Subframe bushes

[Deleted]

I have a 1964 P5 Mk II Saloon and I just noticed that a couple of my subframe mounting bushes are shot. Has anyone replaced these? Is there a way to replace the rubber and reuse the bushing?

Thanks,

Tony

[Phil Nottingham]

I have replaced several with good secondhand ones with much difficulty - the inner section which is a threaded steel insert into which the big mounting bolt is bonded into the rubber donut fashion - I suppose flexane good be used to remake these but have never heard of anyone trying

[Deleted]

Phil,

Can you tell me whether the bolt is screwed into the base or is there an insert in the rubber that is threaded?

Is it possible to change the rubber and reuse the rest of the bushing?

Thanks

[Phil Nottingham]

The insert in bonded into the rubber

[Deleted]

Is the rubber bonded onto the base?

On another note, what is the best procedure to change these bushings?

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes - I may have one I can photgraph but cannot look till the weekend.

Just undo the big centre bolt and 3 setscrews. You may need to lever the body/subframe apart with a pry-bar but hopefully the setscrews will not shear due to corrosion or the rubber bush strt to turn otherwise more brutal treatment may be called for.

Do one at a time

[Deleted]

Phil,

I am confused. I have two '64 P5. One is a donor car and the other will be a daily driver. The subframe bushes on the cars look different. On the donor car, there is a band of rubber below the metal cap. On the other car, the rubber seems to be entirely inside the cap.

The rubber on the donor car is cracked. I cannot tell the condition of the rubber on the other car because I cannot really see the rubber. Should the rubber be visible? The donor car has not been worked on so I think that these may be original and the other car has been heavely worked on so I think it may have replacements but I do not know for sure. Do you have any ideas. I'd like to determine whether the daily driver has good bushes and am concerned about the differences.

Thanks

[Deleted]

Is it really wise to replace a worn out 42 years old rubber item with another 42 years old rubber item?
Are new ones not available from JRW, £36 each for subframe bushes on his web site.

[Deleted]

I'm not advocating replacing old with old. I am trying to determine the condition of the daily driver bushes by comparing to the donor car. I'll certainly buy new if they need replacing. My problem is that I have not driven the car yet because of a transmission problem. It is likely that I will need to pull the engine and that would be the perfect time to replace subframe bushes if they are bad.

At first, I thought that the bushes were bad because I could not see any rubber. Upon closer examination, I found rubber and now I am wondering why the two cars have different looking bushes. I am certain the the donor car is original and wonder if the appearance of the other car's bushes are consistent with the club's experience for replaced bushes.

[Phil Nottingham]

If you can see rubber then they have failed

[Deleted]

Phil,

Thank you for the clarification. It is good news for me.