Installing Sub-Frame Question??

[fastsho92]

I am putting in a new trans. As alot of you know I have had alot of problems with my trans. STUPID PHANTOM GRIP. Anyway i bought a new trans and I am installing it. The trans itself is connected to the motor. And then I went to put the sub-frame in. I carfully lined everthing up and everthing and the sub-frame went up into place just as it should. This is where I ran into some problems.

When i went to put the bolts in, I realized the nuts up in the frame where lose and I couldn't get a grip on the them with the bolt. Now it looks like the nuts are supposed to be welded or stuck in the frame some how so they don't move when you put the bolts back it. Is this correct. After about an hour trying to get this thing up, i just gave up and decided to make a post. Does anyone know a way to get around this. Oh and if this makes a difference, I have alum. sub frame bushings. But i didn't install them and they were on when i get the car.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Slo-Sho]

Are you talking about the brackets? Are you having trouble with the fronts or the rears?

 

[fastsho92]

Oh sorry if i didn't make that clear.. I am having trouble installing the front subframe.. And the bolts im having problems with is the sub frame bushing bolts.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

there are little tabs that the nuts sit on rendering them stationary. Sometimes the tabs are bent upwards are the nuts will come off them when the subframe is removed. If you look in the wheel well there is a small oval opening where you can look in and see the nut. You're probably just going to need to fish around until you can get the nut on the tabs.

 

[masho95]

there are little tabs that the nuts sit on rendering them stationary. Sometimes the tabs are bent upwards are the nuts will come off them when the subframe is removed. If you look in the wheel well there is a small oval opening where you can look in and see the nut. You're probably just going to need to fish around until you can get the nut on the tabs.

And sometimes the tabs sheer off when taking the bolts out. If that's the case you're going to have to find someway to get a wrench in there and hold the nut still while threading the bolts. After you get them started, sometimes the weight of the subframe hanging alone will allow you to tighten up those bolts while keeping the nuts still. But I'd still get a wrench on the nuts as you torque them down to spec.

 

[fastsho92]

The whole subframe is a pain in the a$$ to put in. It is big heavy and has to line up in many places. The driver side front nut did break. It so i cut that oval hole big enough to get a wrench in it, and i went out to sears and got a new nut to fit. So that is how I am going to do the front ones. I looked on the SHOPP website about how to put in the subframe bushings and Im pretty sure I know how to do it. Ill see if i can do it, but i probably will not get to it until thursday. I just don't have any time, and I also need other person to help. I already tried to do this myself and that didn't work out to well. So we will see.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

It's around $14 for the rear subframe recall kit at a dealer, I'd strongly suggest you get the kit if you have a broken nut, as a plain nut isn't going to handle the stresses placed upon it from day to day. Just remember, it's only 4 bolts and 4 nuts holding your entire subframe to the car. Beth already had an issue with the rears breaking and she almost crashed her car due to the loss of control.

 

[autobahnsho]

I'd ditto the recall kit-

Also the fact that you took it all apart already, the nut tabs can break next time, making it a bigger pita to get it apart.

The recall kit makes it a LOT easier to get together/apart. I got mine from shonutperformance.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

The recall kit wont do a damn thing for the FRONT subframe mounts that he is dealing with.

Good luck with the repair/install. It can be a major PITA