Whiteline subframe bushing broke!

[desertman123]

Foreword: I am not bashing Whiteline at all, I liked this product for its price and ease of install. Just simply sharing my experience.

So I had my wheels off to clean them thoroughly (damn you, OEM brake pad dust) and I noticed my subframe bushing insert is broken! I don't think this actually affects the performance, but now I gotta deal with this. I'm 95% sure I installed it correctly (also made sure it wasn't folded under itself as I reinstalled the bolt), as the other side was just fine (along with every other bushing). This is the part of the rear subframe towards the front of the car, on the passenger side.






You can see the right top part of the circle on the bushing is just hanging off - it split.

Has this happened to anyone else?

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by desertman123

So I had my wheels off to clean them thoroughly (damn you, OEM brake pad dust) and I noticed my subframe bushing insert is broken! I don't think this actually affects the performance, but now I gotta deal with this. I'm 95% sure I installed it correctly (also made sure it wasn't folded under itself as I reinstalled the bolt), as the other side was just fine (along with every other bushing).




You can see the right top part of the circle on the bushing is just hanging off - it split.

Has this happened to anyone else?

Interesting. I've been planning to replace mine eventually but will have to check on it.

How many miles on the set up?
Are you lowered at all?

[1and1]

Aren't these the WL RSFB's?
(notices the build thread link in your sig...)

Yup, and only a couple months old too.... Wow. I don't recall seeing this before, tho not like I've been around that long myself lolz- Is this a thing? I was planning on these same bushings. Time to get mah google on

Decided on your replacements yet?

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Interesting. I've been planning to replace mine eventually but will have to check on it.

How many miles on the set up?
Are you lowered at all?

Originally Posted by 1and1

Aren't these the WL RSFB's?
(notices the build thread link in your sig...)

Yup, and only a couple months old too.... Wow. I don't recall seeing this before, tho not like I've been around that long myself lolz- Is this a thing? I was planning on these same bushings. Time to get mah google on

Decided on your replacements yet?

Updated the OP with a slightly better pic.

Yep, Whiteline RSFB inserts. I'm gonna email them and see what can be done.

Stock sport suspension (no lowering), no track days or autocross. According to my log, installed at 81.8K miles (on 7/15/16), now I'm at 86k.

Might be worth checking on yours, I noticed zero difference in how it drove - I supposed the actual "insert" part is still doing its job, not letting the stock bushing flex, but the ring holding it together is shot.

Haven't decided what I'll do yet, I'll see what Whiteline has to say. I'd love some M3 bushings but that's a fair bit more expensive and a much more lengthy install. I'd be happy if I could just replace this 1 broken bushing to be honest. I'm thinking this is just a fluke.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Updated the OP with a slightly better pic.

Yep, Whiteline RSFB inserts. I'm gonna email them and see what can be done.

Stock sport suspension (no lowering), no track days or autocross. According to my log, installed at 81.8K miles (on 7/15/16), now I'm at 86k.

Might be worth checking on yours, I noticed zero difference in how it drove - I supposed the actual "insert" part is still doing its job, not letting the stock bushing flex, but the ring holding it together is shot.

Haven't decided what I'll do yet, I'll see what Whiteline has to say. I'd love some M3 bushings but that's a fair bit more expensive and a much more lengthy install. I'd be happy if I could just replace this 1 broken bushing to be honest. I'm thinking this is just a fluke.

Just to be clear, these are the inserts not the full bushing replacements correct? I have the full bushings no issues. I feel like the insert may have flexed or torqued when the subframe was being tightened and it caused a small crack eventually splitting it. Also notice the lower half of the bushing seems to have some nicks on the collar, were they damaged during install somehow possibly?

[bodega_cat]

holy shit dude, that's crazy. I got these inserts installed a month ago. I will take a look at them tomorrow.

