Rear Subframe removal

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verde
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Sun May 28, 2017 11:59 am

How do folks. Restoring my rear end and I have come across a stumbling block whereby the rear subframe is being held in place only by the metal recessed part of the bush.

I have seen online that you can thread in a 5/8 bolt and smack it down from inside but I cant get hold of one easily for obvious reasons. Also would need to order an M16 tap online and wait a few days for it to arrive as an M16 is slightly too big to go in.

Does anybody have any other quick solutions for removal?
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Sun May 28, 2017 1:59 pm

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ame_Bushes

Have you managed to remove the subframe mounting bolts? I would guess if you have, then levering it with a crowbar/length of scaffold pole or even pulling it with a suitably placed rope/winch might get it off, perhaps with some liberal application of PlusGas, WD40, etc.
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DanThe
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Sun May 28, 2017 2:28 pm

Remove the stud then use an extension bar up the middle of the bush sleeve to wiggle it free
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verde
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Sun May 28, 2017 7:37 pm

I just ended up using spray grease as a cutting paste and force threaded an M16 up into it and battered it downwards. all is well! I did try an extension up it originally to no avail
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Jookeone
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Sun May 28, 2017 7:55 pm

I've ended up doing this job twice - and not straight forward either times...

The first time I used a tap and graunched a bolt up the hole as you have done.

The second time without the tap/bolt available I supported the whole assembly under the diff with a jack to stop all the weight hanging aft of the mounts. This worked well for me and with a little levering it came out easily.

I'm glad you got there in the end!
Tedswagon
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Sun May 28, 2017 8:02 pm

This is exactly what I was doing this morning. I got everything unbolted and the beam bush is totally welded to the car!!!! Jumping on the trailing arms wouldn't budge it. Just soaked it in penetrating fluid. See what happens, beer o clock now so it's staying as it is . . . . for now
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Sun May 28, 2017 8:16 pm

have you got all the weight hanging at the back?

I'm sure jacking up under the diff will help... and then if you have a big bolt to bodge up into the bush that'll help too
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Sun May 28, 2017 9:08 pm

Jumping on the arms or using them as a lever will break the aluminium sleeve off in the body
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Sun May 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Jookeone wrote:have you got all the weight hanging at the back?

I'm sure jacking up under the diff will help... and then if you have a big bolt to bodge up into the bush that'll help too
I'll see what I have lying about. Ta. I tried it with the difference supported and not supported.
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Tedswagon
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Sun May 28, 2017 9:31 pm

DanThe wrote:Jumping on the arms or using them as a lever will break the aluminium sleeve off in the body
I was just trying to get some movement into the bugger as leverage straight down hadn't worked before that (last resort).
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Sun May 28, 2017 10:01 pm

i drilled the alloy with my new drill .... when it was new :D


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Tedswagon
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Sun May 28, 2017 10:21 pm

Nice confetti Mick :P
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Mon May 29, 2017 1:03 am

ney f00kin about here :D
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verde
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Tue May 30, 2017 10:40 am

Ted get yourself an M16 and lube up the sleeve and thread that fucker up there. I also did support the diff to make it sit straight and come out easier. The compact was much simpler due to its threaded in bolts.

One of my sleeves has snapped in the body also, did it overnight when I was away but I don't care for now as I can get the bits off to the sandblaster and deal with the sleevelater.

Il need to get some progress photos up as unless you follow my Instagram you shall not have seen. It is finally brown now, full kit, heckblende etc. This is the second last job before MOT. I also have to swap the gas tank :o
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Tedswagon
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Thu Jun 01, 2017 1:22 pm

verde wrote:Ted get yourself an M16 and lube up the sleeve and thread that fucker up there. I also did support the diff to make it sit straight and come out easier. The compact was much simpler due to its threaded in bolts.

One of my sleeves has snapped in the body also, did it overnight when I was away but I don't care for now as I can get the bits off to the sandblaster and deal with the sleevelater.

Il need to get some progress photos up as unless you follow my Instagram you shall not have seen. It is finally brown now, full kit, heckblende etc. This is the second last job before MOT. I also have to swap the gas tank :o
Cheers, thats what I'll do. - get an M16 and get it in. I have a trolly jack under the diff at the moment - I'll go and check it out this evening when i get home.

I'm not on instagram unfortunately
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verde
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Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:03 pm

How did you get on Ted?
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Tedswagon
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Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:42 pm

Went out today, could I find an M16 bolt? In my garage?? Nope! It was late afternoon - B&Q packed, no M16's went to screwfix, no M16 bolts of any length unless I wanted to buy a bag of 50 for £24, ordered some, should be in tomorrow. Will try again then.

Felt like all was against me today.
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verde
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Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:45 pm

Tedswagon wrote:Went out today, could I find an M16 bolt? In my garage?? Nope! It was late afternoon - B&Q packed, no M16's went to screwfix, no M16 bolts of any length unless I wanted to buy a bag of 50 for £24, ordered some, should be in tomorrow. Will try again then.

Felt like all was against me today.
One of those days eh, the joys!

Its quite hard to get it to thread but if you make sure to lube/grease it to help it cut you should manage enough.

Im now having a headache finding a rear hub. Getting a hub nut off has cost a shaft and a hub and the hub sizes online all appear to be 39mm, from what i see i need 42. E30s are hell.
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Tedswagon
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Sun Jun 04, 2017 7:39 am

For the hub nut removal I wedged a crowbar between the wheel nuts. (Make sure you thread them in as much as you can) the bar lay down to the garage floor, then a long extension bar on the socket. That worked.

Before that I tried heat and drilling the nut sides. Wasn't sure how deep I could drill without damaging the threads or the hub.

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verde
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Sun Jun 04, 2017 10:09 am

I tried the crowbar as well and almost snapped it.

Took it to my friends garage and he spent an hour with oxy accetaline and an air hammer trying to get it off, it was the worst he had ever seen lol.
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