1991 Buick Park Avenue Body Rusted Out Where Subframe Bushing Mounts
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1995 PA Ultra Subframe Tore Loose...
- Thread author n7e7o7n
- Start date
- #1
I've been using this forum to fix up my adopted PA for the past year, and she finally let loose with something that might end her. She's only got 40k, minor problems here and there, but driving home this weekend I hit a bump and the whole subframe tore off at the back bolts while I was driving down the road. It tore the steering column off at the first joint, so stopping wasn't easy! Terrifying but it could have been much worse.. seeing as how I was cruising at 80mph less than a few miles earlier. Now I'm at an impass, is it worth hunting down a subframe and fixing her or selling her to the yard (the tow truck driver made an offer on the spot of course.. salting the wound). Has anyone out there had this happen? or know anyone who has? I know the mid 90's buicks have a reputation for rusting out at this point, but this was out of nowhere! What do I do??
- #2
It's history, not worth fixing at all.
- Thread author
- #3
Replacing the sub frame itself doesn't seem like it'll be all that difficult.. A few bolts and pulling the motor... It'll take time but the rest of the car is in good shape (including the engine, which some how didn't get destroyed). Finding a subframe that I can trust seems like the hard part now. What makes it a total loss in your mind?
- #4
- 1,056
- 6
- 38
- Florida
- Buick Ownership
- '99 Ultra, 2014 Regal T
Replacing the sub frame itself doesn't seem like it'll be all that difficult.. A few bolts and pulling the motor... It'll take time but the rest of the car is in good shape (including the engine, which some how didn't get destroyed). Finding a subframe that I can trust seems like the hard part now. What makes it a total loss in your mind?
That sounds pretty scary! i would check into the shape of the car, the damage done, and repair cost versus just finding a newer one. You can part it out for some recoup.
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- #5
I've been using this forum to fix up my adopted PA for the past year, and she finally let loose with something that might end her. She's only got 40k, minor problems here and there, but driving home this weekend I hit a bump and the whole subframe tore off at the back bolts while I was driving down the road. It tore the steering column off at the first joint, so stopping wasn't easy! Terrifying but it could have been much worse.. seeing as how I was cruising at 80mph less than a few miles earlier. Now I'm at an impass, is it worth hunting down a subframe and fixing her or selling her to the yard (the tow truck driver made an offer on the spot of course.. salting the wound). Has anyone out there had this happen? or know anyone who has? I know the mid 90's buicks have a reputation for rusting out at this point, but this was out of nowhere! What do I do??
I just fixed the same problem on my '96 LeSabre. I've taken photos of my fix [which cost me less than $100 plus about eight hours of my labor] and put it all together into a PDF. I don't see any way to attach a file here so, if anyone is interested, send me a note and I'll send the PDF to you.
- #6
- 8,778
- 1,171
- 113
- SE
- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
To post a pdf, go to "Post reply" then select "Go Advanced". Once in the Advanced Reply, scroll down to "Additional Options" and click on "Manage Attachments"; then download your file. Max pdf file size download is 19.5K.I don't see any way to attach a file here so, if anyone is interested, send me a note and I'll send the PDF to you.
Last edited:
- #7
I dont know where you live and your options of junk yards but if you have a pick and pull or a place where you can pull your own parts you can get all the parts you need for under 100 i bet. You can find a good one mine has 175000 miles and the subframe is not rusted. Its not a scary to fix as it sounds. A 95 with 40,000 miles on it... wish i could buy it from you.
- Thread author
- #8
After looking over the damage, it seems like the body pegs are still in good enough shape to use, and just the subframe holes rotted out. The steering took some damage but that's a minor fix. I'm in the process of hunting for a subframe, but in PA they're all in nasty shape. There are some online in the $200-$300 range that'll ship from the midwest (less rusty I'd hope), but who knows. NHEngineer's method looks good, but I don't know that'd I'd trust tack welded washers to hold up on the roads around here. The only two u-pull it yards I know of within a 2 hour drive said they didn't have anything for me.. Time to step up the hunt! Thanks to everyone so far for your help!
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- #9
- 1,056
- 6
- 38
- Florida
- Buick Ownership
- '99 Ultra, 2014 Regal T
After looking over the damage, it seems like the body pegs are still in good enough shape to use, and just the subframe holes rotted out. The steering took some damage but that's a minor fix. I'm in the process of hunting for a subframe, but in PA they're all in nasty shape. There are some online in the $200-$300 range that'll ship from the midwest (less rusty I'd hope), but who knows. NHEngineer's method looks good, but I don't know that'd I'd trust tack welded washers to hold up on the roads around here. The only two u-pull it yards I know of within a 2 hour drive said they didn't have anything for me.. Time to step up the hunt! Thanks to everyone so far for your help!
