Aluminum ubframe bushing installation

[ryana83]

I have a simple question---I am installing aluminum subframe bushings in my 92 SHO. I also bought the recall kit to get new bolts and they came with large metal plate. Am I supposed to use the plates with the aluminum bushings or were they made only for the regular bushings? It says to use them in the recall kit but I think it was for the rubber bushings. Can anybody that has already done this help me out.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Phoenix]

Use them , the plates are inside the body of the car , it doesnt matter what type of bushing you're using.

In order bottom to top you should have this :

Bolt - bushing - subframe - bushing - floor - nut plate.

 

[Ishodu]

If you are talking about the flat washers with the aluminum bushings its your choice to use them or not if the bushing is recessed you can use them but still don't need them.

 

[93rev2sev]

This is not a direct answer to your question, but it's related....

There is a champher(sp?) in the large washer that might not be present on the AL SFBs. If it's not there, I would put one there. Just round off the inside corner all the way around(where the shoulder of the bolt will sit. You can use a file or something, but you don't want a sharp edge on the bushing's hole.

I read this on ARPs website years ago. When you buy their head bolt kits, the washers that come in the kit have champhers (rounded corners) cut into the edge of the hole on one side. As I recall, the directions for their headbolt kits tell you all about it...and to install the washer, "champher up".

A champher on a big washer like that serves a purpose. It's there so that the corner of the washer's hole will not cut into the bolt where it meets the head, and weaken it. This can happen from lateral force, or during torquing.

If you use a washer(don't use the recall washers), make sure the sharp edge is digging into the aluminum, not your bolt head.

 

[ryana83]

Not Quite

Those are not the plates I am talking about, I already installed the nut plates when I first broke 1 bolt trying it the first time

Here they are .

What about these suckers guys?

Ryan

 

[jayro]

If I remember correctly when I did mine, those plates go on the bottom of the aluminum bushings. Between the bushing and the head of the bolt. I believe it is so the head of the bolt doesn't dig into the softer aluminium. Basically it desperses the pressure when the bolt is tightened.

Jeremy

 

[93rev2sev]

Those come with the recall kits. They are designed by ford to be used with the gen1/2 subframe bushings. They are not to be used on any other bushing. Not aluminum, not gen3. Just gen1/2.

 

[Ishodu]

Those are the washers, there not needed but can be used if the lower bushing has been bored larger where the bolt goes in. You can just use a regular flat washer in its place if you want too.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Honestly... I could never get a plain washer to hold torque on mine. They always wiggled loose. Personally, I got a big flat washer, and a lock washer. Haven't heard from them since.

 

[twr]

Like this, if your bushings have the recess. Even if it doesn't, I would grind the lip off and use them anyway. They help distribute the load of the bolt head across the bushings. I've seen a machined solid piece of aluminum come apart because at that particular spot there was a defect in the extrusion. It's pretty rare and I've only seen it 3 times in the 15 years. I've never seen it in subframe bushing, but why risk the chance of it.

 

[Eric VerValin]

So by that picture and you talking about the 'recess' someone installed theirs upside down.. ? The ring sits on the top of the subframe on mine... ?

 

[twr]

So by that picture and you talking about the 'recess' someone installed theirs upside down.. ? The ring sits on the top of the subframe on mine... ?

Correct, ring on top, cup on the bottom. The order of the install should be as follows from the ground up. Flat washer, cup bushing, subframe, ring bushing with the bolt going up through it all into the body nut.