Inspect subrame bushings?

[photonn]

Can you inspect and/or test the subframe bushings?

I am doing a brake job and want to replace bushings along the way. But, I don't want to pull the differential unless I need to. So, how do you tell if the sibrame bushings are bad?

Also, if you choose eccentric trailing arm bushings, how do you align/adjust them? Does the guy that does your alignment do it?

[gearheadE30]

How many miles are on your car and what kind of use does it go through? My subframe bushings were shot by 200000 miles of highway driving. This is with very little city use and no track time. As soon as I took it to an autocross, all of the resistance just dissapeared. Also, if your car is a handful in crosswinds or feels like it has rear steering on the highway, it is the subframe bushings.

[photonn]

I have had the car for two weeks. It has 164,000 miles on the clock. I have not really driven it for a couple of reasons. First, the condition of the timing belt is unknown. Second, it had the catalytic converter stolen while the car sat for the last two years in a parking garage. The car was a daily driver in Texas its whole life. But one really never knows....

So, I drove it home and put it on jackstands. I am in the middle of getting it road-worthy. I can't just take it for a spin right now. That is why I am wondering if I can inspect/test those bushings while on jackstands.

[jlevie]

You can't much (if anything) about the condition of the subframe bushings until you have them out. I just replaced the subframe bushings on on Spec E30 and one fell apart after it was out. There were no symptoms or signs of failure until the bushings were out of the car.