Removing subframe

[Austrianvespaguy]

In order to drop the rear subframe to change all bushings, can I just pull the muffler and disconnect the driveshaft from the diff, or do I first need to drop the whole exhaust in order to be able to drop the center bearing of the driveshaft also? Thanks!

[kronus]

depends on if your fuel tank has an external crossover hose between the two sides. if it does, your driveshaft won't be able to drop enough to let the subframe out.

[Austrianvespaguy]

Ah ha, thanks, I'll go look! If it does, is it possible to just drain the tank and remove the hose? Seems easier than dropping the whole exhaust, but maybe that's not true for whatever reason.

[Jamie325]

I did this a few months ago without pulling the driveshaft out, but I did pull the exhaust only because it was crap and I knew I was going to replace it. I disconnected the center bearing behind those heat shields to drop it a little. I used a floor jack and wiggled it out the back. It wasn't too bad to get back in, but I put it in without the diff in place and then once I had the subframe back in, i slowly slid the diff back in its place. I had to do it while laying on my garage floor by myself.

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[Austrianvespaguy]

Hmm, ok well I have the muffler off but was hoping to avoid dropping the center section/messing with the shaft bearing, bet even without the external crossover doesn't look like enough room to really get the shaft out of there, unless it can slide back axially pretty far. . .

[jeffnhiscars]

I've done 2 rear subframes and never touched the CSB

[Austrianvespaguy]

Thanks Jeff, that's great news! Were you able to get the driveshaft 'out' of the subframe first, or did it need to be done concurrently with lowering the subframe and sliding it back a little on the way down?

[jeffnhiscars]

There's no way for the drive shaft to clear the subframe prior to dropping the frame. While it's not brutal to remove the sf with the shaft in place it can be to replace it. This requires and up and in which can be a bitch using a floor jack alone so I use a chain to support the frame at an angle to make maneuvering a bit more manageable.

Keep in mind I have a cabrio where the subframe bolts are left in place throughout so I stuff something in the chassis to hold the bolts up til the bushing are more or less underneath them.

Think of as 3D chess :)

[Austrianvespaguy]

Alright, thanks again, I'm going to go ahead and give it a try! Have almost everything ready/disconnected except for the brake lines and diff mount. Thankfully got both bushings free from the frame already without any difficulty! I'll also have a helper when it goes back in, so if I can just get it out here this afternoon I think I'll have it made! Appreciate all the advice!

[jeffnhiscars]

e30 cardinal rule #249...never say "I have it made" until you actually do :-)

If the bushings are already clear of the body then you are well on your way

[Jamie325]

e30 cardinal rule #249...never say "I have it made" until you actually do :-)

If the bushings are already clear of the body then you are well on your way

Isn't that the truth lol. You never have it made until you put it back together and you are done without spending any more money

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[Austrianvespaguy]

Ha, well of course you guys were right! I'm well and truly stuck again. Can't get the bushing mounts on the subframe clear enough to pull things 'back' off the shaft, and can't get the subframe 'down' far enough to back it up because it hangs up on the driveshaft. So I went to try to drop the center exhaust and just can't get one of the damn header/down tube bolts off! 4 came of no problem with a good application of heat, even super hot the 5th one won't budge! Breaking now for lunch, ugh.

[Austrianvespaguy]

5th nut off, now working on the last one, but still fighting me. Another day of penetrating oil and the torch tomorrow will hopefully get it free. Still peeved though because my spacial reasoning keeps telling me the subframe should be able to come out of there without going through all of this, but I just haven't been able to find the trick yet, grrr!

[Jamie325]

I was able to slide mine out and off of the driveshaft. It does require a little fiddling and a little cussing lol. I dropped mine, trialing arms and all without removing the driveshaft at all. That seemed like a pain to me.

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[Austrianvespaguy]

Aight, finally got it! Everything was easy once the exhaust was out of the way; hope that's not horrible to get it back one! On to stripping everything down! Any good way to get the diff bushing out, or pull the cover and take it to a shop with a press?