Wow! Broken Subframe Mounts

[SHO13]

:shakehead

I very recently purchased a 2nd SHO, 95 MTX. It started its life up in Jersey and made its way down to Florida. Aside from some rust here and there it didn't look that bad structurally.

I have put about 150 miles on it since I bought it. As I was pulling out of my local Autozone, I felt this huge clunk... The car started sputtering and the tach dropped to 0 RPMS... The steering wheel locked up (like when you take the key out). Luckily, I was still able to turn the wheel enough and get it off ther road. It made this nasty clicking sound as the wheel slowly turned.

So, I popped the hood to see what was amiss... Lone behold my engine wasn't where it should be. It was tilted back. I took a look underneath and BOTH rear subframe mounts had gave out. The rear subframe was sitting down about 3-4 inches. The DIS was also broken. I did not lose any fluids.

I was able to get it home on a flatbed tow truck. I now have jack stands under the subframe to keep the stress off of the front two.

I can't tell yet, but it looks like the subframe holes are still intact, and it was just the bushings that gave out. The bolts are still in the body with a small piece of mount left.

Anyone ever ran into this or want to guess what else could be damaged?

Is there a way I can tell if the recall has been done to my car other than pulling the seats/carpets to look for the holes? Is it online? Will Ford know by the VIN?

How can I tell if the subrame is bent?

AARRRGGHHHH:cuss: :banghd:

Sigh...

 

[1993MTXSHO]

if the subframe came down liek that, more then likly its bent, look at the front bolts and see if there are creses right behind them. also if that happened odds are the recall wasnt done.

 

[Bizzy]

The subframe is not necessarily bent. More than likely what happened is your car didn't have the recall done on it and thus allowed the subframe to drop. I had this happen on my car after having the subframe plate nut recall done, but the techs (and I use the term loosely) installed the plate nut UPSIDE down.

Get a recall kit, I'd actually suggest getting 2 so you can do all 4 corners, and replace them. You might find damage to the subframe after you pull the bolts off, but hopefully you'll be ok. Mine was.

The best way to tell if your car has had the recall done on it is to pull back the carpet (in both the driver's side and passenger side front floorboards) and look for the holes they drill so they can install the new plate nuts.

 

[SHO13]

Appreciate the feedback...

Bizzy, I read your post about when this happened to you. Luckilly I had just gotten the wheel straightened out before the subframe went. A few seconds earlier as I was pulling out, and I probably would have gotten nailed in the driver side door.

When the steering locked up on you, did it do any damage? Axles? Rack? Mine was making a nasty click, but the engine wasn't where it was supposed to be either.

If the recall has not been done, will Ford pay for the parts at least? From what I've read it doesn't seem like they are receptive to accomplishing the recalls. I can do the work. I've swapped out the bushings before on my 93.

Last question... What's better, an engine hoist or building the wood engine support that people commonly use for clutch replacements. I'd like to drop the subframe and take a good look at it before putting it back in.

Thanks

 

[Bizzy]

We were fortunate that nothing was damaged other than the subframe. My son's was completely broken. I've read of others ending up having to replace the rack, but I think that's a less common occurrence. There were no problems with the half shafts either.

I cannot say for certain whether Ford will pay for the recall parts or not. If they do, they'll want to do the repair on the car. Since your car is already down for the count, it might be more costly than it's worth. SHO NUT has the recall kits and they're really not expensive at all. The worst part of the job would be cutting the holes in the floorboard but I'm sure you could do it with no problem.

Personally, the cheapest way I know of to support the engine is to build a wooden engine support. Unless you already have a hoist, that's the way I would go. Generally, I find that hoists get in the way since the legs are sprawled out under the car which just so happens to be the place you need to be.

Scott Patterson and quite a few others have posted their designs on engine supports, I believe the thread is stickied in this section. I believe that most people have tried their own designs but I made mine with Scott's plans and while really bulky and quite definitely overkill, they are quite secure and that's just how I want it to be if my noggin is under the motor with nothing else holding it up.

Edit: One last thing. You are wise to remove that subframe all the way for inspection. Also be sure to check out the unibody as well, make sure that it's not puckered.