New subframe bushings... False hopes. Help pls.

[zector]

Ok I know I'll probrably get mistreated here shortly but I searched and I posted in the small questions thread but no one answered...
I'm becoming pretty stressed out haha... So my car was clunking like crazy everytime I even just tapped the brake. So I decided to try and change my subframe bushings since I recently got fired from the dealer and I have much free time haha...
Anyways I changed them but halfway through I realized I wasn't supposed to cut out the whole bushing sleeve like I had done and now the lower part of my bushings don't fit!...so my questions is what can I do to make this work? I know the aluminum bushings require the whole sleeve of the old bushings cut out but that would require me to take it all apart again.... So if any of this is coherent Please help, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[MidwestMyriad]

The PSM bushings are epoxied in. If I understand correctly, the sleeve was supposed to be left in tact and now there is a gap between the subframe and subframe bushing? Just get some metal epoxy (real stuff, not JB weld) and epoxy them in, should be good to go.

[tacotacotaco]

So you are swapping to solid aluminium bushings? When i did mine i used spl and i pressed out the old bushings sleaves and all and had no problem. Is it so loose its falling out having massive play when its in there? if not just bolt it up.

[drftmark]

This might be totally unrelated to the problem, but I thought I read somewhere before that the epoxy is really only meant to hold the bushing in place so you don't have to fiddle with it trying to bolt the subframe up to the car.

[pandaroo]

spl bushings require you to cutout the sleeve and pres them in. i dont know what kind you have but since you already cut the sleeves out you could use the spl's.

[zector]

Yeah thanks everyone I installed the ES polyurethane bushings and now there is a gap on the bottom... Everything bolts up but it's loose and I still get a slight clunk when pulling I to my driveway and backing up and stuff...the thing is that the lower bushing is the one that let's the subframe move up and down on it... Wouldn't the epoxy break loose after a while?

[upsdude]

the ES bushings were meant to be used with the old subframe "cups"-which is why you have that gap and why you still have the clunking. sure you can use epoxy but you're just half-assing the job. get some solid bushings off ebay for under 100 bucks or from bing, a zilvia advertiser they're the same shit and they work well. or if you don't want to mess around with dropping your subframe you can get solid bushing collars.

you'll see what a mean once you read the instructions for the ES bushings:http://www.energysuspension.com/assets/files/pdf/17486.pdf

[zector]

Ok so I think I'll get some solid bushings collars then... Would they just install on top of the es bushings or would I have to remove the lower half and install the collar there?

[upsdude]

that i don't know i've never messed with collars.

[locoluna825]

I had he same problem...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/PICT0040.jpg
This is how i fixed it.

[zector]

O wow I had considered using some washers... Did you only use the top half of the poly bushings or how did you make it work?... I have to say tho that a sense of releif came over me when I saw you made it work haha

[dopplganger1]

I did the same thing as u so I had used a washer to fix it I used both the bottom and top part I just put the subframe in with the top part on then I put a washer there and then put the bottom bushing peice on followed by the factory washer if that makes sense.. I just took the bottom part to a hardware shop and found a thick washer that the center was big enough for the bushing to go threw and that was slightly larger thna the bushing.

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[locoluna825]

I used both halfs of the bushings. I had trimmed the bottom half of the bushing in that photo. I Found out later, I didnt have to. I just helped a friend with his. Were both using s14 subframe bushings in our s13's. But the problem you are having is EXACTLY the same.

With his bushings we didnt do any trimming. and used just two washers with the whole bushing in there. IT squezed it in there real good and squished it down when we tightened it up. Making a nice tight fit. Sort of an improvement over mine. but the basic idea works and the subframe does not move, At all. His used to clunk when he shifted and wheel hope like hell during burn outs. NO more.

Ive had mine like That^^ for 2 years now. Only reason I replaced mine becuase I replaced the entire subframe out. and decided to do the bushings at the same time. Accidently ordering s14 bushings and hence what you see in the picture above. Tried buying the s13 subrframe bushings from ES but you cant seem to ever get them anymore becuase theyre ALWAYS out of stock.

