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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Sub frame Moving?


SupraP-Z

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Been having a few issues with steering recently, the car has been pulling to the left, and pulling to the right...feels quite unbalanced when driving. I thought it may be the tracking so i took it to a garage and they said the sub frame is moving when i turn the wheels...could this be a case of loose subframe bolts? Do they just need tightening? or could it be something else...

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I have exactly the same issue at the moment. It's been 6 or 7 years since I got the bolts tightened and it's supposed to be done every 3 years or so according to the service schedule. I suddenly have tramlining and I know it's not the suspension or shocks, the alignment, the tyres or tyre pressures - they have all been done/replaced/checked recently. It is, however, going "clonk" when I reverse at full lock - classic subframe bolts.

 

Do a quick search and you'll find the torque settings for the six or so bolts that need doing. They aren't too high, a normal decent torque wrench will do the trick, I just haven't bothered yet as it's cold outside and I'm not driving the Supra anyway :)

 

Probably need a re-alignment afterwards though, unless I'm lucky...

 

-Ian

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I have exactly the same issue at the moment. It's been 6 or 7 years since I got the bolts tightened and it's supposed to be done every 3 years or so according to the service schedule. I suddenly have tramlining and I know it's not the suspension or shocks, the alignment, the tyres or tyre pressures - they have all been done/replaced/checked recently. It is, however, going "clonk" when I reverse at full lock - classic subframe bolts.

 

Do a quick search and you'll find the torque settings for the six or so bolts that need doing. They aren't too high, a normal decent torque wrench will do the trick, I just haven't bothered yet as it's cold outside and I'm not driving the Supra anyway :)

 

Probably need a re-alignment afterwards though, unless I'm lucky...

 

-Ian

 

I don't have any problems going forward but when I reverse it clonks like you said is this my sub frame bolts as it annoys the hell out of me.

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I don't have a torque wrench otherwise I would do it myself Dunk.

 

as Scott says you don't need one to check them out. I remember someone haing finger tight ones so them popping underneath and nipping them up is a start! you will need a deep 17mm and 19mm socket to get to the front ones though.

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I don't have a torque wrench otherwise I would do it myself Dunk.

 

I'd pop it to a local garage and put it on a ramp and do a bolt check front and rear.

I did this on my car last year but i do have a very good local garage who i know very well

and was happy to do this, cost me £30 :)

 

I dont think guessing torque settings is the way to do it personally

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Decent ratchet and FT calibrated arms should see you OK ;)

 

I like your style!

 

My car does this too. Been driving me nuts!! Also, the nearside front wheel has slowly sunken further back in the arch, thus handling like crap in a straight line, and causing my wheel to foul the arch on lock over bumps! Irritating as it's smashed my wing up twice now.

Edited by Benjy (see edit history)
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I like your style!

 

My car does this too. Been driving me nuts!! Also, the nearside front wheel has slowly sunken further back in the arch, thus handling like crap in a straight line, and causing my wheel to foul the arch on lock over bumps! Irritating as it's smashed my wing up twice now.

 

 

Wow that seems a bit extreme. Is that solely down to the subframe needing a tighten? I would have thought there would be a lot of play in bushes to allow that sort of movement.

 

I would always torque them up properly when you could but FT definitely works to get you by. I doubt you would manage to get the full torque on them with a wrench anyway, a breaker or a torque wrench would always be needed for the full leverage required. I would always choose a ' tightened as much as I can with a socket set subframe' over a loose and knocking one.

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I have got 20's on mine so it's more noticeable. I also hit a fox at 60mph or so. So theoreticallly, if the subframe was a lil bit loose, foxy impact on the nearside may have pushed the subframe into a position that would move the lower arm into a more rearward direction, thus pushing said wheel back in the arch. So, if I loosen the subframe, manipulate the nearside into a more suitable position using possibly a copper/hyde persuasion stick, bit of locktite on the bolts and a few cracks with the old windy gun, I should be laughing, right?

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hmm...wonder if this is the cause of my annoying suspension noise as well...will definitely check it out!..my noise happens when driving around at slow speeds or when i slam on the brake..

 

What you might have there is the dreaded worn suspension bushes :)

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