Help to I.D. Part

[Jim Despres]

I was taking some base line photos of the underside of my 02 when I found my camera caught something odd in one of the pictures. Does anyone know what the open black plastic box like object is that is located just behind the passenger coil spring? It looks to be about 2x4 inches in size with the bottom portion (facing the ground) open.
Thanks,
Jim D.

[Señor Gar]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Front or rear? Can you zoom out for more context?

[Jim Despres]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Thanks Gar,& sorry bout that, I guess I left the key information out. The box is on the rear passenger side. That is the only photo I have but if you click on the thumb nail you can see the coil spring, shock, and the upper portion of the stabilizer bar link with the white plastic protection cover on the top of it. The spring is on the side of the box that is toward the front of the car. The box is roughly just below where the battery is located in the trunk.

[Señor Gar]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

That is one of four rear suspension subframe mounting bushes. Essentially a metal rubber sandwich on each corner of the subframe where it is secured to the body and it helps to isolate driveline and road vibration.

Right rear of rear subframe '03


Left front of rear subframe '03


Here is a shot of the rear subframe. The two partial circles is where the missing front bushings get welded to the subframe

You can also see where the rear mounting bushes go on the arms at the back of this '02 subframe.

[94mcd]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Thanks for the info. I knew that you would know what is was and its purpose. Thanks for being a resource for TBN members.

Pat

[Jim Despres]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Thanks Gar! you sir are a Cornucopia of valuable information. I would have never guessed that. - Jim D

[Señor Gar]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Thanks Gar! you sir are a Cornucopia of valuable information. I would have never guessed that. - Jim D

Thanks for the info. I knew that you would know what is was and its purpose. Thanks for being a resource for TBN members.
Pat

Glad to help as I learn too.
You two would have had a good laugh watching this old man rolling on the garage floor looking for those bushes.
The struggle to get back on my feet was the best part, LoL.
Good to know you are lurking in the shadows Pat

[007Cruiser]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Glad to help as I learn too.
You two would have had a good laugh watching this old man rolling on the garage floor looking for those bushes.
The struggle to get back on my feet was the best part, LoL.
Good to know you are lurking in the shadows Pat

Reminds me of the time a couple years ago when I fell out of the hammock and couldn't get up.

[Rondor]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

[QUOTE=
The struggle to get back on my feet was the best part, LoL.

Sure can relate to that........... Maybe crawling under cars for over 60 years causes that.

[HKS]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Great info Gar.

Thanks very much for crawling under the Tbird and for posting the pictures.

I have a very good idea of how you felt when getting under the car and the back up.
I would have had more trouble getting up.

HKS

[Sierra977]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Gar, in your esteemed opinion would it be an improvement to exchange the molded rubber/metal for Delrin in order to stiffen the suspension or are these parts simply for chassis/subframe vibration damping?

ETA plan is to add front and rear suspension tower braces this summer.



This is similar to rear brace

[Señor Gar]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Newman, I have very little experience in high performance modification but since our Retros do have perceptible chassis flex I think your bracing will make a marked improvement.

To exchange the 'rubber' bushings that mount the subframes to the body for Delrin would definitely diminish the luxury feel of the car but I have no idea if it would be enough to achieve more precise handling.

As far as suspension pivot bushings go, if memory serves, haven't you done that already? I suspect that is almost a 'must do' for competition.

[Sierra977]

Re: Help to I.D. Part

Newman, I have very little experience in high performance modification but since our Retros do have perceptible chassis flex I think your bracing will make a marked improvement.
To exchange the 'rubber' bushings that mount the subframes to the body for Delrin would definitely diminish the luxury feel of the car but I have no idea if it would be enough to achieve more precise handling.
As far as suspension pivot bushings go, if memory serves, haven't you done that already? I suspect that is almost a 'must do' for competition.

Gar, suspension bushings are all new. Agree subframe Delrin bushings would be more annoyance than benefit.