Rear Beam Mount Installation Trick

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:20 pm

Neat job on the tool Pete. As I'm sure you realize, we've been talking about the main beam bushings, but certainly these are related. The thing I'm wondering though is how difficult are the STA bushings to install withOUT that sort of tool? I realize it probably varies significantly depending on the bushing type. I believe that the plastic ones from MC2 (that I've yet to install) just pop into place without too much effort at all.

BeefFajitas · Post by **BeefFajitas** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:37 pm

Yup, the STA bushings were easy. I pounded out the old one's (it actually helps to put the bolt back in and wack the head of the bolt), and used a vice to squeeze the nylon one's in.

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:15 pm

i used a 2 jaw puller for almost all the bushings on the car.

pyropete125 · Post by **pyropete125** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:49 pm

i made another tool for the main bushings no pics though. just a big "U" with a threaded rod in the middle to pull from. popped it out in about 2 seconds flat.

pete

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:57 pm

did you use the same tool to press the poly bushes in?

pyropete125 · Post by **pyropete125** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:03 pm

yes from the other side and pulled it through.

pete

cooperl · Post by **cooperl** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:02 pm

Just did this the other day. I lubed the bushings, put a 2" PVC spacer between the beam and the body (used wood to cushion) and jacked them up in. They popped in no problem. To get the old ones out I used the same trick but with a tall & wide socket instead of the PVC spacer.

Chuck W · Post by **Chuck W** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:00 am

I had no glaring NVH issues with the solid mount in my Scorpio. That may be due to the fact that the Scorpio is alot more "plush" on the interior than the XR. If the radio was off, you could just barely make out the noise. I also lowered and up the spring rates to almost 3X stock.

I haven't gotten it swapped to the new car yet, and going from stock to solid, and back to stock the amount the rear beam wiggles around even under normal driving is very apparent.

One thing I noticed on mine was a little twitchiness as well, but I was attributing that to the change in the rear suspension geometry when the car was lowered. The rear toe changes a bit.

All that aside, the ride harshness was not really increased (at least for me) to an unacceptable level for street use. Couple that with the fact that the harder you pushed it the harder it dug in. Carrousel on-ramps are nothing....I just wish the car had more engine to take advantage of it.

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:15 am

heh, my car makes all sorts of fun noises.

clunk, vrrrrr, bzzzz, etc. i dont mind. it adds to the experience.

Post by **hEaT** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:01 pm

demonfire wrote:heh, my car makes all sorts of fun noises.

clunk, vrrrrr, bzzzz, etc. i dont mind. it adds to the experience.

It helps drown out those annoying passengers. Oh wait, passenger. There are no back seats.