Driveshaft binding after subframe/TA bushings.

[lcoleman]

I've spent the last week pulling/reinstalling the rear end in my beater car to swap a diff and put in new subframe and TA bushings. Now, however, the driveshaft is binding on the body/gas tank. As best I can tell, the subframe isn't far down enough on the bushings (or the bushings aren't far enough into the subframe, whatever) and the drive angle is off.

Is there a way to pull the subframe further down with the entire assembly still in the car?I do NOT want to go through all that again.

[jlevie]

Is the upper flange of the subframe bushings seated against the top of the subframe? If it isn't the bushings aren't correctly installed. But that would make the subframe sit lower that normal. But then if you have the bushings in upside down the subframe would be higher than it should be.

[lcoleman]

Uh-oh. Isn't it backwards from that? The bushings go in from the "bottom", the flange rides on the bottom, and the washer goes on top--at least that's how it appears on realOEM. That flange is certainly not flush, making the front of the subframe too high...any quick and/or dirty way to press them further in without disassembling everything?

[jlevie]

You are correct, the flange on the OE bushing goes at the bottom. For some reason I got the idea that you were using poly bushings, which do have a top flange.

If the flange isn't seated against the subframe, you'll have to take it back down and press the bushings all the way home.