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H3 Crossmember bushing

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Just realized my crossmember bushing is shot, felt it hop when turning and sure enough the bushing is fried.
Now a few things..
Before everyone says get the outfitter design kit, I would like to figure out if there is an alternative solution because I have to make a 600 mile road trip in 2 days. I'm not sure/don't know if this is an urgent problem which needs to be addressed asap? Or can I do without it for a little while until I get the od kit?
I would like to fix it before I leave, but I can't find any oem/replacement parts online, plus the fact they won't arrive in 2 days + working + install time before my trip.
Is there anything that can be slightly modified that I could go pick up from a store? I read on a previous form someone used Chevy rear leaf spring bushings with slight modification. I also have to worry about the availability of any alternative.
Input is much appreciated!
I just don't want to blow a dif or something on my road trip


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Enter Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
244
Location
Southwest
Well you should get it fixed, but when mine was bad I didn't know what it was and kept driving it until about 1000 or so miles later when I replaced it (I was also towing a light trailer). If you drive like a granny like I do then you should be ok on 600 miles.

Side note: My OD kit showed up in about 3 days :) very quick!
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Well you should get it fixed, but when mine was bad I didn't know what it was and kept driving it until about 1000 or so miles later when I replaced it (I was also towing a light trailer). If you drive like a granny like I do then you should be ok on 600 miles.

Side note: My OD kit showed up in about 3 days :) very quick!

Thanks! Still trying to figure out if anyone else has used a similar type bushing. I do t care if it is a permanent fix or not, just something so I don't have it on my conscious for the next 600 miles


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woodwardsh3

Well-Known Member
Messages
519
Location
Oakland Co. Mi.
I bought 1 of these it took a week be for it came in. I bought it on ebay. and it looks decent . Maybe they can next day it to you. [FONT=&quot]B2110 Premium Front Differential Axle Bushing for 06-10 Hummer H3[/FONT]
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
I bought 1 of these it took a week be for it came in. I bought it on ebay. and it looks decent . Maybe they can next day it to you. [FONT=&quot]B2110 Premium Front Differential Axle Bushing for 06-10 Hummer H3[/FONT]

I think I'm just gonna order one and do the fix when I get home. Did you just drop the crossmember to install it? Or did you have to drop the diff too?


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Enter Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
244
Location
Southwest
You just need to dop the crossmember. If you have a press to push the old bushing out then you should be able to get it done in an hour or so. I unfortunately didn't have a press and applied all my hill-billy ingenuity to get the old bushing out. Still got it done in 2 1/2 ish hours. Mine came with instructions which were very helpful. I ordered mine directly from OutfitterDesigns and was sent 3 day priority mail.
 
Last edited:

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
You just need to dop the crossmember. If you have a press to push the old bushing out then you should be able to get it done in an hour or so. I unfortunately didn't have a press and applied all my hill-billy ingenuity to get the old bushing out. Still got it done in 2 1/2 ish hours. Mine came with instructions which were very helpful. I ordered mine directly from OutfitterDesigns and was sent 3 day priority mail.

Thanks! Yeah I don't have a press and although I do not want to put down my wrench head ability, I don't want to dig myself into a bigger hole than I planned on. Hopefully will just end up doing the scorpworks kit instead to save myself the hassle, I just cringe every time I put my truck in gear now


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JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,436
Location
Way up north, UT
I replaced mine two weeks ago with the OD kit. It took me all day but it was 105 out in the shade and I can't handle the heat very well.

You don't need to drop the diff, I have no idea why they tell you to do that in the instructions. I did the outers one at a time. Here's how I did it:

Starting on one side with the wheel still on the ground, break loose the lugnuts and axle nut. Jack up that side and finish taking off the wheel. Undo the tie-rod end and the upper ball joint and the retaining clips on the upper A-arm for the brake line and ABS sensor cable. I had to really hammer on the retaining bolt for the upper ball due to the rust. Oh, and trying to get the ball joint out of the knuckle was a pain too due to rust build up. I didn't have a press (the kind that comes in from the side and fits tight clearances) and it probably wouldn't have worked anyway.

I was able to pry the axle end out of the knuckle without too much fuss, it probably would've been easier if I had supported the frame an let the a-arm drop all the way down, but I did it anyway. No need to undo the lower ball joint.

Pop the axle out, then undo the 4 bolts holding the outer mount to the axle and the bolt going through the outer to the frame.

