Replacing Body Mounts?

[DEANCURTIS17]

I am interested in replacing my body mounts, I believe they are the original and completely shot. My questions are.....

Can I replace the body mounts without removing the entire body? I do not have the means to lift the body off, nor want to.

Do I replace them one by one, or do I loosen/remove all of the bolts and then move my jack around to each one?

Realistically, how hard is it? Few hours, afternoon, or weekend job?

Anyone who has done this and can provide some feedback, advice, and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Dean

 

[daddyg]

I haven't done it yet myself but I need to. Here is a tech article from another member on how to do it.

http://classicbroncos.com/bodymount.shtml

 

[Steve]

It'll probably take the better part of a day because removing the stock ones is a PITA. No, you don't have to take the body off. I'd do one side at a time by loosening all of them, and then you should be able to lift part of the body (rear corner, under the doors, at the front) at a time which should let you replace two at a time while the body is lifted. If you lift the body just enough to do this you shouldn't have a problem with wiring, steering, etc.

 

[broncobear22]

I did this on mine and a buddies bronco. it didn't take that long, maybe a few hours with air tools and floor jacks. We loosened all the bolts (luckly that none broke because of rust, this would be a factor on time if a bolt broke because of rust!! UGLY!!) Then we lifted the drivers side replaced the mounts and installed new bolts but left them loose. Then did the same on the passenger side. After both sides were done we zapped them down with an airgun. Then drove around for a few days and checked all the bolts again. We did both of ours in one day. Hope that is help!! I would probably start it on a saturday to give time in case of problems. Oh, Don't forget about taking off the fan shroud before you start. We broke my buddies, but we did a 2" body lift, so you may not have problems with it. Have fun!

 

[JKrieg70]

I just did this about a month ago, I was lucky in that my body mount bolts were in decent condition and came out easy. Make sure you soak the bolts really good with penetrating oil at least the day before. The way that I lifted the body was just by placing a bottle jack under the driverside rocker and put a 4x4 in between the jack and the rocker panel. Pumped it up a few times and the body starts to rise on that side. I just replaced one side at a time. Obviously make sure you take out all the bolts first. I think the tech article to the left gives a pretty good description of how to do things. I would recommed using the 1" Wild Horses Body lift. Its just taller body mounts and you gain an inch of clearance.

 

[asabadin]

It is a definite p.i.t.a. but is do able inside of a day. i took the saws all to my stock mounts. It made it alot easier. The crappy part is installing the ones that are in the bed by the rear seat, especially if your 6'1 and have a hard top and carpeting like i do. Oh yeah i went with the one piece polyeurethane pucks from wild horses with a 1 inch body lift built in. less parts= less stress. just my opinion

 

[MarsChariot]

I did the 1 inch Wild Horses body lift and recommend it. Really solves a lot of clearance issues without the woes. Should have come with that amount of lift. Took my time, and carefully removed the old bolts. The lower washers are usually stuck to the uppers, so you will need to do something to separate them. I mangled mine until they separated. Use a block of wood under the rocker panels and jack up one side at a time after removing the bolts. Put a piece of thin cardboard over the hole in the frame that is immediately underneath the mounts just behind the driver's seat. Otherwise you WILL drop something down the hole. Two days if you are careful and methodical.

 

[72_EB]

Count a long day if you have everything you need. Bolts are varying sizes and can hold you up. Sawzall is your best friend through old bolts and old bushings. Duct tape over holes in frame so you don't drop new nuts and washers down into the frame. Don't forget to put the beer on ice for afterwards.

 

[Mark]

Pain in the Arse,
I tried to be calm and methodical.
No progress was made until I got Pi$$ed off.

 

[michael welch]

One thing that knowbody metioned is look at all the gaps around the doors, such as the gaps between the bottom of the doors and tops of the rockers and how the gaps between the back edge of the door and the rear qt. panel and front and back edge of the front fenders, and note how the gaps are before you start (this might be a good time to rebuild your door hinges also). When I did mine I ended getting a selection of fender washers that had the right center hole size and the overall diameter the same as the body mounts and look at the thickness of the washer as you buy them they very in thickness a bunch. As said before do one side at a time , I used a 4x4 about 4' long placed under the rocker and one floor jack and lifted up the body high enough to remove the old rubber and slide in the new, relowering the body and sliping in the new bolts that come with the kit, I would start the nuts on the front and rear bolts and the one under your foot area, then do the other side now go and look at your door gaps. On all the broncos I've done the gaps can be made to look perfect if you go back and add the washers under select mounts. On mine the center mounts would take a one to there washers and the front and rears sometime none or maybe one, but the gaps around the doors look great. If you have to added washers on all the mounts then go back and find the one that has the fewest, remove that number and go back and remove that number from all the rest and recheck gaps. This takes time but in the end the doors will fit and close much better.

 

[Travismay26]

ABout that 1 in W.H.

For you guys who did the Wild Horses 1 in, did you need to make any other modifications, such as the ones they list on their web page, or is the 1 in so small it dosent effect cause any problems.

 

[JKrieg70]

I had to move my fan shroud about a 1/4 inch lower. No need for a new bracket, I just drilled new holes to gain enough clearance. I have also heard of people not having to do any adjustments at all. One thing to be sure of though, make sure you loosen the steering column bolts from the firewall and under the dash so it can slide a little.

 

[BroncoJAK]

I replaced mine with the mounts from a 2000 E350 van. I got then from a guy on ebay who works where they build motor homes. They get the cab and chassis from the factory and they have all the bushings installed. The motor home builders don't use the rear mounts. They are a lot bigger in diameter, the washers are graphite impregnated, and they give about a 3/4" lift. I've been very happy with them.

 

[flint_knapper]

For you guys who did the Wild Horses 1 in, did you need to make any other modifications, such as the ones they list on their web page, or is the 1 in so small it dosent effect cause any problems.

I did the WH 1" lift, and agree that the bronco should
have came stock this way. I have the c4 auto and power
steering. The shft linkage needs to be loose at the trans.
the steering column mounts at the inside firewall should
be loose as well. And watch out for that hole in the frame
behind the front seats it will eat anything that falls on it...........
Actually it is under the raised mount that is there.

 

[JKrieg70]

I dont think I have that hole. Mine is a 70 and when I put on my body lift I felt around for it under that mount, but couldnt find anything.

 

[Mark]

I replaced mine with the mounts from a 2000 E350 van. I got then from a guy on ebay who works where they build motor homes. They get the cab and chassis from the factory and they have all the bushings installed. The motor home builders don't use the rear mounts. They are a lot bigger in diameter, the washers are graphite impregnated, and they give about a 3/4" lift. I've been very happy with them.

I have those also.
That's Mike French of Bronco Heaven in Goshen IN.
Mike's a smart Bronco nut.
I like those body mounts a lot!

 

[BroncoJAK]

I have those also.
That's Mike French of Bronco Heaven in Goshen IN.
Mike's a smart Bronco nut.
I like those body mounts a lot!

That's the guy. I've had mine for a few years now. They work great.