FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi all,

Im sure many of you have done this a number of times so i am chasing some wisdom and advice.  I am currently in the process of removing the front subframe from my car, as far as I know it is completely unbolted I just cant get the bloody thing to come free from the cab.....

In the hour or two I spent trying to roll it off on the weekend I was attempting to roll it off with the front crossmember still attached......am I going about this the wrong way?  Should I be unbolting the front end rolling it out and then removing the subframe.......i assume that the weight of the front end is probably putting a bit of stress on the subframe mounts....hence making it harder to roll off.........

MICK

did you get all the bolts from inside of the cab.

Yes all of the bolts from inside the cab are undone......I can get the subframe to move but just cant get it to totally come away from the cab.......as I said before I am suspecting that the front end is just putting a little pressure on the mounts preventing it from pulling away..........was just wondering what the normal method for removal was......

MICK

If the skirts have freed themselves from the firewall and all 4 bolts are removed from the subframe legs, then it is just the legs stuck in the locating blocks in the crossmember. All you should need to do is get a large screwdriver or tyre lever and pry between the outer leg and the crossmember on both sides and this should force the 2 apart. Should not matter at all that the front suspension is still attached.

Ken

MICK
      When I took mine off I had a similar problem but my front end was off the car and the car was on blocks.
     First I GENTLY freed the side skirts from the firewall with a screwdriver and pinch bar (gemmy) then pushed down on the front of the subframe levering it away from the car a bit.
   It was still holding where the outside lower bolts go near the sill so I taped it forward down there with a hammer a little bit on each side then wriggled it up and down while pulling forward.
   When it came off I found there was a lot of dirt and gunk holding it at the bottom in around  the bolts and sill.
   You should be able to roll the whole lot away on the wheels if theres nothing stopping it.
  Brad

Guys,

Thanks for the help.....I have not resorted to getting brutal with screwdrivers or gemmy bars yet, have only been taking things gently gently........will get tough this weekend and get her free using a bit more force........As is quite normal I have been finding 50 years of dirt build up under the subframe and around the mounting bolts so I wont be suprised if that is what is stopping it........

MICK

Thanks for all the help guys.........turns out a little bit of brute force is not always a bad thing.......levered the subframe off with a gemmy bar no problems.....50 years of dirt build up is not always easy to overcome.....

Will post some pics of my progress soon.....

MICK