Body Bushing Question

[lsukevinc]

The majority of my body mount bushings look shot like the one in the picture. I plan to order a set this week and begin the challenge to change then out. I am curious, since I have a body lift, anyone ever completely remove them mount the body lift directly between the body and the body mount? Not that I plan to do it, I am more curious. Hopefully the new bushings will help my door alignment problems.

 

[Whoaa]

I am curious, since I have a body lift, anyone ever completely remove them mount the body lift directly between the body and the body mount? QUOTE]

^..........I'm trying to understand what this means.

Yes, there are bushings between the frame and the body at each mount location. And in your pic there are body lift spacers. Over the years I have seen a "body lift" made from all types of different things...some good, some not.

The door alingment issue won't be solved by installing new body bushings, but your on the right track. At one time the doors were probably perfectly aligned, then someone installed a body lift and didn't put the shims back.

In your pic, it is easy to see the bushing & block are NOT sitting square to the mounting surface.

To get nicely aligned doors you need to shim the body in different mounting locations, using different height shims until everything lines up nicely. Often times this takes great patients and some fit-n-try steps of what shims seems to help and which ones don't.

 

[Crawdad]

Whoa is right. When you install new bushings expect to throw everything out of whack. You should be lucky and not have to cut he bolts off like most of us are having to do. Buying new bushings will get you back to square and that's a good position to be in. Do one at a time and follow directions. The bushings only go so far before they bottom out. Once you bottom out stop! Good luck!

 

[lsukevinc]

I am curious, since I have a body lift, anyone ever completely remove them mount the body lift directly between the body and the body mount? QUOTE]

^..........I'm trying to understand what this means.
What I intended to say was mount the body lift "puck" directly onto the frame mount without a rubber bushing between the body mount and the body lift "puck". Has any one ever done this, or is the bushing required below the body lift?

 

[matts460]

I get what your sayin but I doubt anybody has done that and the closest thing to it would be poly bushings. I would have to say think about what that rubber bushing is doing and what the frame does when driving off road of any kind. And how that would effect the body tub. I think solid mounting could be done but with a full roll cage that is tied to the frame front to back. That would be one rigid body structure! Would be great if you were road racing it. lol

 

[bronconut73]

I am curious, since I have a body lift, anyone ever completely remove them mount the body lift directly between the body and the body mount? QUOTE]

^..........I'm trying to understand what this means.
What I intended to say was mount the body lift "puck" directly onto the frame mount without a rubber bushing between the body mount and the body lift "puck". Has any one ever done this, or is the bushing required below the body lift?

Nah...
But consider WH 1" body lift. It uses a really thick poly bushing instead of a seperate spacer.
Since most of us have pretty smashed body bushings the WH 1" body lift bushings tend to be 1.5" over what we started with.
If 1.5" is enough for you it is a nice way to go. Body lift and bushings in one kit. Only about a hundred bucks.

 

[suthernboy]

What I intended to say was mount the body lift "puck" directly onto the frame mount without a rubber bushing between the body mount and the body lift "puck". Has any one ever done this, or is the bushing required below the body lift?

If the puck is the hard plastic or phenolic type that would not be a good idea. There needs to be some cushioning (rubber or poly) for vibration isolation.

 

[savage]

DON'T JUST USE THE BODY LIFT. You think the bronco is a ruff ride now, eliminate the rubber bushings and you'll feel everything through the body lift.

 

[suthernboy]

DON'T JUST USE THE BODY LIFT. You think the bronco is a ruff ride now, eliminate the rubber bushings and you'll feel everything through the body lift.

And not only YOU will feel it....all the dash components...gauge cluster, switches, radio, etc. and also all your lights will feel it too! None of those things are separately isolated against vibration.

 

[lsukevinc]

ok, I figured they had a purpose, thanks for your input.

 

[Unknown]

WH 1" Body Lift should look something like this when installed and it's a poly bushing which absorbs vibration.

 

[sxr800]

Poly bushings are great but for the body mounts I'm going to use rubber. Not scientific at all but by touch poly is very dense and almost hard. I'm sure there is different grades but I think the rubber might have a better cushioning and vibration ( preventing ) affect.
No way would I ever go straight body to frame without rubber or poly.

 

[DirtDonk]

I'm sure rubber must have that property too, but I've never been able to tell the difference between rubber and poly from a driver's perspective. In my DD Bronco and almost-DD F350, changing to poly body mounts and other isolation bushings (springs, radius arms, trackbar, etc.) never resulted in any undue harshness.

It was probably there, but even my sometimes over-sensitive butt could not detect it.

Paul

 

[Bronco Bobby]

Looking for bolt size and directions for a wild horses 1" body lift. Package had washers only no bolts or nuts and on their website someone's review talked about where to use a smaller washer. I think it was the front but not sure. Any help would be appreciated, as I what to hit the hardware store first thing in the morning. Thanks in advance

 

[Bronco Bobby]

Never mind to the above question. I found the bolts and directions in a separate bag under some suspension parts in my delivery box.

 

[DirtDonk]

Glad you found them Bobby. They're also available online here: http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Custom_Body_Lift_Kit_1in
Just click on the link to the PDF in the first description, or click on the "installation" tab and it takes you to the instructions here: http://cdn.wildhorses4x4.com/downloads/WH/1910-1924 01-18-08.pdf

Not sure if it gives all the bolt lengths for each kit, but it does show the orientation of the washers.

Paul

 

[lsukevinc]

I swapped out my passenger side body mounts last night. It turns out they are the original ford mounts. The bronco had a restoration in 2007, but I guess the previous owner never changed them out.

Currently, the bronco has a 2" body lift. I have a 302 with a edelbrock intake and 600 cfm carb. Can I get by with only 1" of body lift? I really don't like the look of a body lift, but do not want to cut my hood either.

 

[DirtDonk]

If it's a Performer manifold (and not one of the taller ones) you can get away with NO body lift if you want. You'd need a stock, or other very low profile air cleaner, but it's very workable in most cases.
But a 1" does make it just that much easier. And better for other future mods as well, including transmission swaps and such.

Not to mention making things like starter changes a tiny bit easier.

Paul

 

[lsukevinc]

If it's a Performer manifold (and not one of the taller ones) you can get away with NO body lift if you want. You'd need a stock, or other very low profile air cleaner, but it's very workable in most cases.
But a 1" does make it just that much easier. And better for other future mods as well, including transmission swaps and such.

Not to mention making things like starter changes a tiny bit easier.

Paul

exactly what I was hoping for. thank you. I have an aftermarket large tank but I see the previous owner has a piece of wood in between the tank and the bed already.

 

[Pa PITT]

.. Sorry I don't read well .. So I bypassed several post.. But I think if you set the body down on the Solid Frame mount you'd have more SQUEAKS. Than a stock Bronco.
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