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REPLACING X-MEMBER BUSHES IN LH WITH ENGINE IN PLACE

Started by _LH SLR 3300_ , Sep 28 2012 09:26 PM

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25 replies to this topic

#1 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:26 PM

I've found myself in the position of having to replace the front x-member mounting bushes in my V8 LH Torana. I wish to avoid removing the engine to do this so i'm seeking opinions/advice from anyone who has replaced these bushes whilst leaving the engine in place. I'm not certain whether i should support the engine on stand placed under the sump or if i should try & rig up a cradle to support it from above. I have an engine crane but it's design will make it very difficult to work under the car & lower the x-member etc. The current bushes have failed so badly the only thing preventing the x-member from dropping off the body completely are the four nuts & large washers. Any advice, opinions, help is greatly appreciated.
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#2 _likatiger_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:32 PM

I may be wrong but what about putting axle stands under gear box for support, disonnecting gear stick and gearbox mount bolts, steering, then undo the 6 bolts connecting K frame to body and jacking body up at the front just enough to change them to RUBBER bushes...

Edited by likatiger, 28 September 2012 - 09:33 PM.

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#3 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:34 PM

I forgot to add that this car also has a CRS 3/4 bolt in chassis fitted which makes things a little harder too.

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#4 orangeLJ

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:35 PM

You shouldnt need to drop the crossmember that much would you. Id think with both sides undone, the rear k frame arms loosened and the front jacked up, you should be able to just drop the kframe on a jack enough to get in there and swap em?

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#5 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:40 PM

It has to lower around three to four inches for the studs to clear the chassis rail & leave enough room to remove/refit bushes, not looking forward to this job one bit.

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#6 _green taxi_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 09:55 PM

you can disloge the bolt downwards and they will pull back into place

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#7 Stinga

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 10:01 PM

i have used one of these before, borrowed from a mate. you may be able to hire them or borrow from a workshop?

http://www.brettstru...11/15055889.jpg

http://www.myturbodi...ginesupport.jpg

http://image.musclem...pport_brace.jpg

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#8 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 10:09 PM

^^^^This is the most appealing option to me, we had one at my previous work. I don't know of anyone with one i could borrow, i don't think it would be the sort of thing Kennards would hire out though, would it?

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#9 _robslxhatch_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 10:34 PM

The best way IMO is to drop the xmember while leaving the engine on the 'engine support bar', (1000 times easier on a hoist aswell). I could have one for you to borrow but youd have to pick it up and drop it back to the Central coast, also only fit rubber or Super pro and if anyone else reading this has blue bushes like the ones pictured then its only a matter of time before you will need to do this yourself.

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#10 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 28 September 2012 - 10:55 PM

Thanks for the replies, looks like the cradle support for the engine is the best method, i was very close to lowering the engine onto a chassis stand under the sump but i didn't feel very confident do this, hence my first post. The scary thing about all this was discovering these bushes had started to fail straight after an 11 sec pass down WSID. Even more scary is the fact that most of the bushes in the car are the same brand including the steering coupler, i count myself very lucky that didn't let go.

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#11 _SableMet7/73_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 01:12 AM

also only fit rubber or Super pro and if anyone else reading this has blue bushes like the ones pictured then its only a matter of time before you will need to do this yourself.

i agree with you rodslx, blue is crap

100_1843.jpg 388.14K 0 downloads

100_1844.jpg 385.96K 0 downloads
this was a mates tc corty, ended up flogging
the top arms coz he kept driving it while cluncking
around.
tho the supapro blue seems ok
i fitted rubber to my lj that i got from rares but
the outrigger bushes have already got small cracks
and my car hasnt got the driveline in or the bolts
torqued yet plus hasnt seen the light of day for some
years since installed

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#12 _robslxhatch_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 07:16 AM

Superpro are more of a purple color than these old (not made any more) NOLTEC ones which are a lightish blue. Probably should make that fairly clear before people start replacing thier bushes thinking they may crumble.

