MRF solid aluminum subframe bushings

[Wendall]

I recently had MRF solid subframe bushings and Turner Motorsport aluminum/delrin differential mounts installed - at MRF.

First off, I was a bit scared to get the solid subframe bushings installed because of the forums. There is a lot of misguided and misleading information from forum members. In fact, a lot of forum member's input regarding subframe bushings garbage. If they really think it causes NVH then they should be driving a Buick.

I decided to proceed with the solid differential and sub-frame install, mostly due to reviews from italyx and talking with Malek.

Malek was awesome as usual and my car was done on time.

Driving experience. There is no freaking increase in NVH from the sub-frame bushings! None at all, Unless your eardrums are on steroids. It sounds and feels no different than the rubber bushings.

However, with the aluminum/delrin turner motorsport differential mounts, there is slightly more noise. There is a slight whine that increases with speed, but it sounds awesome and the sound seems to level off once you get past 80mph. The noise is faint enough that it gets drowned out by rolling the windows down or playing music.I personally, love the noise, it sounds like a racecar - yet faint.

Performance wise. I noticed that my car no longer breaks loose at the top of 2nd and 3rd where it used to like clockwork. There is much more traction from reduced wheel hop. The car is more direct and feels more agile. It feels much closer to my Cayman s (which I use as my benchmark). It makes the car's chassis feel like a solid block of metal in which every input translates directly to an output.

I would say this is one of the best mods that increase performance by far.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by biggynuts01

I recently had MRF solid subframe bushings and Turner Motorsport aluminum/delrin differential mounts installed - at MRF.

First off, I was a bit scared to get the solid subframe bushings installed because of the forums. There is a lot of misguided and misleading information from forum members. In fact, a lot of forum member's input is garbage, if not, they should be driving a Buick.

I decided to proceed with the solid differential and sub-frame install, mostly due to italyx.

Malek was awesome as usual and my car was done on time.

Driving experience. There is no freaking increase in NVH from the sub-frame bushings! None at all, Unless your eardrums are on steroids. It sounds and feels no different than the rubber bushings.

However, with the aluminum/delrin turner motorsport differential mounts, there is slightly more noise. There is a slight whine that increases with speed, but it sounds awesome and the sound seems to taper off once you get past 80mph. The noise is faint enough that it gets drowned out by rolling the windows down or playing music.I personally, love the noise, it sounds like a racecar - yet faint.

Performance wise. I noticed that my car no longer breaks loose at the top of 2nd and 3rd where it used to like clockwork. There is much more traction from reduced wheel hop. The car is more direct and feels more agile. It feels much closer to my Cayman s (which I use as my benchmark). It makes the car's chassis feel like a solid block of metal at which even input translates directly to an output.

I would say this is one of the best mods that increase performance by far.

Good stuff, Biggy. How long was the labor on the subframe bushings? Thinking of getting this done.

[OM VT3]

I can't wait till I get mine!

[Wendall]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Good stuff, Biggy. How long was the labor on the subframe bushings? Thinking of getting this done.

Labor is a full day I would say around 12hrs (corrected). Its a lot of work but its gotta be one of the best suspension mods. Not many people are willing to pay this because they are looking for purely aesthetic changes. However, if you are pursuing performance this is upgrade is a must.

MRFs machined billet aluminum bushings are beautiful too bad you cannot see them.

[W///]

Thanks for the review. Added to my to do list for the future.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Good stuff, Biggy. How long was the labor on the subframe bushings? Thinking of getting this done.

Ben,

Labor is approximately 12 hours when it's all said and done as there are a lot of steps to ensure the job is done correctly.

As biggynuts01 said, this modification is mandatory in my eyes. It is the reason why the modern M's are switching over to this design, although I do feel they are 10 years too late to the party and should have implemented this type of design theory when the cars began to increase in power astronomically to prevent all the sub-frame issues they had in the past.

NVH increase is non-existent with the change of the sub-frame bushings themselves and extremely minimal change in noise from doing the differential bushings in conjunction. For most of the street car and occasional weekend racer vehicles, I opt to use the Turner Delrin differential bushings along with the MRF sub-frame bushings. For cars that are more dedicated to track usage, I have developed solid differential bushings as well.

For those wondering, the MRF Engineering Motorsport sub-frame bushings are fully designed and engineered in-house at MRF and CNC'd right here in Southern California.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

Ben,

Labor is approximately 12 hours when it's all said and done as there are a lot of steps to ensure the job is done correctly.

As biggynuts01 said, this modification is mandatory in my eyes. It is the reason why the modern M's are switching over to this design, although I do feel they are 10 years too late to the party and should have implemented this type of design theory when the cars began to increase in power astronomically to prevent all the sub-frame issues they had in the past.

NVH increase is non-existent with the change of the sub-frame bushings themselves and extremely minimal change in noise from doing the differential bushings in conjunction. For most of the street car and occasional weekend racer vehicles, I opt to use the Turner Delrin differential bushings along with the MRF sub-frame bushings. For cars that are more dedicated to track usage, I have developed solid differential bushings as well.

For those wondering, the MRF Engineering Motorsport sub-frame bushings are fully designed and engineered in-house at MRF and CNC'd right here in Southern California.

Thanks, Malek. It's definitely on the to-do list for sure.

I was mostly wondering whether there was sufficient overlap with the brake work and exhaust install we are going to do that we could knock it all out at the same time? I'll be in touch.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Thanks, Malek. It's definitely on the to-do list for sure.

