A Broad Bushing Question

[SargeRX8]

Hey all,

Just a quick question, its not an easy one to answer but if anyone has a rough idea that would be great.

I want to change most, if not all the bushings in the rear of my R33 GTST. Been hearing a clunk everytime I take the car for a drive and drive over the first bump. It will only do it once and the its fine. Also Ive put the metal pineapple things between the subframe to compensate but I feel with the tramping from the rear that something is still up with it.

Is this a DIY job or would it be nearly impossible to press out some of these bushes. I really want to do the diff, subframe and control arms on the rear as well as get my half shafts redone since I think the CV joints on the back are shaggered now, they sound like they crack everytime I take off or move into reverse.

Nothing looks broken but it doesn't feel too right. I was thinking maybe buying a subframe and doing all the bushes then replacing my subframe since its out of the car and I can take it to a shop while I still use my car.

Anyone have any inputs or suggestions? Should I go solid at in any points? What brand and can someone tell me where to source the parts locally rather than eBay or what not. I don't want to sacrifice what little comfort I have left but do not care about noise travel(leaning towards solid diff bushes, if they are not harmful).

Cheers all.

[zoomzoom]

The bushes in the control arms and hubs are fairly straightforward. I found the safest and easiest, although time consuming way, is to heat the inner metal tube of the rubber bush, then press it out once it has broken, then use a reciprocating saw to scrap away some rubber and cut the shell enough so that you can split it with a hammer and chisel. Once you do that the shell can be pressed out easily. I managed to press a few out just with an hydraulic press, but sometimes I couldn't get it at just the right angle to break it loose.

Its a very time consuming process if youve never done them before. The labour is going to be expensive if you get someone else to do it.

The other option is just get good aftermarket arms with new bushings in them already. Plus the camber and toe can be more reliably set compared to the standard eccentric bolts.

Though, clunking does not sound like the bushings, unless one has totally disintegrated.

[GTSBoy]

The cracking noise is less likely to be CVs than the hubs. There is a f**koff big nut holding the hub together. These need to be tweaked up on many cars to stop the noise. Mine used to do it like a bitch, especially just on moving off forwards or backwards. A healthy does of copper anti-sieze in the splines in there helps too.

Subframe bushes are a complet subframe out job. Alloy pineapples will never do anything to improve noise, they will only make it worse. Replace the whole lot with new hard rubber bushes. Same with diff bushes.

The story given to you above ref suspension bushes is basically all good. I didn't abuse any bushes to get them out of my rear arms. Just pressed them all out. But I was in a proper workshop with a proper box full of random pressing tools and a big press. It can't be done easily at home without violence.

New hard rubber bushes in the lower arms plus adjustable poly bushes in the uppers is a good idea. As is new dampers, unless your are not very old. Older dampers often click and clunk when they're stuffed.

Open this can of worms and you will open a vein and bleed money until it is all done.

[darksky34]

Open this can of worms and you will open a vein and bleed money until it is all done.

the one thing to take away from this thread!