BMR Subframe bushings installed successfully

[ducq]

Edit* title should read subframe bushing inserts

Got them installed, the whole install took about 3 hours. I was a little hesitant to start this install after reading some horror stories. Everything was pretty simple though. The hardest part was definitely the front washers. I used the two hammer method, well I had a hammer and a rubber/plastic mallet thing. Each front washer took me maybe 15 minutes, the rears maybe 3 minutes each. It wasn't until the last washer (front) that I realized if I hit it with the hammer a few times, then take a pry bar and pry down from the opposite side, then go back and hit it with the hammer a few more times, it takes the washer out in like a minute or two.

Dropping the cradle, I couldn't clear enough space to fit the insert. I would have to drop it another 2 inches and I wasn't trying to take down my catback and all that. I cut the rear top insert. Just put 1 slice in it to get around the dowel thing that was in the way. Should work just fine even with this cut. The other inserts went in fine. I couldn't push the front top inserts in all the way but once I bolted everything bak up, the inserts pushed themselves in.

I read the cradle bolts are torqued to 130 ft lbs. I used my 3/8 torque wrench that only goes to 75 ft lbs. Then I took my breaker bar and tightened it till I almost couldn't anymore. I used blue threadlock on the bolts too so I think they'll be fine?

It's hard for me feel a difference. I put on sway bars 2 days before this and felt a huge difference in handling and steering sensitivity. I'm not sure what to look for. I guess when I take an aggressive start off a red light, it feels a bit more solid. I havnt driven too much today though since installing them. Feels good diving into an install not too confident, being in the middle of it thinking "this isn't so bad" (while repeating to myself that the washers will come out slowly but surely), and completing the install successfully.

Other than welding on my axle back magnaflows, every install has been a DIY project and I consider myself a complete newb to this stuff. I would never have done any of this stuff without the help of camaro5 and the friendly and helpful members here. Thanks all

[Squintz Palladoris]

Feels good to do it for yourself doesnt it?

[Ventmaster]

Nice job ducq! I'm just like you, there have been many mods I wouldn't have attempted without the help of C5!

I think you'll notice a difference first as you take your daily drives: several of the bumps the car used to absorb you'll feel now-not harsh, just a little more firm.
I think you have to be pushing pretty hard to see the real benefit of the inserts.
While this topic is fresh, when I installed mine I heard the # was 74lb/ft of torque on those subframe bolts (felt like 130 getting them out!). Don't worry, I used plenty of blue threadlock too, but does anyone have a more official opinion on this? Thanks.

[caverman]

How was the install of the front inserts? I had a heck of a time trying to get them flush. Actually, I couldn't get them flush. Were you able to and if so how did you do it?

[ducq]

I put a thin layer of that grease on the sides of the top front inserts. That grease they supplied is actually kinda sticky and pasty. I put the insert in and pushed down with a scree driver. Then I raised the diff. up some to close the gap and pressed as much more as I could. The top inserts on both sides would not go flush inside, they stuck out maybe 3/4" ? But once I raised the differential back and tightened up all the cradle bolts, the pressure pushed them in flush and I no longer could see them.

[caverman]

That's kind of what I saw. I used the grease as well and tried to get them in flush but didn't have any luck. One of mine ended up going in sideways and I couldn't do anything with it.

I don't think pushing the cradle up makes them go flush. I think they just fold over to the side and get compressed. The reason I think that is that if you were to pull the cradle down again that 3/4" would still be there. If they were to have been pushed in by lifting up the cradle then then they should still be flush when you lowered the cradle again. It probably doesn't matter and I still felt a difference in the firmness of the car when I put in those inserts but it bugged me enough that I couldn't get them flush that I removed mine.

I was just curious if you had issues getting those inserts in flush like I did.

[ducq]

Hmm that got me thinking. It's possible they could have bent maybe. When I initially unscrewed the bolts, I saw a gap in the top front bushings area. That is about the amount of rubber I could see sticking out after lifting the cradle back up with the floor jack.

Once the rubber inserts were all in, both sides of the top front inserts were sticking out and I remembered your post about not being able to push them in all the way. I thought, hmm I'm gonna have the same problem. After raising the cradle and seeing the rubber push itself in some, I brought it back down some to see how much went in. I would say the rubber still sticking out was about that of a finger nail. As I was tightening the cradle bolt I could see it pushing in, I was watching carefully and I think I woulda seen if it was bending any which way. If it did end up bending on either side, it wasn't very much so I'm okay with it. Everything looked and feels good. Here's a picture of the fronts.

[caverman]

Cool....they should work out just fine. Like I said, even with the issues I was having I could still feel the firmness.

[Bay Area SS]

cool. I need to do this as well. Overall impressions with the end results? Any difference in the feel of the car?

[ducq]

Well I put on sway bars first then the next day I put on these inserts so it's hard to tell. I do feel like the rear is a bit stiffer when taking off aggressively from a stop. Some bumps are felt just a bit more than before but nothing uncomfortable or annoying. I'm curious to see what the pedders inserts look like. I hear they are harder material and that the pfadt ones are even stiffer. I feel these softer rubber ones are good for a daily driver. I feel the other much stiffer bushing inserts might make daily driving too bumpy.

[BMR guy]

Yeah, it will be a little difficult to feel after just swapping sway bars. Sway bars make such a huge improvement that other mods tend to pale by comparison. If you would have done the inserts first you definitely would have felt them more but rest assured, they are doing their job.

I noticed that you mentioned several times that our inserts were made from rubber. I am not sure where you heard this from but they are not rubber, they are made from 88 durometer polyurethane. I am fairly certain that the Pedders/Whiteline inserts are similar, 75-88 durometer but may be wrong, they do not publicize their durometer ratings. If anybody has this data, please post it, it definitely helps to have all the facts before making a purchasing decision.

[ducq]

I'm sorry, I knew that they are made from polyurethane so I dunno why I was saying rubber. I guess cause they have a little bit of flexibility to em. If it wasn't for that flexibility I woulda had to remove my catback and maybe more to get more clearance :P

[BMR guy]

No biggie,, just didn't want to confuse people. Glad the install went well and enjoy your wiggle-free cradle

[jsharp]

So bmr guy what is your outlook on the "smashing" discussed here of the front inserts