[vtl]

I've had someone come to me with these Whiteline bushings installed. After a while they seemed to wear out and werent that effective. I removed the inserts, and pulled out the stock subframe bushings and installed the full bushings (Whiteline KDT917 or Nolathane 49202 theyre the same thing). The old Whiteline inserts looked very soft and didn't look like they'd do much. Onwer reported the rear end a lot more locked down with the proper bushings.

[bodega_cat]

^^^probably what I'll end up doing

[juld0zer]

The actual replacement bushings have an aluminium collar around this area, most likely to address this issue

[ianc]

Even though that upper lip sheared off, the insert is still doing it's job filling the void in the stock bushing, no? That section is probably just meant to keep the boulders out...

ianc

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by ianc

Even though that upper lip sheared off, the insert is still doing it's job filling the void in the stock bushing, no? That section is probably just meant to keep the boulders out...

ianc

for the most part yes, but if the collar completely breaks off it won't be centering the inserts and that may cause problems. Even worse if it disintegrates you now have a big space between subframe and the body = lots of clunking lol

[desertman123]

Update:

Emailed Whiteline, they were helpful and sent out a replacement kit, which I assume is just another set of bushings. That would be nice to have some replacement in case this happens to anything others. Happy with their customer support! Their bushing kits come with lifetime warranties too.

I'm thinking it it may have been my fault during installation, or simply a bushing with poor quality made it thru their QC (it happens).

[Gangplank]

After having mine in for just under a year now I would say they still control the side-roll on corner exit. What I do still feel is a good amount of side to side on acceleration. Next time I have the car up I'm probably going to check them. I'm considering going to the full M3 bushings or the Whiteline/Nolathane 2 part bushings for the easier install.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

After having mine in for just under a year now I would say they still control the side-roll on corner exit. What I do still feel is a good amount of side to side on acceleration. Next time I have the car up I'm probably going to check them. I'm considering going to the full M3 bushings or the Whiteline/Nolathane 2 part bushings for the easier install.

Honestly I wish I had the money and time to just go for the full bushings. The inserts are really nice for price and installation, but I still feel the effects of the stock bushings.

There's a nice long sweeping turn on the hwy exit, almost like half an oval at a NASCAR track that I can hit pretty quickly. That's where I feel it most, the tail just wiggles a little back and forth - it's still a little vague. But not nearly so that it used to be.



Whiteline sent me an entire new kit, I'll get around to installing it once my semester at college ends. Overall real easy process! I'll post the broken bushing once I get it out.

[HP Autosport]

M3 bushings will last just about forever and not have any issues of some of the aftermarket inserts.

We have seen another brand cracked as well....It wasn't Whiteline though.

[HP Autosport]

M3 bushings will last just about forever and not have any issues of some of the aftermarket inserts.

We have seen another brand cracked as well....It wasn't Whiteline though.

[ShocknAwe]

This is bound to happen occasionally. Though, 2+ years on my inserts, can verify they are still fine as I checked them out this afternoon.

[desertman123]

Well I finally got around to fixing this!





I'm gonna be honest, I may have installed them rotated 90° from how they should've been, the other side was completely fine. Got pretty shredded though! Gonna have to hit the highway onramp to see if it feels any better - I imagine if I installed it incorrectly that it would feel bad.

Thanks Whiteline for the quick response/replacement!

[ShocknAwe]

OP: how easy were they to remove?

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

OP: how easy were they to remove?

Moderately.

Kinda hard to get a grip on them but once you do they slowly slip out of place, then you just gotta squeeze/bend them to get them out of the subframe/frame part itself. But it wasn't too bad - had to remove all 4 subframe bolts though and hold it up by the diff.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Moderately.

Kinda hard to get a grip on them but once you do they slowly slip out of place, then you just gotta squeeze/bend them to get them out of the subframe/frame part itself. But it wasn't too bad - had to remove all 4 subframe bolts though and hold it up by the diff.

Want to do this for me? (Seriously)

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Want to do this for me? (Seriously)

Ha are you trying to upgrade to full replacement bushings?