Body lift Problem!

[djschick88]

I am installing a 3" body lift and i am having problems with the OEM front body mounts. I cant get the bolts to come out. The directions say i need to drill out the front core support sleeve i need to know what that means. Any help is appreciated! And thank you in advance.

-DJ

 

[alaskan155]

the little washer looking thing that sits on top off the rubber bushing i beleive needs to be drilled out to 1/2" or the bolt wont go threw

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

Basically, because the bolts in the kit are not fully threaded like the stock ones, you need to drill the threads on the mount(call it a nut if you want) so that the new bolt just slides right through the nut, then the factory nut on top is what actually holds the from together.

I really only have experience with 98+ kits, but I assume the same is true for old models. Is there a bolt that goes vertical that threads into the mount, then there's a nut on top of that mount?

 

[BlueThunder]

I had to take a torch to my front body mounts to get the bolts out. Get them red hot and the bolt will turn right out.

 

[djschick88]

My problem is that i cant get the factory bolts out of the body mounts. Is the sleeve that the bolt goes through threaded? And i dont have a torch to heat the bolt with do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the help so far, i greatly appreciate it.

-DJ

 

[BlackBII]

Leverage. Get more of it.

Do you have a breaker bar and or an impact gun?

 

[BlueThunder]

On my 99 the front two body mount bolts came out from underneath the truck. The rest go in from the top. I removed the nut on top of the bolts. I then used a cutting disk on a grinder and cut the heads of the bolts off. Then I pieced together several ratchet extensions and beat the crap out of it with a hammer. This obviously isn't the best or safest way to do things but sometimes when you're working on stuff in your backyard you have to use what you have on hand. At least I did wear safety glasses. The toughest part of the whole project was those damn front mount bolts. I tried everything under the sun to get them out of that disk looking mount. The torch was the last option. I even let them soak for a few days in lubricant. They were seized in there for good. Without a torch I would have been screwed. When I did get them out I cut about an inch off the stem of the body mount instead of drilling them out to accomodate the slightly larger bolt that came with the kit. Again, some people would not approve of that method but by this time I was getting aggravated and tired of dealing with it. Besides, I didn't have a bench vise to hold the mount while I drilled it out.

 

[BlueThunder]

After I was finished it all worked out fine. I'm sure there are plenty of more experienced people on this site that can give you better suggestions. These were my solutions. Like I said, sometimes you have to be a bit creative when using what you have. Good luck.

 

[djschick88]

Leverage. Get more of it.

Do you have a breaker bar and or an impact gun?

Yes and yes its not that i cant get the bolt to turn i just cant get the bolt to drop out of the mount. The nut is off but the bolt wont budge i have hit it over and over and over.

 

[Downey]

you need heat go buy a map gas torch from lowes or someplace like that

 

[djschick88]

you need heat go buy a map gas torch from lowes or someplace like that

Well i guess it sounds like i should try the heat method but if there are any other ways please let me know!!

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

I've never done a bodylift without using heat and an air impact... It's virtually required because the bolts are COVERED in locktite from the factory.

 

[djschick88]

Ok after school ill have to get one and try it out.

 

[atvkid4eva]

Those bolt usually get very rusty and i dont think even map gas will free them the easiest thing to do and what ive done on the many body lifts ive installed is just take some PB blaster let it sit for a couple day and then apply heat and get the biggest breaker bar you can and give it a shot...easier thing would be to find a buddy or someone that has an accetylene torch that will free them easily. Its hit and miss some came out like butter and some broke.

 

[93Ranger4x4]

I've put a body lift on 2 rangers i used to have, an 89 and an 01. I never had a problem with the front bolts, nor did i need to drill the holes out. does the whole entire mount turn when you are trying to turn on the bolt? or is it just that the mount nor the bolt will turn at all? I would suggest a 1/2 inch breaker bar, and a nice sturdy cheater pipe on the breaker bar, then you could put all your weight into it to try and free it up. I did the body lift on my 01 with no heat and nothing but basic hand tools, i didnt use an impact on anything.