I think theyre better overal than the s13 subframe bushings becuase there 2 peice like a solid alluminum bushing and the actual s13 ES bushing are like 6 different pieces LOL. On top of that I didnt notice any noise level increase or vibration like you get from the solid alluminum bushings.

[zector]

Awsome I'm doing this tommorow, I actually got hired at another dealer today and will be starting Friday haha so I'll be needing a reliable car again haha....

Thank you everyone for all your help! Hopefully I didnt develop an annuerism from stressing out haha
Thanks again and I appreciate everyones help

[s14nis]

Im having this clunking noise every time i shift the gears. and also when im coming to a complete stop... i hear clunk clunk lunk lunk lunk k k k k....

I jacked up the car from the back and i had my buddy put it in gear and just keep shifting... well i looked underneath the car while he was shifting the gears and i noticed the rear subframe is really kinda shaking and vibrating. i looked at the subframe bushing and i think they looked worn out... ( i said i think because i have zero experience with those bushings.)

So where should i start? should replace them? if so, what brand? or should i do a quick/easy fix by putting washers on the subframe bushings?

help a 240 guy out please. :)

[fliprayzin240sx]

Cheap-0 fix is installing subframe collar/spacers. Proper way of doing it is putting new bushings in there which means you'd have to drop the subframe and get the old ones out, then press in the new ones. You got options on doing this, solid aluminum or polyurethane bushings. Most folks (including me) just went with the collars/spacers, stopped it from clunking and takes 15 mins to put in.

[s14nis]

@fliprayzin240sx, thank you so much for your feedback. couple questions for you. did those collars really help stooping the noise completely or partially? what brand did u use/recommended? and lastly how many ones do i need for my s14? i believe i have 4 bushings. is that mean each bushing is gonna take one collar or more than one? THank you sooo much.

[locoluna825]

The washers arent going to stop it from moving. They were installed as a fix because I used the wrong subframe bushings like the OP did. If you own a s14 just buy the inserts or complete subframe bushing replacements from ES. im very happy with them.

[ManoNegra]

Cheap-0 fix is installing subframe collar/spacers. Proper way of doing it is putting new bushings in there which means you'd have to drop the subframe and get the old ones out, then press in the new ones. You got options on doing this, solid aluminum or polyurethane bushings. Most folks (including me) just went with the collars/spacers, stopped it from clunking and takes 15 mins to put in.

@fliprayzin240sx, thank you so much for your feedback. couple questions for you. did those collars really help stooping the noise completely or partially? what brand did u use/recommended? and lastly how many ones do i need for my s14? i believe i have 4 bushings. is that mean each bushing is gonna take one collar or more than one? THank you sooo much.

collars will only help so much
I've gone through this before
had severe clunking - as if I had a bowling ball loose in my trunk on decel
collars nor pineapple bushing did much to solve the issue
upon dropping the subframe I found the two front ones to be completly destroyed
chunks of the bushings were gone and the middle metal sleeve fell to the ground on one

so, recap, worn/cracked bushings - collars would probably work ok
but it's a momentary fix, best is to replace the bushings
ES/Nismo for some comfort or solid for better performance at the price of some NHV

[fliprayzin240sx]

I've run nothing but collars on all my 3 S14s. I havent had any issues to make me want to drop the subframe and put in actual bushings. My 2nd S14 in Japan, the bushings were so done on 2 of them that there were no more rubber pieces in the subframe. I slapped some collars and they never clunked. Daily drove it, tracked and drove it hard for the most part with no issue.

[ManoNegra]

Wish that had been the case with me
it is definitely the cheaper alternative.

[s14nis]

Hey guy i just wanted to give u a quick update and wanted to thank everyone for their help. I ended up buying some collars from ebay for $50. very easy to install.. problem solved no noise no problem!! its been 4 months and everything is great!!!