I was mostly wondering whether there was sufficient overlap with the brake work and exhaust install we are going to do that we could knock it all out at the same time? I'll be in touch.

This is gonna cost a pretty penny

But yea, I'd plan to do at same time too. I'm going to do SS brake lines while everything is off too but this is in a while. Keeping a close eye on rod bearings since I'm at 76k miles.

[flipm3]

Very nice review!!

From a lot of the bushing manufacturers I've spoken with over the years, many of them echo your impressions. Most of the drastically added NVH always stems from differential mounts/bushings. Where as the subframe bushings transmit much less added NVH, if any.

Thanks for sharing.

[Longboarder]

Excellent review Steve. This is probably mandatory on an S/C at the track.

I'd be all over this if I wasn't venturing to another platform.

[Wendall]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Excellent review Steve. This is probably mandatory on an S/C at the track.

I'd be all over this if I wasn't venturing to another platform.

What's next?

[esquire]

Wouldn't have this done anywhere but MRF. Nice write up. I'll be getting them too

[OM VT3]

When I go WOT on my SC car I have to fight the back to keep it straight do you think these will fix it?

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by leigh

When I go WOT on my SC car I have to fight the back to keep it straight do you think these will fix it?

Yes. A big point in doing this is to stabilize the rear end. The factory car was designed for 414hp and 295 tq. Deflection and transfer become a major problem as power levels increase, especially with forced induction.

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Excellent review Steve. This is probably mandatory on an S/C at the track.

I'd be all over this if I wasn't venturing to another platform.

If you venture far enough to get rid of your M sell me your midpipe (seriously) as Malek has gone MIA on this and i'm thinking it will not be made again.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

If you venture far enough to get rid of your M sell me your midpipe (seriously) as Malek has gone MIA on this and i'm thinking it will not be made again.

My M3 lease is not up until Aug 2015...so I will have it until then. Maybe I'll buy out the M3 unless there is another car would be a better DD. There's a couple people with the MRF X and I've seen it posted for sale before on the forum.

[ki__]

Great review! If I keep my M3 I'll be doing this one day.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

Ben,

Labor is approximately 12 hours when it's all said and done as there are a lot of steps to ensure the job is done correctly.

As biggynuts01 said, this modification is mandatory in my eyes. It is the reason why the modern M's are switching over to this design, although I do feel they are 10 years too late to the party and should have implemented this type of design theory when the cars began to increase in power astronomically to prevent all the sub-frame issues they had in the past.

NVH increase is non-existent with the change of the sub-frame bushings themselves and extremely minimal change in noise from doing the differential bushings in conjunction. For most of the street car and occasional weekend racer vehicles, I opt to use the Turner Delrin differential bushings along with the MRF sub-frame bushings. For cars that are more dedicated to track usage, I have developed solid differential bushings as well.

For those wondering, the MRF Engineering Motorsport sub-frame bushings are fully designed and engineered in-house at MRF and CNC'd right here in Southern California.

MRF do you have any that are suitable for the z4m??

[pkimM3r]

So whats the price on this? Any difference if going solid diff mounts?

Biggy your car is all of a sudden more than track ready lol. When you going out next time?

[Wendall]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

So whats the price on this? Any difference if going solid diff mounts?

Biggy your car is all of a sudden more than track ready lol. When you going out next time?

Pkim, this is a sick ass mod. I definitely recommend it, both subframe and diff bushings.

Its the most noticeable suspension upgrade that I have done. Well i mean it the best upgrade after getting a decent coilover.

[Ant Man]

Originally Posted by biggynuts01

Pkim, this is a sick ass mod. I definitely recommend it, both subframe and diff bushings.

Its the most noticeable suspension upgrade that I have done. Well i mean it the best upgrade after getting a decent coilover.

How many hours labour to install both subframe and diff bushings pls?

I'd really like to have a better feel for the diff whine before going ahead with any changes. Would you be able to post a video so that it can be heard? I.e what you hear from the driver's seat. Is it akin to straighcut racing gearboxes but quieter?

[BESTNDA416]

Originally Posted by biggynuts01

I recently had MRF solid subframe bushings and Turner Motorsport aluminum/delrin differential mounts installed - at MRF.

First off, I was a bit scared to get the solid subframe bushings installed because of the forums. There is a lot of misguided and misleading information from forum members. In fact, a lot of forum member's input regarding subframe bushings garbage. If they really think it causes NVH then they should be driving a Buick.

I decided to proceed with the solid differential and sub-frame install, mostly due to reviews from italyx and talking with Malek.

Malek was awesome as usual and my car was done on time.

Driving experience. There is no freaking increase in NVH from the sub-frame bushings! None at all, Unless your eardrums are on steroids. It sounds and feels no different than the rubber bushings.

However, with the aluminum/delrin turner motorsport differential mounts, there is slightly more noise. There is a slight whine that increases with speed, but it sounds awesome and the sound seems to level off once you get past 80mph. The noise is faint enough that it gets drowned out by rolling the windows down or playing music.I personally, love the noise, it sounds like a racecar - yet faint.

Performance wise. I noticed that my car no longer breaks loose at the top of 2nd and 3rd where it used to like clockwork. There is much more traction from reduced wheel hop. The car is more direct and feels more agile. It feels much closer to my Cayman s (which I use as my benchmark). It makes the car's chassis feel like a solid block of metal in which every input translates directly to an output.

I would say this is one of the best mods that increase performance by far.

How much was the MRF solid aluminum subframe bushings if you don't mind me asking?