Alright guys, tapping the collective knowledge of the group.

I am in the process of installing Energy Suspension's rear subframe bushing to fix the slop that is in the stock rubber ones. Got out my three-jaw puller and popped out the first stock bushing without incident. I start torquing down on the second to pop it out and... BANG!

My puller, pusher plate, wrench, and subframe all go flying in different directions... no bushing, though... I meander over to the subframe and...



OH *@#&, I bent my subframe! Not only did the puller collapse the rectangular tube of the subframe, but the seam weld holding the bushing cup to the tube started to fail as well. So I figure my options are thus:

1. Take the whole assembly to a blacksmith / metalworker / welding shop to have the tube reformed, the cup welded back on, and some type of fabricated brace welded around the whole connection, or...

2. Search around for a salvaged crossmember and start from step 0,

Thoughts???

 

can you get some pics of it so we can see how bad it is?

 

Sorry about that man. That really sucks.. Hope you can get some pics up so we can take a gander..

 

TTT, now with pics... anyone with suggestions?

 

I would get a used one from the salvage yard. Burn the rubber out with a torch and then cut the sleeves with an air hammer and a cutting bit.

-Jeremy
sstracing.com

 

I vote for solution #1. Why? If you get a used one, who's to say it won't break too? Really makes me wonder if this is a weak area on all tCs...since you already have it off it shouldn't cost much or take long for a machine shop to make it stronger than stock, so just do it.