WGB
New Member
With a spare couple of hours tonight I hoisted the 6.9 and decided to install the front bushings in the rear subframe.
I am also going to do the semi-trailing arm bushes but not tonight.
Here are the "before" pictures showing the right front rear-subframe bush in tension and compression and showing near enough to 1 cm of movement in the joint.
Here is the mounting with the rear end hanging under it's own weight.
Here is the same mounting with a jack under the subframe lifting it.
The Meyle joint kit cost US$46.70 from AutohausAZ and includes upper and lower mountings both sides, new 17 mm headed replacement bolts and spring washers for the 17mm bolts and the 24 mm main bolts.
The diff has to be supported and the joints undone.
The old mounting has to be prised out - stiff but a pry bar will do the job, not necessary to use the puller described in the manual.
The diff is lowered on the jack and with a hammer handle as leverage the upper rubber "Doughnut" is removed and replaced on each side.
The new lower bushing is coated with rubber lubricant and I used a broom on a trolley jack to press each one home.
The large mounting bolts were very hard to start on their threads and I used a length of iron rod, the trolley jack and a 24 mm open ended spanner to get the bolt to start on it's thread.
The new joint resembles the appearance of the second photo and has no perceptible movement whatsoever.
When the rain stops I will take it for a drive and see what difference it has made before I do the semi-trailing arm bushes as I think this will make an enormous difference to the stability of the car in corners.
Bill
I am also going to do the semi-trailing arm bushes but not tonight.
Here are the "before" pictures showing the right front rear-subframe bush in tension and compression and showing near enough to 1 cm of movement in the joint.
Here is the mounting with the rear end hanging under it's own weight.
Here is the same mounting with a jack under the subframe lifting it.
The Meyle joint kit cost US$46.70 from AutohausAZ and includes upper and lower mountings both sides, new 17 mm headed replacement bolts and spring washers for the 17mm bolts and the 24 mm main bolts.
The diff has to be supported and the joints undone.
The old mounting has to be prised out - stiff but a pry bar will do the job, not necessary to use the puller described in the manual.
The diff is lowered on the jack and with a hammer handle as leverage the upper rubber "Doughnut" is removed and replaced on each side.
The new lower bushing is coated with rubber lubricant and I used a broom on a trolley jack to press each one home.
The large mounting bolts were very hard to start on their threads and I used a length of iron rod, the trolley jack and a 24 mm open ended spanner to get the bolt to start on it's thread.
The new joint resembles the appearance of the second photo and has no perceptible movement whatsoever.
When the rain stops I will take it for a drive and see what difference it has made before I do the semi-trailing arm bushes as I think this will make an enormous difference to the stability of the car in corners.
Bill
Bareley visible is my new petrol tank on the lower right - handcrafted by a sheet metal worker and enamelled. 
