Al SFB problems...

[TYSHO]

The male half will not fit through the subframe opening. It's off by a MM or so, very small, but still unable to go through. This is w/the subframe out of the car. I don't know if it's intentially made this way so it can get stuck in the subframe, but it seems if I put the frame up and tighten the bolt, it'll shave off some aluminum. Is this bad or what? Maybe the 89 SF holes are a little bit smaller?

 

[Ishodu]

Just file a bit off the male part of the bushing.

 

[Grifter]

Yeah, I had to do the same. It doesnt take much to get it to fit.

 

[TYSHO]

File it w/what....80 grit, or so, sand paper?

Is it safe just to power it's way through, leaving shavings between the frame to bushing?

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[Ishodu]

I used a File. You could use sand paper but you will be at it a while. Dont force them through!

 

[Grifter]

I used a grinder that was attached to an air hose, isnt there a name for that, I cant think. It took about...3 seconds.

 

[Bryan C. King]

The bushings are designed to be a tight fit, if they were loose they could cause problems. Like everyone else has stated use a dremel, sandpaper, file ect.. to clean up the subframe hole. You can start the male bushing in the hole and tap it in with a rubber mallett or something similar. Once you get the male bushing started in the hole, you can put the cup portion on, put the bolt through the hole, and with either the subframe in or out of the car using a bolt and nut, suck the two bushing halves together. All subframes from 89-99 have the same size subframe holes that I have seen. Some are full of scale and rust, while others are very clean and don't need much to get the bushing through the hole. Let us know how you make out!

 

[shojuan]

The bushings are designed to be a tight fit, if they were loose they could cause problems. Like everyone else has stated use a dremel, sandpaper, file ect.. to clean up the subframe hole. You can start the male bushing in the hole and tap it in with a rubber mallett or something similar. Once you get the male bushing started in the hole, you can put the cup portion on, put the bolt through the hole, and with either the subframe in or out of the car using a bolt and nut, suck the two bushing halves together. All subframes from 89-99 have the same size subframe holes that I have seen. Some are full of scale and rust, while others are very clean and don't need much to get the bushing through the hole. Let us know how you make out!

Yup, this is exactly what I did and the reasons are exactly what I have encountered. Clean up the scale and rust and tappa tappa tappa with a rubber mallet. Since the bushings are already clean and the material is very soft I would not sand or file the bushing. Just clean up the hole. A light pass with a grinding bit on a dremel should be just fine.

 

[TYSHO]

Well I grinded them down with a grinder, everything is fitting. Cleaning the holes, no rust here, was not the problem, it still needed some grinding.

Now does it matter which, female or male, is on top?

Wouldn't there be less bump steer if the male was on top (it's 5/16" shorter)? That's the one I perfer on top, if there's no problems with that.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Bryan C. King]

Male on bottom, Female on top, That's how they were designed. Don't think there would be any differences with bump steer either way. If you use the male on top you can't tap it in with a hammer and your engine will sit higher in the engine bay closing the clearance between the engine and hood. If you had a bad engine mount your hood could possibly make contact with the intake.