Missing half a subframe bushing???? (urgent!!)

[SuperHO]

So....I've been dealing with an unholy sounding "clunk" emitting from the right front for a while now. I had noticed that the right front subframe bushing, when the subframe was supported by a jack, was disturbingly loose. Problem was, I couldn't find a way to effectively get a wrench in there to tighten things up.

Well, today, I decided enough with being nice, got brutal and managed to be able to wrap a wrench around the nut to get the bushing out. Thing is, there appears to be part of a bushing missing.


This is what I removed, minus a nut and bolt. this is ALL that came off, just to be clear.



This is the view from underneath.


couple of side views of where the subframe meets the chassis.







The subframe is currently sitting on a pair of jackstands, but i'll be damned if something shouldn't go between the subframe and the chassis....call me crazy, but that just don't seem right. Suggestions? Ideas? Random musings on foreign politics?

 

[ruWelded]

Front SFB

That all looks normal. The front SFB are different than the rears. Alot of people replace the fronts with rears. The four small (about 1/4-20) bolts and metal cup were at one time attached to the top rubber of your SFB. It does not look to be in bad shape, so you should be able to use it for now. (till you get a new one) As long as you can tighten the bolt properly.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Above reply pretty much covers it, except that now that the studs have separated from the bushing it allows the subframe to bounce around. I would not reuse them.

This is what the bushings look like new:

This is what the rear bushings look like:

Night and day.

 

[SuperHO]

so there's really no isolator between the top of the subframe and the bottom of the chassis like there is on the gen II?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

so there's really no isolator between the top of the subframe and the bottom of the chassis like there is on the gen II?

The V6 cars use the exact same front bushing. The rubber rings on the v6 cars just hold the washer in place, they don't "isolate" anything.

 

[SuperHO]

i guess it's been so long since i've seen anything but hockey pucks or aluminum mounted up there that i simply don't remember.

 

[Izzmo]

Hmm, I suppose mine will look like that too.

Hey SuperHO, you going to get Aluminum SFB's?

 

[stephen newberg]

I switched to the aluminum ones some time ago and the improvement in the back road handling was very noticeable. I would not go back to the rubber.

pax, smn

 

[Izzmo]

"I would not go back to the rubber"

Well just be careful then.

 

[SuperHO]

i dunno yet. i'm thinking about it, as i've had em on my gen II's for quite some time and love em. i can't imagine NVH could get too bad with that V8. it's pretty much gonna depend on finances when the time comes.

 

[stephen newberg]

Well just be careful then.

LOL. I most certainly will.

pax, smn

 

[Izzmo]

i dunno yet. I'm thinking about it, as i've had em on my gen ii's for quite some time and love em. I can't imagine nvh could get too bad with that v8. It's pretty much gonna depend on finances when the time comes.

nvh???

 

[frosho]

Noise, Vibration, and Harshness

 

[1995mtxsho]

I too used rear gen 3 mounts up front on my third gen SHO.
Got them and the bolts fom LKQ in exelent shape from a gen 3 SLO for $5 each. I didnt even have to use any tools, someone already took the drivetrain and left the rear of the subframe hanging.

 

[Izzmo]

"left the rear of the subframe hanging." - Well that's always good.