Suspension :: Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Insert Install
 

So I ordered these a couple weeks ago and when they showed up today I braved the 95* weather to install them. I originally got them to try a cure a tire rubbing I am only getting on the passenger side when I get a sharp impact. The other issue I was having was the back end becoming very vague and 'floaty' on off camber turns. I read through the installs that people have done before and honestly it is much easier than any of them sounded. It took me 55mins from the time I put the jack under the car till I put away my torque wrench after doing the lug nuts. Here is brief write up. It is very straight forward.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._3884267_n.jpg
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._1639011_n.jpg

Here is the front of the rear wheel liner you need to pull back. There is a phillips head screw on the sideskirt that holds the bottom.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._1806755_n.jpg
Remove this 10mm plastic nut to get more clearance
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._3600629_n.jpg
Here is the bolt that holds the trailing arm to the alignment/unibody connection. Its 18mm, I used a 3/8-1/2 conversion so I could use my bigger breaker bar. With just a 18mm socket the angle would be even better.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._5084875_n.jpg
After removing the bolt the trailing arm will sag slightly giving more than enough room to get the bushing into place. I used a detailing brush to clean out the voids in the stock bushing but even with 86k miles it was just some dust.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._7661789_n.jpg
Getting the powerflex inserts into place is the only thing that is a little fiddly. They fit in to the voids but like some of the motor mount inserts they are slightly oversized. What I did was get the entire lip of the insert seated in the void then as I tightened the bolt back down it fully seated into the OEM bushing.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._6519400_n.jpg

Overall very easy install. For the price and ease of install I don't really see a down side. Installing the poly upper shock bushings would probably complement this. I am looking forward to doing the front LCA bushings now. :thumbsup:

Good job. I will be doing this soon as well. How do you like the feel of them?

I like it. It makes the rear end feel like I upped the dampening on the shocks. Also the tail-end feels more accurate when going around sweepers. So basically more connected, which is good haha

Good write up, these rear trailing arm bushings are an easy install, with good gain.

Thanks for the write-up :thumbsup:

Thanks for this. I know what I'm doing next weekend!

Jim

Cool. Now do a write up with the pre 5/2003 build date trailing arm design.

Pre-5/03

Rear Trailing Arm Front Support Insert PFR5-110

http://motorsportshop.dk/SL/PI/6/28/...6197092499.jpg

------------
5/03+
Rear Trailing Arm Front Support Insert PFR5-1102

http://motorsportshop.dk/SL/PI/6/28/...854c383c1d.jpg


It's ok though. I might just save this one for when I replace the whole bushing carrier, or if someone releases solid bushings, and not just a void insert.

Looking at it idk if it would really be any different. Looks like it would have the same placement but just a different sized bushing insert. I could be wrong.

Installed mine today.
I like 'em! There's a nice fast sweeper on my local twisty road that has a bump right in the middle of the corner. Before, the back end would get a bit un-settled over that bump, but with the new bushings it stayed stuck. Nice!
I used a piece of coat hanger to make a hook to keep the inner liner bent out of the way.

Thanks Again!!
Jim

Awesome! Pretty much the same results I had.

I'm just over 60k miles and have been considering doing a bushing refresh, would I be best off replacing the whole bushing with a new one or will just doing the insert suffice?

I have over 204,000 miles on my car, and the bushings looked fine. You should be good to go with just the inserts.:thumbsup:


Jim

I just got in from doing the rear bushing install on my '06 MCS. One side it was really hard to realign the 18mm headed bolt... I probably spent half od my time getting that one bolt in. I finally hooked up my air ratchet so I could easily turn the bolt while fiddling the trailing arm about and it popped right in.

http://www.focusoa.com/MINI/rearbush1.JPG


http://www.focusoa.com/MINI/rearbush2.JPG

When I installed my bushings on 7/17, I used the lube supplied by Powerflex. Well, now they are a squeakin'.
Anyone else? We have a few different types of lubes/grease in our shop, just trying to figure out which one to try next.

Jim

Looks like my rear bushing are shot and one of them is making a knocking noise. Is it ok to just install these inserts along into the worn bushings?

Or should I purchase new OEM bushing and then install these ?

well, check how damaged they are. If they are starting to crack I would replace them. The inserts supplement the bushings they dont replace them. Also check to make sure its that bushing and not blown endlinks or lower or upper control arm bushings.

Great! I guess I'll replace the training arm bushings then. I have almost 174000 miles on my car. And reading through the forums it seems they need to be replaced at around every 100000 miles. I'll check on the upper and lower control arm bushings as well. I replaced them then end-links when I installed my coil-overs.

Is it easy to take the old bushings out? Pelican parts have 2 options for me. One with just the bushing, and one with bushings already pressed...

Thanks

Do you need to get an alignment after putting these in?

I don't see why you would need an alignment

Its best to get an alignment after taking any suspension apart.