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Hi
I purchased some whiteline subframe inserts for my 2008 hatch sti and they won’t fit in the original bushes. The void in the original bush isn’t big enough, they line up ok but just won’t fit. Has anyone got any ideas on how they should fit? I’ve seen videos online and the inserts just slide straight the void of the original bush but on mine there is no chance.
cheers
I think it depends when your Hatch was actually built and when Whiteline developed them.
The UK MY08 had 3 different rear subframe part number upgrades in the 12 months it was in production.(**021/023/030)
The MY09 had 4 (**031/033/034/035)
Not much else on the subframe, apart from the bushes, would change to that degree.
Someone else who experienced the same problem..... but with a specC HATCH (It follows a similar part number upgrade path to the MY09)
I think it depends when your Hatch was actually built and when Whiteline developed them.
The UK MY08 had 3 different rear subframe part number upgrades in the 12 months it was in production.(**021/023/030)
The MY09 had 4 (**031/033/034/035)
Not much else on the subframe, apart from the bushes, would change to that degree.
Someone else who experienced the same problem..... but with a specC HATCH (It follows a similar part number upgrade path to the MY09)
I have taken a photo of the bush to show you my predicament. The holes on the bush line up with the insert but there isn’t room for the insert, I can’t even get a screwdriver in the holes on the bush. Maybe the bush has collapsed in some way meaning the insert won’t fit.
After further investigation it looks like the metal collar (or it maybe the subframe that’s rusting if the bush doesn’t have a metal collar) that the rubber bush fits in has rusted causing the bush to be squashed out making the voids smaller. If I stick a screwdriver between rubber bush and subframe lots of flakes of rust fall out. Is there a way of removing bushes with subframe still attached to car?
Bushes are metal sleeved so would be very difficult to cut out, let alone refit the new actually on the car (they also only fit in one way - from the top)
The metal sleeve has rusted and expanded causing the bush to squash leaving no room for the Insert. I’ve hooked lots of rust out and now I can get a screwdriver right up to top between bush and subframe. Would the kdt907 be easier to fit as they come in 2 halves?
The metal sleeve has rusted and expanded causing the bush to squash leaving no room for the Insert. I’ve hooked lots of rust out and now I can get a screwdriver right up to top between bush and subframe. Would the kdt907 be easier to fit as they come in 2 halves?
Possibly an air hacksaw and a bit of patience and yes the whiteline ones generally just sit in once the others are removed.
I contacted whiteline today and they said it’s a common thing to happen on the hatch. The original bush sleeve collapses and the bush gets compressed. They suggested I purchase the kdt907 bushes.
It still leaves me the problem of getting the old bushes out. May try the air saw, don’t fancy burning them out. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Would like to do it myself rather than take it to a garage.
Most of the outer steel sleeve has collapsed causing the bush to compress. I think if I got the rubber bush out what is left of the steel sleeve would come out easily.
I would have to remove the subframe from the car to push them out with a hydraulic press. Was trying to find ways of removing bushes with subframe still attached to the car.
Most of the outer steel sleeve has collapsed causing the bush to compress. I think if I got the rubber bush out what is left of the steel sleeve would come out easily.
Try a good quality pointed punch and it MIGHT collapse.
ive got some of these fitted to my hatch and they are certainly a tight fit, and on original bushes. my mate managed to do it with a high lift jack and they went in.
So for my 2009 hatch STi would I need the KDT902 and hope my original bushings haven't rusted and pushed the rubber bush in? Looks like a right bitch having to replace the original bushes
As Don mentioned at the beginning, I had issues when I asked a local garage to do the inserts; my car only had 25000 miles, and no rust, but when I picked it up, he said he had had to drill the old ones out to fit the new ones. I was really pissed off.
It only dawned on me, by reading another thread that Don was advising on, that the spec c hatch has Group N subframe bushes, with hardly any void, so all the work was unnecessary.
Bearing in mind where you live I would have thought you would still want the full poly replacement ?
The plan is to drop the subframe out and replace the Grp Ns, and refresh all the other bushing and pillow *****. There's some rust to deal with under there as well, on the fuel filler neck and subframe top and interior. As far as I can see only Whiteline do a complete subframe bush for the hatch, and I'm done with them.
Hope all is good with you up there on the border.
Hatch subframe inserts
with later subframe images they match quite well, even for the extra smaller opening on the underside.