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#13 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 07:44 AM

Yes all the blue bushes in my car are Noltec. Noltec were located in Hornsby i believe but closed down awhile ago. I have new "Nolathane" red bushes i purchased not so long ago, i haven't seen these fail on any car to date, has anyone else? I used the Rare Spares rubber bush kit in another LH & like SableMet's LJ ones, they have developed small cracks through them in less than 12 months. I don't think they'll fail like the Noltec bushes though, well i hope not anyhow.

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#14 hanra

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 07:52 AM

have new "Nolathane" red bushes i purchased not so long ago, i haven't seen these fail on any car to date, has anyone else?

Nolafail?

http://www.gmh-torana.com.au/forums/topic/59207-what-are-some-causes-of-suspension-bush-failure/page__fromsearch__1

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#15 EunUCh

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 08:19 AM

This subject has been covered before,the simple way to replace those insulators is to
lift the front of car up with a couple of jacks under each front rail to get just enough
clearnce to fit new rubbers making sure nothing will bind or bend while doing so,it dose
not have to go very high once bolts are popped out.

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#16 Statler

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 10:21 AM

You may have to put a jack between the bumper mount bracket > xmember to get it back far enough so the x-member mount bolts can go back up.

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#17 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 11:23 AM

I think the lifting the body off the x-member would be the way to go. Especially considering you want to replace the steering rag coupler.

http://ls2lxhatch.co...gineinstall.htm

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#18 rexy

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 01:39 PM

Jack up the car and insert stands under the front floor each side.
Place jack gently under front crossmember, pref with wide wooden block to avoid denting it.
Undo crossmember nuts and drive bolts through with socket and extension.
Wheels off front for access of course.
Gently lower xmember on jack - you will get plenty of space to change the items without undoing anything else.
Reinsert bolts and pull through with nut - I find a very long screwdriver is helpful to lever the bolts back up part way.
Wheels back on etc.
Done!

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#19 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 01:56 PM

Thanks again for all the replies & advice. It is greatly appreciated. I managed to remove/replace the four main x-member bushes by knocking out the studs & lowering the x-member enough to slide the old out & new ones in. A PITA, but i got it done. I also replaced the steering rack mounts as they were stuffed too.
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Here's what's left of the Noltec bushes, i can't believe i drove the car to WSID & ran two passes at nearly 190kph, then drove it home with the suspension like this.
Posted Image

Just as disturbing is this.
Posted Image

A hard lesson to learn but i count myself very lucky the car didn't end up causing an accident & possibly injuring or killing someone. Another item to be getting attention are the balljoints. Eight years ago when i first rebuilt the suspension i fitted lower balljoints & tierod ends with nylon thread locknuts, all have come loose & will be replaced with castleated nut/splitpin joints. Mind you this car wouldn't have clocked up more than 500kms since the front end was built.

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#20 _sshatch355_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 02:00 PM

i have found that sitting around doing nothing is far more destructive than people think

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#21 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 02:08 PM

I guess that could be partly to blame, i'm trying to get the car back on the road but this was something that needed urgent attention before i could move onto the next step.

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#22 hanra

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 02:53 PM

But you replaced the failed bushes with nolafail?

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#23 _LH SLR 3300_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 03:25 PM

Yes i did, for several reasons. I already had the Nloathane bushes, i'm considering getting rid of the car anyhow because in my current posistion i am unable to complete the project, so therefore if & when it sells, the new owner can fit rubber bushes if they so desire.

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#24 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 04:05 PM

These days I only use plastic for sway bar bushes. Everything else is either rubber or fabricated in a lathe.

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#25 _BCR42Y_

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Posted 29 September 2012 - 04:48 PM

Sorry to hear that you have also had problems with this brand, you may recall earlier this year my rear trailing arms let go in a similar fashion.

I may have previously mentioned, but this is the way I was thinking the upper control arms could be removed to renew the bushes without removing the crossmember all together. Do you think there would be enough room to remove them with the bolts going into the chassis rails removed?