General Rear subframe ??

[martyc5674]

I suspect mine are shot too....back of car really hard over bumps..
Whats the easiest way to confirm they need replacing???
I dont seem to have side to side play when jacked up but the front bush gap seems to open up when i jack it..

Has anyone tried making the rubber ring as per the youtube vid???


Would like to improve the ride of the multipla....great great car but i find it really hard over the bumps...front and back to be honest.(have no rattles as such but a bit of a squeaky groan coming from the back coming off bumps etc)

Cheers,
Marty

 

[Alpitlum]

Did the above fix on mine about 12 months/ 16000 miles ago.

 

[BikeDoc]

...I dont seem to have side to side play when jacked up but the front bush gap seems to open up when i jack it...

...a bit of a squeaky groan coming from the back coming off bumps...

Bushes like these will usually fail by shearing, where the inner Alloy piece detaches from the rubber.
My front ones were in a real state...

...yet there was no side-play at all.

Also, even if one or two were completely knackered, the others would stop the subframe moving laterally (sideways), at least when checked by hand.

If you jack the rear up using the rear body jacking points, you can check each bush by trying to lever the subframe away from the chassis with a large screwdriver or small crow-bar.
There should be no more than around 5mm of vertical movement.

The noise you're getting could be the rubber and inner piece rubbing together.
Or it could be one of the trailing arm bearings is dry.

Squirt a bit of WD40 on the bush(es) at the top and see if the noise stops.

 

[martyc5674]

Right i jacked up both sides....with the subframe at rest (wheels weighted) the gap between subframe and chassis is about 8mm at a guess...it opens up to about 20mm once jacked up...no lateral play but im guessing the subframe shouldnt drop??

My bushings dont look near as bad as yours bikedoc...the castlehead tops to them seem to be still holding shape but maybe theyll fall apart if i drop em out.

Are they shot???....

Alpitlum.... what did you make your doughnuts out of??...good repair?

Cheers,
Marty.

 

[Alpitlum]

I made mine out of an old mud and snow tire . It was only one side that had gone , the top of the bush had gone and was allowing the subframe to contact the chassis leg. It has been on over 12 months and passed an MOT with the tester saying he was happy. The other side is getting ready for doing, I may use the same repair again or i may get 2 brava bushes.

 

[martyc5674]

Car at rest..........

By martyc5674 at 2012-05-17


Car jacked up.........

By martyc5674 at 2012-05-17


Cheers
I still have plenty of rubber keeping bush away from chassis.
However can someone confirm if the subframe should drop when jacked up??
Cheers
Marty.

 

[BikeDoc]

Yep, your inner is detached from the rubber.
If you took the bolt out, you'd find it would drop even further down.
The large 'cup' washer under the bolt head is keeping it from moving further at the moment.

The 'rubber ring' repair will be fine, if you choose that option.

 

[martyc5674]

Cheers Bikedoc....

I havent dropped one out yet but i was wondering would it be as good a job surely to pack the bushing from below?? (maybe this isnt possible)

I was thinking of putting some rubber rings in behind the bottom cup to push the bush up??

Maybe im talking jibber as i havent had one out yet!!

Marty

 

[fordman1605]

yea sorry front line one for brava 2000 1.6 abs do the job

 

[BikeDoc]

...I havent dropped one out yet but i was wondering would it be as good a job surely to pack the bushing from below?? (maybe this isnt possible)
I was thinking of putting some rubber rings in behind the bottom cup to push the bush up??...

That would work, but then you'd be putting all the load on that bush onto the buffer lumps on top, which would probably wear out fairly quickly.
Putting the rubber 'ring' on top means you have much more rubber cushioning the bumps.
With the car jacked (on the body), and the bolt out, it should slip in easily enough, as the inner Alloy piece should drop down with the bolt.
You may have to lever it down a little (the Alloy piece and/or the subframe), but judging by your picture you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[BikeDoc]

yea sorry front line one for brava 2000 1.6 abs do the job

Do they go in un-modified?