As some of you may know I'm in the middle of a small rebuild project with my '02 Intrepid SXT. Along with all the engine work I need to do some suspension refresh too and that will come in the form of new struts all around along with a few other small items. One thing I have been noticing though with the car is that I've had an ever increasing "looseness" in the front end of the car. I've replaced many parts in the front suspension and I can't feel any play. After inspecting the subframe bushings I've come to the conclusion that it might be time to change them. There's only a small gap in between the bushings and the steel depending on if the car is on the ground or on jack stands but it's enough to be concerned. I started looking into what's out there for replacement and it looks like we're in better shape than the 1st gen guys. We can either buy OEM or the readily available aftermarket Dorman kit. However, it does get a little confusing past the two options.
If you were to look in the '02 Factory Parts book like I initially did you will see that the front bushings are clearly numbered and you can get a p/n. However, the rears are not numbered but are listed along with a few other subframe bushings. I tried deciphering it all but couldn't come to a final list that I'd order parts from. To add to the confusion, Chrysler has a different bushing sets for the LHS/Concorde Limited than all the other LH's. Also, depending what style(LHS or Regular) you get they have different bottom and top bushings from the front and back sets.
Now, when you look at the Dorman parts you will notice they sell only two different bushings(in one kit, top and bottom with a new bolt) and that does either the front or rear bushings according to the listing. Also, you will notice that they list the Chrysler p/n's at the kit replaces and those are that of the LHS type of bushings.
If you go back to the OEM parts book and look at the '03 version you will notice the diagram of the subframe is clearer and better annotated. Here you can get the proper p/n's for the rear subframe bushings both upper and lower. It kinda makes you wonder why they didn't do that in the earlier books right? Furthermore, you can now see that for the LHS the top bushings are the same while on the bottom they are different front and back. For the rest of the LH's the bottom bushings are the same while the top ones have different p/n's. If you go back to the Dorman kit it says you can use it front and back, left and right.
All this to say, I'm still confused as to why the factory used so many different subframe bushings styles for these cars yet they look to be interchangeable. One possibility is to give a softer ride to the LHS? Another is that many LHS's came with speed sensitive steering so they needed something different?
Bellow you can see a comparison that I made between the different combinations. Price are from rock auto and a discount online Mopar dealer. I'll most likely be going with the aftermarket Dormans.
If you were to look in the '02 Factory Parts book like I initially did you will see that the front bushings are clearly numbered and you can get a p/n. However, the rears are not numbered but are listed along with a few other subframe bushings. I tried deciphering it all but couldn't come to a final list that I'd order parts from. To add to the confusion, Chrysler has a different bushing sets for the LHS/Concorde Limited than all the other LH's. Also, depending what style(LHS or Regular) you get they have different bottom and top bushings from the front and back sets.
Now, when you look at the Dorman parts you will notice they sell only two different bushings(in one kit, top and bottom with a new bolt) and that does either the front or rear bushings according to the listing. Also, you will notice that they list the Chrysler p/n's at the kit replaces and those are that of the LHS type of bushings.
If you go back to the OEM parts book and look at the '03 version you will notice the diagram of the subframe is clearer and better annotated. Here you can get the proper p/n's for the rear subframe bushings both upper and lower. It kinda makes you wonder why they didn't do that in the earlier books right? Furthermore, you can now see that for the LHS the top bushings are the same while on the bottom they are different front and back. For the rest of the LH's the bottom bushings are the same while the top ones have different p/n's. If you go back to the Dorman kit it says you can use it front and back, left and right.
All this to say, I'm still confused as to why the factory used so many different subframe bushings styles for these cars yet they look to be interchangeable. One possibility is to give a softer ride to the LHS? Another is that many LHS's came with speed sensitive steering so they needed something different?
Bellow you can see a comparison that I made between the different combinations. Price are from rock auto and a discount online Mopar dealer. I'll most likely be going with the aftermarket Dormans.
2011 BMW 335xi (e92) - Black Sapphire Metalic w/ Coral Red Interior
(no. 573)
