OEM Subframe bushes - fitting advice

[Christophski]

hi guys

Anyone got any advice or can help with how to fit OEM rear subframe bushes on an avant? Got some turning up in the next few days and was hoping to get them on and the subframe fitted over the weekend. Is it a press job? I melted and hammered the old ones out with quite a bit of ease actually....

I just want to get prepared.

Thanks
Chris

[Rusty]

You can use some threaded bar and suitable spacers. Apply a big chunk of grease to help fit them.

[Christophski]

Ahh so its a case of hammering them back in somehow? Basically liek a slider bar and weight type job you mean with added grease?

[Rusty]

No, a hammer / slide hammer will not work. As I said, threaded bar and some spacers. There's a guide to similar things on Mike's s2-audi.co.uk site.

[Christophski]

Ahh something to turn and squeeze it back through... Thats what you mean? Will take a look at that site too. Thanks Andy

[Mikes2]

http://s2-audi.co.uk/tech_articles/rear_subframe.htm

you need M10 bolts 250mm long and some M10 nuts
the threaded pipe and cap came from a plumbers merchant.

drill a hole in the cap for the bolt to go through

I use the old subframe washers under the bolt head

[Christophski]

Cool cheers Mike

[Mikes2]

the most important thing is to make sure the bushes go in straight.

If they slant to the side when you push them in, they'll tear.

Lots and lots of grease on the bush and on the subframe hole. The arrows on the bush are for the direction of travel of the car

[Christophski]

Useful info there. Thanks, I wouldnt have known that.

[GazzaG60]

get a threaded bar bout foot long.

2 sockets. one to go over the full bush and hole one to go against the metal edge of the bush.

put bush in the one that fits against bush metal thread bar thru hole in subframe, put bigger socket on other side. washers on each end, nuts on each end.

tighten in and socket will push bush in.

i use same for removing wishbone bushes.

[Christophski]

cheers Gaz... will see what I can fashion up with parts I have and parts my brother brings home for me to try make something with...

[Christophski]

Right guys... I need some help now big time. I have got the old subframe bushes out, and got the two front bushes back in ok. The itmes I used are not doing the rear bushes on account of the difference in the level of the rims around the back of the subframe and the item i am using to go over the bush to pull it through is a big square metal tube so it doesnt sit straight.

Can anyone help out with any suggestions of anything I can use to put over the top of the new bush to pull it through into the hole it sits in, in the subframe?

And I cant seem to find the right bit of pipe from a plumb centre either that is supposed to fit over the top of the bush like Mike has....

[irishs2]

Yea the rears on the avant are huge. I couldn't come up with a solution to do them reliably so I went solid

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

When ever i come across what seams like an insurmountable problem through lack of tools,it's time to get it to a specialist and pay them £50 to fit the 2 bushes you mentioned. At least you can use the originals which is always better unless your going on the track. Headache over!

[Christophski]

Thing is Eric, they are the same on the rear subframe in all 4 corners and I have managed to get the front 2 in already... I just cant get the rear 2 in.

I spoke to an engineering company who have said they wont do it as you need a special cone tool or something... And this company has always done things for me in the past that have been very obscure so this must be a hell of a challenge.

I spoke to my local VW/Audi specialist mechanics who said no way... they wouldnt be getting involved in this headache...

I have just spoken to my local Audi dealer who have said yes they will do it for an hours labour... £114+vat and they have had issues with twisting subframes before so they take no responsibility.,.. Im NOT going there.

And I have just spoken with a mate who builds and restores old muscle cars who is going to have a look and will then tell me if he can help...

OTHERWISE im ordering a set of solid ones and will just have to kiss goodbye to the cost of the OEM ones. I cant believe how much of a pain it has been to try to get these last 2 bushes in. I basically have gotten everything else ready and am just waiting on this being done and then the car can go back together and im on a bit of a time restriction as in my brother who has been helping me has his baby due imminently... Kinda feeling the pressure a bit with this now Oh well...