Rear Sub Frame Refresh

[Fat Audi 80]

Good luck with that they are a biiiatch to get out.

[Dpicariello]

A productive evening this evening!

Finally after lots of swearing and banging with a hammer I managed to get the ball joints out from the bottom of the struts. They are a bit fooked though as had to use a blowtorch and the boots took a pasting.

Subframe came off with no drama at all. Taking the diff off took all of 2 minutes. Both side mount bushes had holes in so I expect some improvement with new ones fitted. The rear diff mount bush looked OK though.

Track rods came off OK although they are scrap too.

I started on removing the sub frame bushes but gave up as I'll just take them into work and get them pressed out.

Everything is being shot blasted and powder coated next week so all is going to plan so far (famous last words!!!!)

[willg54]

Doesnt look too bad!

You changing the diff seals while its out?

[Dpicariello]

Sub frame looks really good. Only some slight surface corrosion in between the diff mount flanges. Yes, it'll be a lot easier to change the diff seals whilst it's out so will do that. I knew this parts list would grow!

[willg54]

just dont do what i did...intend to only do the rear end and 3 months down the line have a car completely stripped and contemplating stripping the engine further!

[s2driveruk]

good news...make sure they zinc prime it before the powder coat will come back looking great BTDT on the front one.....I still need to do my rear

[Dpicariello]

Ugggg!!! I give up!

These f'in subframe bushes and wishbone bushes are just not budging!
I did a practice run on an old wishbone with a cobbled together tool and they came out no problem. This time they are just locked solid!

I'm taking them into work and pressing them out there. Gonna have to do the same with the sub frame bushes. Got them all on fire but nothing, managed to get the centre of one out but the outer is still well and truly in!

What a difference to yesterday!

[s2driveruk]

yeah i just had mine pressed out, saved the frustration to be honest - keep the faith just another day in S2 refurb/ownership dan

[Mikes2]

When I pressed mine out, I used an old socket some M10 threaded bar, a couple of nuts/ washers and a large section of pipe for the bush to drop in to.

Only took about 5 mins per bush.

Getting the new bushes in is a different story if refitting standard bushes. If they don't go in perfectly straight, they tend to tear.

[Dpicariello]

Hi Mike, I've been using your site as my bible, very useful thank you!
Let's hope today will be more productive!

[Fat Audi 80]

Is this an early start before the bank holiday weekend push?

[montez]

Currently doing this at the moment, unfortunately one of the subframe bolts has snapped and it is completely cold welded itself to the subframe bush. I don't know why with this car it always seems to be the last bolt you undo is an absolute b itch

[s2_bo]

****, that will be a pita to remove!

Good luck with that...

[Fat Audi 80]

If it is one of the solid threaded bushes, I would *carefully* try and drill the centre of the bolt out then clean the threads out with the correct size tap, (they may be fine thread IIRC).

If it is the "floating" bush even harder...

Easier said than done though.

[willg54]

Currently doing this at the moment, unfortunately one of the subframe bolts has snapped and it is completely cold welded itself to the subframe bush. I don't know why with this car it always seems to be the last bolt you undo is an absolute b itch

Has the bolt sheared off in the chassis frame or has the head of the bolt come off and left the bolt in the chassis frame and left the inner metal part of the bush seized on?

When i took mine off, the head came off leaving the bolt in the chassis with the inner bush attached. Lots of WD40 and a stud extractor got mine out fine with no damage to the captive nuts in the chassis.

If the bolt has sheared off at the chassis frame, it'll be a tough job.