Subframe Bushes with Fitting Position Front Axle, Rear Axle for FORD FAIRLANE AU

A subframe is a separate frame that carries the suspension, and sometimes the diff or engine, and bolts to the body through a set of large bushes. Subframe bushes take every load that passes from the suspension into the body: braking, cornering, acceleration and every bump. Most traditional utes and touring 4WDs are built on a ladder chassis and do not use subframes in the same way. Many four-wheel-drive SUVs with independent rear suspension do, and on those vehicles the subframe bushes have a direct effect on how settled the rear end feels on rough roads, under load and when towing. Use the vehicle search to find subframe bushes to suit your AU FAIRLANE.

What AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bushes Actually Do

On a vehicle without a full ladder chassis, the body shell is the structure. The suspension cannot simply bolt to it everywhere, so it mounts to a subframe, and the subframe mounts to the body.

The subframe bushes sit at those mounting points. They hold the subframe firmly in position so the suspension geometry stays where it should, and they isolate the body from road noise, vibration and impact.

That makes them a balance between two jobs. Too soft, and the whole subframe can shift under load, taking the suspension geometry with it. Too firm, and every bump and vibration comes straight through into the cabin.

Where Subframes Are Found

Rear subframes are common on four-wheel-drive SUVs with independent rear suspension. The subframe carries the rear suspension arms and often the rear diff. Some vehicles also use a front subframe or crossmember carrying the front suspension and steering.

Does Your AU FAIRLANE Have Subframes?

It depends on how the vehicle is built.

Most utes and traditional touring 4WDs are body-on-frame. They have a ladder chassis, and the body sits on top of it through body mounts. The suspension bolts to the chassis directly or through crossmembers. These vehicles generally use body mount bushes and crossmember bushes rather than subframe bushes.

Many four-wheel-drive SUVs use a monocoque body, where the body itself is the structure. These vehicles often use subframes, particularly at the rear where independent suspension is used. Subframe bushes are a common wear item on them.

If you are not sure which your vehicle has, the vehicle search shows which parts suit it.

Signs Your AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bushes Are Worn

A clunk or thump from the rear over bumps, potholes or driveway kerbs is a common sign. It can also show up when getting on and off the throttle, or when changing between drive and reverse, as the subframe shifts under the torque.

The rear can feel loose or vague, particularly through corners or on uneven roads. Some owners describe it as the rear of the vehicle steering itself. Under towing, that can feel less settled and less predictable.

Uneven rear tyre wear can follow if the subframe has moved enough to change the rear geometry.

On inspection, worn subframe bushes often show cracked, split or torn rubber, a bush that has separated from its sleeve, or a subframe that sits visibly lower at one mounting point. Shiny marks where metal has started rubbing on metal are another sign.

Worn control arm bushes, diff mounts and wheel bearings can cause similar symptoms, so a full inspection of the rear suspension is worth doing first.

Rubber or Polyurethane AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bushes?

Factory subframe bushes are usually rubber, often with voids built in to soak up vibration. That gives a quiet, comfortable ride, but it also allows the subframe to move more under load. As the rubber ages, it softens, cracks and moves further.

Polyurethane subframe bushes are generally firmer. They hold the subframe more precisely, which can reduce clunks and make the rear end feel more planted when loaded or towing. The trade-off is that more noise and vibration can reach the cabin. How noticeable that is depends on the vehicle and the bush design.

Inserts or void fillers are another option on some vehicles. They fill the voids in the factory rubber bushes to reduce movement, without replacing the whole bush. They suit a vehicle where the bushes are still in reasonable condition but move more than wanted.

AU FAIRLANE Loaded and Towing Considerations

Towing With Your AU FAIRLANE

Towing loads the rear subframe hard. Every take-off pulls the trailer through the vehicle's rear structure, and every brake application pushes it back. On a vehicle with a rear subframe, that load passes through the subframe bushes. Worn bushes let the subframe shift under those forces, which can show up as a clunk or a less settled feel with a trailer or caravan behind.

AU FAIRLANE Heavy Rear Loads

Touring gear, drawers and water in the rear add weight right over the subframe. That increases the load on the bushes over every bump and through every corner, and can speed up wear.

AU FAIRLANE Rough Roads and Corrugations

Corrugations put constant small cycles through the subframe bushes. Over a long trip, that can wear them noticeably, particularly on an older vehicle with ageing rubber.

Heat and Age

Rear subframe bushes can sit near exhaust components, and heat speeds up the ageing of rubber. Older vehicles commonly need subframe bushes even if they have not been worked hard.

What Comes in a AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bush Kit

Kits vary by vehicle. Some cover all the mounting points for one subframe, while others cover a single position. Sleeves, washers and inserts may or may not be included. Check the product details for which mounts the kit covers and what is supplied.

Replace the AU FAIRLANE Bushes or Something Else?

New bushes are usually the fix when the subframe is straight, the mounting points on the body are sound and the bushes themselves have worn.

Other repairs are needed when the subframe has been bent in an impact, the body mounting points are cracked or corroded, or the clunk turns out to come from another part of the suspension. Replacing the subframe bushes on a damaged mounting point will not hold.

Fitting AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bushes

Replacing subframe bushes is a substantial job. The subframe usually has to be lowered or removed, with the suspension and sometimes the diff still attached, so it is a job for a qualified technician with the right equipment.

The vehicle is supported on rated stands, and the subframe is supported on a suitable jack or cradle before any mounting bolts are removed. The old bushes are pressed out, the mounting points are cleaned and checked, and the new bushes are fitted. The subframe is raised back into position and the bolts torqued to specification.

Because the subframe carries the suspension, a wheel alignment is required afterwards. A road test, including some rough surfaces and firm acceleration and braking, confirms the clunk has gone.

How Formula 4x4 Can Help With Your AU FAIRLANE

Formula 4x4 works across the whole 4WD suspension, which helps on a part that only some vehicles have. If you are not sure whether your vehicle has subframes, crossmembers or body mounts, the team can help identify it and point you to the right bushes. A rear clunk can come from several places, and looking at the whole rear suspension helps make sure the right part gets replaced.

Find the Right AU FAIRLANE Subframe Bushes with Formula 4x4

Use the vehicle search, then confirm your AU FAIRLANE has a subframe rather than a ladder chassis with body mounts. Identify which mounts are worn, decide between rubber, polyurethane or inserts, and allow for any towing or heavy rear load. Check the product details for what is included.

Subframe bushes sit within the Formula 4x4 suspension bushes range.

If you are unsure what your AU FAIRLANE needs, contact the Formula 4x4 team.