RI
Easy DIY project.
All you need are a pair of jack stands to support the body of the car, a floor jack, and a selection of wrenches and sockets. I did mine in about an hour and a half the first time. I could probably do it in less than an hour now.
As far as re-aligning the sub-frame, all it takes is a couple of deepwell sockets (OD=3/4") on an extension or a length of thick-walled 3/4" OD pipe.
The biggest PITA was removing the old police style SFBs, each was held to the sub-frame with four nuts that had to be individually removed.
In a nutshell, the process goes something like this:
1) Raise vehicle and support on jackstands under the body.
2) Loosen front SFB bolts a few turns.
3) Place floor jack under rear crossmember of subframe to support the subframe.
4) It may be helpful to disconnect the Y-pipe from the cat-back if you do not have a flex-pipe before doing the following.
5) Remove the rear SFB bolts.
6) Using the floor jack, lower the rear of the subframe several inches, enough to get to the retaining nuts (if present). Otherwise, lower it enough to remove whatever SFB has been installed.
7) To install the Gen III SFB, the tabs on the lower half must be removed by filing or grinding. A shot of white lithium grease on the rubber inside of the SFB will aid assembly if the pair. Install the upper bushing on the upper part of the subframe. Insert the lower half through the subframe and into the upper half. The assembly must be oriented so that the points of the oval-shaped portion of the rubber inserts are pointing front and rear. The previously removed tabs would, if they had not been removed, have also faced front and rear.
8) Install the other rear corner SFB as above.
9) Use the floor jack to raise the rear of the subframe back up to the body.
10) Install the bolts with large washer/plate. Do not tighten, but make sure that they have a good number of turns engaged with the mounting nut.
11) Drop front of subframe as above and replace both SFBs. Raise front of subframe and reinstall bolts.
12) Using the alignment "tool", make sure that both front corners of the subframe align to the body. This occurs when the hole in the body lines up with the corresponding hole in the subframe. Use the tool to manipulate the subframe into alignment, then tighten the bolts at all four corners to 65-85 lb-ft.
13) If disconnected, reconnect exhaust.
14) Remove car from jackstands and take for a test drive.
Enjoy the tighter feel to the steering and suspension, especially if the olf SFBs were worn out.
Steve
