KDT953 Subframe bushings broke

[Benjamin Hundred]

Hey y’all, not necessarily looking for any specific advice at this exact moment, just throwing my situation out there and updating as things go along. If anyone has any advice or insight though I’m very much so grateful.

I was driving my car the other day (windows down, no music) and heard a metal sound like a large bolt hitting the road, followed by exhaust rumble and creaking that kept getting worse.

It was Sunday so I took my car to a shop the next day and they discovered the subframe bushings, not stock, Whiteline KDT953 full bushings replacements, had snapped.
My car is also sitting about an inch lower in the rear since they snapped.

I’m going through a tough time finically right now after a bad business partner (and friend of 7 years) caused me to lose everything. So I’ve had to start using the car for delivery jobs to make enough money to survive. So having my car down puts me in an extremely difficult position.

So since my quotes for dropping the rear subframe are $1.5-$2K+, I’m looking at driving it from SoCal to NorCal where my family have a lot of auto tools and trying to undergo dropping the rear subframe myself.

I’m looking to fix the subframe bushings, keeping NVH low, so I’m not sure if I should go Whiteline again, or another brand.
Also since it’s down getting either the Power Flex Diff inserts or depending on the amount of work, the Kelltrac Diff replacements, I previously bought the Kelltrac replacements and the shop stole them when I went to have them installed a few years ago.

Anyways, I’m totally new to attempting this myself, and even though I know my way around working on my car, dropping the subframe sounds intense.
Any advise, resources, or suggestions getting this done would be greatly appreciated.

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[Magony15]

I have the same bushings. Can't imagine them breaking unless the bolts broke first. Best to pull the whole subframe to get full access. Maybe the bolt was cross threaded and finally snapped.

 

[Benjamin Hundred]

I have the same bushings. Can't imagine them breaking unless the bolts broke first. Best to pull the whole subframe to get full access. Maybe the bolt was cross threaded and finally snapped.

Thank you for your input, I’ll have to check to see if the bolt snapped, if it’s cross threaded is that just putting in new KDT953 and bolt or would there be team damage?

Also most importantly, how difficult of a job do you think this is in my driveway?

 

[Magony15]

Time consuming and a little intimidating. Buy new bushings and the Kelltrac stud kit and shop around for someone local to do the install.

 

[NGOT8R]

Is the KellTrac a through bolt kit? I’d not, Steeda makes a through bolt kit. I installed one on my car when I did the bushing inserts. I saw Ponie 92‘s video where he snapped his as soon as he finished putting them on his car.

 

[Magony15]

Is the KellTrac a through bolt kit? I’d not, Steeda makes a through bolt kit. I installed one on my car when I did the bushing inserts. I saw Ponie 92‘s video where he snapped his as soon as he finished putting them on his car.

That was differential bolts he snapped in that video.The stud kit from Kelly is for the subframe. It makes it easier to service the subframe components. Pony 92 broke parts doing dumb shit.

 

[Benjamin Hundred]

Time consuming and a little intimidating. Buy new bushings and the Kelltrac stud kit and shop around for someone local to do the install.

You think this is something that couldn’t be done in my driveway and it’d be better to pay a shop? I have about $100 to my name after just going through the hardest financial season of my life right now, so if I need a shop it’s going to be sitting for a while.

Here’s another look I just got at it.

 

[Benjamin Hundred]

@Magony15 Maybe this is a long shot, but with looking at those last photos I uploaded, do you think there’s any way to insert a new KDT953 bushing in there without dropping the subframe? Just thinking since it’s already sagging enough from what I can tell to remove the bushing, and since the old OEM bushing has already been cut out all I’d imagine needs to be done is insert the new replacement bushing.

Like I said, maybe a long shot, but it would save me a huge amount of time and labor since the other three are still good.

 

[Magony15]

@Magony15 Maybe this is a long shot, but with looking at those last photos I uploaded, do you think there’s any way to insert a new KDT953 bushing in there without dropping the subframe? Just thinking since it’s already sagging enough from what I can tell to remove the bushing, and since the old OEM bushing has already been cut out all I’d imagine needs to be done is insert the new replacement bushing.

Like I said, maybe a long shot, but it would save me a huge amount of time and labor since the other three are still good.

Yes. Cutting out the original is the hardest part. Should be able to get in there to swap out the bad one. Still strange that it broke.

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