installing energy suspension subframe bushing on s14 - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

SR2oD3T · 03-25-2013, 08:40 PM

i have done a day worth of research on this installation and getting so confuse. i already ordered the energy suspension poly bushing for my s14 subframe. some people say u just need to take/burn the rubber out and clean it. some people say u have to also cut out the metal sleeve that goes between the subframe seat and the actual rubber bushing.
some people claim that after they cut out the metal sleeve, the new ES bushing doesn't hold in place and will slide out.
can someone verify that?
bushings are arriving soon. don't wanna mess up anything and have to get a new subframe.

thanks.

KELvin

jamg · 03-25-2013, 08:57 PM

i didn't cut the metal sleeve in my S13 subframe when i installed it.

word of advice, cut out the metal insert itself. use a sawzaw

codyace · 03-25-2013, 09:31 PM

This thread sums it up best. There used to be a guide I'd send people on youtube but I can't find the link.

Pics and Thread: Trying not to beat a dead horse (subframe bushing install questions) - Page 5 - Nissan Road Racing Forums

I will say this though, I hate using fire as it makes a big ass mess. I've had best luck just sawing them out and then using a wire wheel to clean it up. A sawzall makes the job 800x easier, but a hand powered hacksaw works too

SR2oD3T · 03-28-2013, 12:22 AM

thanks for the reply and thanks for the link. it kinda helped.

the ES bushing is arriving tmr so i spent today to drop the subframe and removed all the arms and diff. sure enough, the front 2 bushings were totally separated. i just pulled them out with pliers. the rear 2 bushings still look fine, so i cut out the 2 good ones with a saw.
i ending up burnt out all of the leave over plastic rubber and cleaner them with wire brush. since i don't wanna mess anything up, i decided to take some detail pictures so u guys know what i m talking about. also bushing is arriving tmr so i can measure the actual diameter needed.

here's some pictures of me taking off the subframe bushing:

the front bushings are totally separated and i took them out with pliers.

close up of how it looks like on the front bushing.

rear bushings look ok. but i'll still replace it of course.

this is how it looks like after i burnt all the rubber and cleaned it with wire brush.

this is the hard plastic ring i hammered it out on both of the front bushings.

it looks like it has an inner cage that is still surrounding by some rubber. then a lip, then the sleeve, then the subframe body itself.

bottom view of the front one.

the rear looks simple. doesn't have the hard plastic ring like the front. doesn't have the cage.

top down view of the rear. its all cleaned as well, however i accidentally cut the lip on the bottom two times. hopefully its not a big deal.

this is the bottom view of the rear. u can see the two cut damaged lip i mentions. it looks like its part of the sleeve.

question is. which sleeve/cage i have to cut/remove for the front and the rear to install the ES bushing?

thanks again guys.

KELivn

om3ga · 03-28-2013, 01:31 AM

IMO it is really worth doing the solid bushings in this area. We have always done them on our builds and the noise is not really that bad. It improves the rear response drastically. They are straight forward to install as well, you remove all sleeves for those.

I believe it is the same for the ES bushings. I don't think you leave any cups or sleeves in there but i might be mistaken. They do come with install instructions stating which piece to leave in there.

Good luck!

03-25-2013, 08:40 PM	#1
SR2oD3T Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: fremont Posts: 181 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	installing energy suspension subframe bushing on s14 i have done a day worth of research on this installation and getting so confuse. i already ordered the energy suspension poly bushing for my s14 subframe. some people say u just need to take/burn the rubber out and clean it. some people say u have to also cut out the metal sleeve that goes between the subframe seat and the actual rubber bushing. some people claim that after they cut out the metal sleeve, the new ES bushing doesn't hold in place and will slide out. can someone verify that? bushings are arriving soon. don't wanna mess up anything and have to get a new subframe. thanks. KELvin

03-25-2013, 09:31 PM	#3
codyace Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poconos, PA Age: 40 Posts: 8,030 Trader Rating: (58) Feedback Score: 58 reviews	This thread sums it up best. There used to be a guide I'd send people on youtube but I can't find the link. Pics and Thread: Trying not to beat a dead horse (subframe bushing install questions) - Page 5 - Nissan Road Racing Forums I will say this though, I hate using fire as it makes a big ass mess. I've had best luck just sawing them out and then using a wire wheel to clean it up. A sawzall makes the job 800x easier, but a hand powered hacksaw works too __________________ *Want Air Conditioning in your SR20 Swapped car? Check out www.sr20acbrackets.com for more information! Quest Alternator Conversions for SR20!* Check my Group Buy! Tired of lousy internal gates? Go external wastegate with one of my manifolds, Check out my group buy

03-25-2013, 08:57 PM	#2
jamg Nissanaholic! Join Date: May 2009 Location: GA Posts: 2,106 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	i didn't cut the metal sleeve in my S13 subframe when i installed it. word of advice, cut out the metal insert itself. use a sawzaw

03-28-2013, 12:22 AM	#4
SR2oD3T Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: fremont Posts: 181 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	thanks for the reply and thanks for the link. it kinda helped. the ES bushing is arriving tmr so i spent today to drop the subframe and removed all the arms and diff. sure enough, the front 2 bushings were totally separated. i just pulled them out with pliers. the rear 2 bushings still look fine, so i cut out the 2 good ones with a saw. i ending up burnt out all of the leave over plastic rubber and cleaner them with wire brush. since i don't wanna mess anything up, i decided to take some detail pictures so u guys know what i m talking about. also bushing is arriving tmr so i can measure the actual diameter needed. here's some pictures of me taking off the subframe bushing: the front bushings are totally separated and i took them out with pliers. close up of how it looks like on the front bushing. rear bushings look ok. but i'll still replace it of course. this is how it looks like after i burnt all the rubber and cleaned it with wire brush. this is the hard plastic ring i hammered it out on both of the front bushings. it looks like it has an inner cage that is still surrounding by some rubber. then a lip, then the sleeve, then the subframe body itself. bottom view of the front one. the rear looks simple. doesn't have the hard plastic ring like the front. doesn't have the cage. top down view of the rear. its all cleaned as well, however i accidentally cut the lip on the bottom two times. hopefully its not a big deal. this is the bottom view of the rear. u can see the two cut damaged lip i mentions. it looks like its part of the sleeve. question is. which sleeve/cage i have to cut/remove for the front and the rear to install the ES bushing? thanks again guys. KELivn

03-28-2013, 01:31 AM	#5
om3ga Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Up and Down! California Posts: 878 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	IMO it is really worth doing the solid bushings in this area. We have always done them on our builds and the noise is not really that bad. It improves the rear response drastically. They are straight forward to install as well, you remove all sleeves for those. I believe it is the same for the ES bushings. I don't think you leave any cups or sleeves in there but i might be mistaken. They do come with install instructions stating which piece to leave in there. Good luck!