To press out the bushing I used a large vise, a couple 2" long pieces of angle iron, and a socket. I applied pressure as much as I could, then used a propane torch to heat the bracket where the bushing is pressed in and it allowed the rubber to release and finish pressing out the bushing, it made it super easy. This will leave the outer metal sleeve of the bushing still in the bracket, just use a sawzall to slit the sleeve and it will pop right out with a few hits. Be sure to not notch into the bracket itself.

Press in the new bushing halves and metal sleeve and reinstall the bracket and everything else, put the wheel back on to tighten the lugnuts and the axle nut. Do the other side the same way.

Then you can drop the crossmember, 2 bolts on each side and the diff bolt. It will take some prying to get it out probably. There won't be much to press out, the center sleeve is likely already seperated. I lit the remaining rubber on fire with the torch and let it burn out. To make it go faster use something to scrape off the softened rubber as it burns. Slit the sleeve and pop it out. Grind the weld like it says in the instructions and put the new bushing in. Reinstall. Done. Absolutely no need to drop the diff itself. Seriously, once you get the first outer bracket done it stops moving around a lot.
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Just realized my cvs are leaking due to stress from the crossmember bushing, axle seals appear to still be in tact. Need to fix this damn thing it's going to drive me nuts until then


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alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,667
Location
Scottsdale
If you need a temporary fix, remove the bolt, put washers or shims between the diff and the crossmember, and basically hard mount the diff to the crossmember to stop it from flopping around. You may need to do the same at the head of the bolt.
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
If you need a temporary fix, remove the bolt, put washers or shims between the diff and the crossmember, and basically hard mount the diff to the crossmember to stop it from flopping around. You may need to do the same at the head of the bolt.

I have had my gears turning all day trying to figure out a solution and I thought of this minutes before you posted this.. Thank you because that is a great idea. I will have to try and figure out what size washers to use, etc. but it looks like I'll be spending half the day under my rig tomorrow. Thanks alrock


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woodwardsh3

Well-Known Member
Messages
519
Location
Oakland Co. Mi.
I recived a email to day from am auto They say that all 3 bushing / mounts are the same. center and both end plate bushings
Front Differential Support Bracket Frame Brace Bushing for Hummer H3 H3T New 10 year warranty
Thank you for contacting us. Our parts advisor has stated that the Front Differential Mounting Bushings are correct for the side mounting plates.
Specifications:Brand New Front Differential Mounting BushingDirect replacementBuilt to strict quality control standards
Fits:2006-10 Hummer H3 Front2009-10 Hummer H3T Front
If you have any further questions, please let us know.
 

JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,436
Location
Way up north, UT
The center diff bushing is decidedly different from the outer two bushings. I looked around on ebay and didn't see anyone selling the outer bushings separate from the brackets.
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Spent a good portion of the day trying to add some spacers/washers to minimize movement in the diff. Made some progress but still does not drive great, will fix the crossmember bushing by after my trip. If that doesn't solve it then I'll have to do the outers, and if the problem still exists I believe something is wrong with the t-case/front driveshaft


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Happy Hummer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,462
Location
Wisconsin
Weird I posted before to offer some thoughts and the information is all gone.
I believe you could simply burn the bushing out and put a metal spacer with two large washers and that will do it.
Conversely you could save a lot of time and simply replace the bushing now.
 

awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Weird I posted before to offer some thoughts and the information is all gone.
I believe you could simply burn the bushing out and put a metal spacer with two large washers and that will do it.
Conversely you could save a lot of time and simply replace the bushing now.

I saw your comment and it disappeared.. Not sure what happened either. I left the old rubber in because I tried to drop the crossmember but the sun was going down and said screw it. Added a washer on top of the rubber, in between the crossmember and axle, as well as metal rings at the head of the bolt. The metal sleeve from the bushing is still in there. I found that in park I couldn't tighten it down all the way and when in drive it would shift downwards, so I put the truck in drive (brother on the brakes) and cranked it down. Worked much better this way.


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awalsh

Well-Known Member
Messages
349
Location
New Jersey
Would removing the front driveshaft help? I heard some weird squeaking sounds today driving. Crossmember bushing on the way


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alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,667
Location
Scottsdale
Nope. You just need to start fixing one obvious problem at a time. Squeaking? Can you add some more detail?
 
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