subframe bushings and engine mounts. do it myself?

[Valett85]

ok. i have no lift and only one jack. should i go buy the stuff to do it myself or should i pay somebody to do it for me? i dont have a air compressor either. im leaning towards paying somebody to do it. but i feel like a deuchbag for paying somebody to work on my car.

[Slappy]

I did it myself.

To install the motormounts , get a piece of a 2x4 , place in on top of the jack , and ever so gently jack the motor up by the oil pan ,(once the car is already jacked up). If your not an idiot , your wont mess up anything.

When you install your Bushings , make sure you support the rear subframe with something after you loosed it or it will fall on you and kill you.

[gumby74]

^^^^ its funny because its true.Do you mean subframe collars or actual full blown bushings? Collars can be installed "on car" if you please while bushing will require removal of the sub-frame and maybe a 6 pack of beer.Use jackstands $15- $20 pretty much any where. There is no reason for anybody to not have a pair laying around. (public service announcement)I hope none of you never have to see or experience a random failure of a hydraulic jack. Hell, any jack.

[UNVMY240]

Motor mounts and trans mount can be done in the driveway easily but subframe bushings is alittle harder and will need some beer and a friend.

[311 RB26DETT]

get a full bushing replacement by energy suspension. i support this kit for life. it was easy to install, instructions were great but what i would recomend considering if your going to do it yourself is how much rust your car has. because i did run into some problems when i did mine, also if you get the full kit, if i recal correctly 4 rings need to be pressed into the bushings wich does require a hydrolic press. or a BFH you decide.

[KLYPH]

RS-R kit was good for me. You should search to see what you are getting yourself into. Very time consuming for me and a pain to get the old bushings out of the arms, but search here and Ka-t.org.

[ZiG]

Instead of jacking up the motor by the pan and potentially crushing the seal and risking a leak (seen it happen), I suggest you consider jacking it up by the very front of the transmission bellhousing.

[Slappy]

Instead of jacking up the motor by the pan and potentially crushing the seal and risking a leak (seen it happen), I suggest you consider jacking it up by the very front of the transmission bellhousing.

Like i said , if your careful , and not a complete idiot , that wont happen.

[ZiG]

I think you can still crush a seal. Block of wood wont really help prevent that. And it's like, why bother with the pan when the bellhousing is right there.

Of course I got in that habit when I had to jack up the motor in order to take the pan off. haha.

[94_240sx]

Motor mounts and trans mount can be done in the driveway easily but subframe bushings is alittle harder and will need some beer and a friend.

I did subframe collars myself and it was easy. I need to do motor mounts. It's easier than subframe??? Cool.

Quote »Instead of jacking up the motor by the pan and potentially crushing the seal and risking a leak (seen it happen), I suggest you consider jacking it up by the very front of the transmission bellhousing.[/quote]Good to know this info. I'll make sure to jack up transmission then. I have a question. When you do the clutch, once you remove transmission mount, you have to jack up the front of the engine to access top bolt on the bell housing. I thought you can jack up oil pan to do that. Is it not safe?

[navysnail]

subframe collars and bushings are different. most collars can be put in without dropping the frame, bushings require the frame to be removed from the car. They can also be a pita to get out without a hydraulic press

[Valett85]

i know i can do the motor mounts in the front. i just wonder about the transmission mount. how easy is it to get to. and as far as the bushings. i got a set of megan bushings. 95 bucks. and if they do the job, thats cool by me. they are just (some sort of metal) disks. i just jack up the car, brace the rear end and sb frame in place. take out the bolts, jack up the car more and change em out?

[navysnail]

if they are the disks with slots you just losten the bolts and slide them into place.

as for the transmission, it shouldnt be that hard to do, it will just take a little time.

[Valett85]

k...i have the disks with slot and the other onse that are solid disks that look like ...castles? -only word to describe em- those are for the rear end right?

[navysnail]

yeah actually you do have to remove the bolts, just do them 2 at a time so you dont have to drop the subframe. the slotted ones go on top of the bushing, the solid castles on the bottom.

[Slappy]

I think you can still crush a seal. Block of wood wont really help prevent that. And it's like, why bother with the pan when the bellhousing is right there.

Of course I got in that habit when I had to jack up the motor in order to take the pan off. haha.

I agree. I was just being an arse.