My car goes into the shop this weekend. While the subframe is dropped, any suggestions as to trouble areas? I know some people check some other bushings for wear at this time. What did you do/find?

 

Some mention the sway bar bushings, check the CV's, power steering hoses, oil pan gasket, crank sensor gasket, check tie-rod ends and ball joints.

 

+1

 

Also the radiator hoses, check the cooling fan speeds, replace the belt (if old) check the steering rack boots...

 

Also check the top strut mounts. Forgot to do that and had to change it at the next annual inspection.

 

Everything that was mentioned above are definitely good things to check. I will say this, after having to replace the power steering hoses without dropping the subframe, if yours have not been replaced before, I would HIGHLY recommend doing them while the subframe is out as a preventative task. Then obviously sway bar bushings are right there as well as the steering rack bushings. I would change all of these for sure as well.

Then as mentioned above, check everything for signs of wear or failure. If ANY of the boots have holes in them (CV boots, steering rack boots, ball joint boots) then they need to be replaced as well.

Good luck!

 

Thanks, all. I know I have a slight PS hose leak at the fill tank (rubber hose end), going to see what the mechanic says about that. I feel like I'm always keeping one eye on the PS pump and one on the Midlands!
I'm also having one CV axle replaced at the same time. I just changed the belt and tensioner and the radiator fluid myself recently(hoses were fine). I hope the ball joints are still good. I'm hoping only to have to replace a few bushings while he's at it, but come what will I'd rather fix it all together than pay for labor to drop the frame again soon.

 

Yeah crank sensor problem and probably thermostat gasket leak is going on, but there's only so much I can do at once. Sticking to what's easily accessible with the subframe dropped. Thanks again!