sells the set of 4 rear Gen III bushings for the Gen I and II; you'll get the right parts with no surprises from Josh.

 

[turbo79]

1. Im not aware of what issues the earlier ones had but they are basically more stiff, im not sure about durability.
2.Yes gen 3 refers to 96-99 Shos
3. Yes you would replace them just like the old ones
4. Not sure but they would have them, you could ask 96-99 sho
5. i think thats about it, i have aluminum so somebody with them might have more to add

Thanks - what then does "Gen IV" refer to? My impression is that Tauruses after '99 just had cosmetic changes -like no more goldfish bowl rear window - in the same manner that the differences between Gen I and II are mainly cosmetic changes (it seems to me on I and II that the "greenhouse" -the body - is the same, but I could be missing something obvious).

I considered aluminum but hear that there is an increase in ride harshness and road noise, which I don't particularly want.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Shonut sells the set of 4 rear Gen III bushings for the Gen I and II; you'll get the right parts with no surprises from Josh.

Ditto!

Thanks - what then does "Gen IV" refer to? My impression is that Tauruses after '99 just had cosmetic changes -like no more goldfish bowl rear window - in the same manner that the differences between Gen I and II are mainly cosmetic changes (it seems to me on I and II that the "greenhouse" -the body - is the same, but I could be missing something obvious).

I considered aluminum but hear that there is an increase in ride harshness and road noise, which I don't particularly want.

Gen 4 just refers to 2000-2007 Tauruses.

The rear bushings are the same for all 1996-2007 Tauruses.

Just do it. It's a no-brainer.

 

[turbo79]

1) Yes, they are improved over the older bushings. Remember, we are referring to using 4 of the rear bushings from a Gen 3.
2) The bushings are used on the rear of the Gen 3 (96-99) subframe, but I would assume that Gen IVs used the same bushings.
3) They are pretty much a bolt-in. There are some notches that need to be made in the subframe, or you can cut the nubs off the bushings. I'd recommend notching the frame, and the notches go front to back.
4) You can get the bushings from a dealer, or get them from RCM or Fast Parts Network. You want 4 top and bottom rear subframe bushings from a 96-99 Taurus.

The bushings at RockAuto were incorrect the last time I checked.

Is this notching something requiring major auto surgery, or can it be done with a file? Also, is this something I could do at "home," by just loosening the sub-frame at the front, and then the back, and then having the car realigned?

If I have to drop the whole sub, then I'll have to have it done at a shop. OK, but I'm just asking...

 

[turbo79]

Is this notching something requiring major auto surgery, or can it be done with a file? Also, is this something I could do at "home," by just loosening the sub-frame at the front, and then the back, and then having the car realigned?

If I have to drop the whole sub, then I'll have to have it done at a shop. OK, but I'm just asking...

I'll be getting them from SHONUT, thanks to the enthusiastic recommendations in this thread...

 

[itwonder]

The notching takes about 5 minutes each with a round file or a Dremel tool. It's easy as pie. Notch orients front to back, which aligns the bushing properly in the subframe. It's the best mod I have done to my SHO.

 

[K-Dawg]

I just got my car back together with the Gen 3 SFBs, and it is much quieter than the aluminum or delrin bushings. Very nice.

I wasn't sure if SHONut still carried the bushings, so I didn't recommend him. But if he does, get them from him.