Did you give Morad auto parts a try? http://www.moradpartscompany.com/
- Thread author
- #10
Pictures hopefully coming soon... but it's looking better than I was prepared to deal with. As far as I can tell, the bottom cup of all four rear bushings rotted and broke, but the subframe itself looks like its in good shape. The underside is clean other than those four cups.. so now i'm hoping that the steering couplings are fine. I'm in the process of pulling the old bushings (is there some magic trick to getting the bottom rubber out of the subframe?!?!) and getting new ones in. Lining up the steering inside the boot while I'm raising it up again seems like it's gonna be pretty tough. Any tips??
- #11
- 1,056
- 6
- 38
- Florida
- Buick Ownership
- '99 Ultra, 2014 Regal T
I'm guessing this is what happened? (found on google) 
- Thread author
- #12
that's exactly what it looks like! i managed to get the old ones out (some in one piece, other in chunks) and i'm in the process of bumping up the mount holes with a wire wheel. having a really hard time finding the replacement bushing assemblys. i couldn't get a straight answer from the buick dealer (they wanted to do the work i'm assuming, the service manager was kinda rude) and the parts stores couldn't get any replacements to come up. all my internet research says that the lesabre has the same mounts, but they're hard to get too since it seems like the front two bushings are different than the rear two. someone else had to run into this problem before.... right?
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- #13
- 8,778
- 1,171
- 113
- SE
- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
You should replace all the sub-frame bushings while you are at it, because if one/two broke, the others are not far behind. The part number for the lower front is 14103535, and the upper is 25536050. You will need 6 of each, 12 total! Six upper, and six lower. Go back to the rude dealer & ask for these part numbers, or enter part numbers in link below for price & description. Sorry, I no longer have the part numbers for the bolt & washer, maybe the rude dealer can provide that, if you provide the bushing description above. BTW, you can also purchase the bolt & retainer/washer for the engine cradle @ the site below.
http://www.gm-partscenter.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=215875
- #14
- 1,056
- 6
- 38
- Florida
- Buick Ownership
- '99 Ultra, 2014 Regal T
You should replace all the sub-frame bushings while you are at it, because if one/two broke, the others are not far behind. The part number for the lower front is 14103535, and the upper is 25536050. You will need 6 of each, 12 total! Six upper, and six lower. Go back to the rude dealer & ask for these part numbers, or enter part numbers in link below for price & description. Sorry, I no longer have the part numbers for the bolt & washer, maybe the rude dealer can provide that, if you provide the bushing description above. BTW, you can also purchase the bolt & retainer/washer for the engine cradle @ the site below.http://www.gm-partscenter.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=215875
Check you out, numbers and all!!! good help
My only suggestion now would be, "next Buick dealer down the street" and maybe herehttp://www.thepartsbin.com/
I found the best prices here for a 2" lift on my GMC and replacement cab mount bushings.....
- Thread author
- #15
I looked up those part numbers, but I needed to replace them all with full kits. The metal parts were just as destroyed as the bushings were. After searching the net (and dealers) for a week, I ended up buying the Dorman bushing kit (924004) and I'm just gonna pray they fit. The buick dealer couldn't even get me parts numbers for the washer or cups that the kits include, and the kits were half the price of one bushing end from the dealer. I'll keep you all updated on how this goes once they get in... Thanks for your help! Still curious as to how to get my steering shaft back into the sleeve as I'm raising the subframe... but I'll cross that river when I get to it.
- #16
- 8,778
- 1,171
- 113
- SE
- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
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- #17
- 1,056
- 6
- 38
- Florida
- Buick Ownership
- '99 Ultra, 2014 Regal T
- #18
- 8,778
- 1,171
- 113
- SE
- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
The Olds Cutlass bushings are the same as the Dorman Part #924004, they will not interchange with the C-body bushings.
- Thread author
- #19
Got the kits in yesterday, and aside from the fact that each one came with two sets of upper bushings (different composites maybe?) they look almost identical to the ones I pulled off the PA. Tonight (heat permitting.. it's around 100F here today) I'm gonna dry run one side and see. I had to go buy replacement bolts, since the ones it came with were much thicker, but that's all good now. Keeping my fingers crossed!! I think it'll be ok, gotta stay positive 
- #20
- 8,778
- 1,171
- 113
- SE
- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
Thanks for the feedback! This heat wave can be a killer! Good luck & stay
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1991 Buick Park Avenue Body Rusted Out Where Subframe Bushing Mounts
Source: https://buickforums.com/forums/threads/1995-pa-ultra-subframe-tore-loose.21187/