subframe support

[Alxsmt]

So I have an idea, I dont know about anyone else but EVERYTIME I have to pull my subframe/cross member or whatever you wanna call it, it always takes me hours to get both sides lined back up. Usually involves a lot of prying, ratchet strapes, and me getting pissed off. Not sure if im doing it the hard way but its how ive always done it. My idea is to make 2 braces, one up front and one in the back connecting the two sections. maybe welding it on but probly bolting it.

Does anybody see a problem with doing this? Sure it may affect the car in a crash but so will my solid engine mounts.

[bob442]

your suppous to do one side at a time, you can also easly pull your trans in 30 minutes by just dropping one side of the subframe, and thats in a drive way. i couldnt see whay you should have to do this so often, but a better idea is using a Q4 subframe with a bolt in cross member/motor mount that goes infront of the motor, aside that, get the tool for suspending your engine/trans. sometimes strating from the back first is easier to line everything up, or vise versa. theres always a trick to these things, this tool is one of them \/

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chinamachinerymanufacturer.com/images/EngineSupport_7388.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chinamachinerymanufacturer.com/wholesaleproducts/Engine_Support/index.htm&usg=__079WyZbi-RUbXFJeiyWMrL9ErMw=&h=400&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=0&sig2=_c1u_Zz5oWgdOyqzB5H7kA&zoom=1&tbnid=qSvAXktmAHwjbM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&ei=bAyhTdLLO8W3tweuv_iBAw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dengine%2Bsupport%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1127%26bih%3D659%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=270&oei=bAyhTdLLO8W3tweuv_iBAw&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=78&ty=60

[Alxsmt]

Ive tried doing just one side, I have a problem with the swaybar U bracket. everyone I have seen is bent out to the point where you gotta hammer it in and out, a vise wont even bend it, springs back. I have yet to find a new way of mounting them.

Ive had 4 trannys in the car, to pull my rear header I have to drop the subframe.. plus other random things. something always happens to this car lol.

is the quad subframe a bolt on? I havent heard of anyone doing this. there is not any engine mounts on the subframe other than a dogbone trans mount

[bob442]

For the quad 4 there is, its a bolt on cross support for the older Q4 engines before they changed all the other motor mounts. they may have kept that motor mount later on though, not 100% sure but the 91-older Q4's had it for sure, i've only owned 2 1990 Q4 beretta's.

So what did you do to the sway bar u bolt? you should be able to just unbolt it and pop it out, remove the strut/hub assembally, unbolt the sway bar link, and drop the one side of the sub frame, and with a piece of wood and a jack under the oil pan controll the drop of the drive train with the top motor mount still attached. that way the trans side drops and you have room to pull it out.

[Alxsmt]

ah, some of the "newer" berettas have a bolt on brace too, seems like it bolts on where the subframe bolts on the body tho. I have no clue why the bolts are like that, maybe next time I pull it apart I will just remake the U bolts, never thought of that before...

[bob442]

you should be able to buy new hardware for the sway bar

[MY91GT(Z)]

ive always but the support bolts in first then the core ones then the back 2 and never had a problem getting them in