Best way to drop rear of sf?

[mlatten]

With aluminum subframe bushings it just seems that dropping the back of the frame will cause some unwanted twisting and pressing in the front, no?

BTW, I'm just trying to replace the swaybar bushings.

Should I loosen the front bolts a quarter inch and then go for it, or what?

Thanks in advance, I know that this is probably a silly question, I'd just hate to see the car split in half after all the time I've got in it, hehe.

Matt

Oh yeah, what's the best way to remove the rear sway bar, support the exhaust and straight out the back? That's what my searching seems to have yeilded. Thanks again!

 

[johndallara]

dropping the subframe

If you are just replacing the front swaybar bushings, you loosen the 15/16 bolts on the steering rack, and then slowly loosen the 18mm bolts holding the subframe bolts in the rear. I have used a bubble jack under each side of the subframe for this. If you have stock front subframe bushings, you probably don't need to loosen the front bolts. If the SFBs are Aluminum, I would loosen the front bolts a little first before dropping the SF.

While you are doing all of this, it would be a good time to upgrade to a 24mm front swaybar with newer bushings.

Also make sure you do the subframe recall if you are going to Alum SFBs. Although the recall affects only the rear, I would do both front and rear with the larger bolt receptor. The front you can do yourself, but the rear requires drilling through the floor and I would suggest you get the dealer to do this.

The rear swaybar is much easier. Be careful not to break the bushing mounting bolts, as they are a little more exposed to the elements and may rust more readily than the front bolts. With the end-links disconnected and the subframe-to-swaybar bushings off, the bar slides out easily if you go towards the R rear wheel. You may need to lower the exhaust a few inches also (easy to do).

JD
89 GL/SC (retired)
95 ATX
95 MTX (construction)

 

[mlatten]

Alright, thanks for all the info man.

I just put an 89's subframe in it a few weeks back, but didn't have the bushings at the time; boy would it have been easy then!

Thanks again.

Matt

 

[93rev2sev]

at least you will have some good practice now.

 

[mlatten]

If that's what you wanna call it.

Thanks again, guys.

Matt