Body mount bushing replacement

[jco77on]

Sorry, I didn't see an appropriate section for this question so I put it here.

1989 4x4 supercab, the body mount bushings are in sad shape. Since I'm all about preventive maintenance, I want to get them replaced. I ordered a set of prothane poly bushings and a hardware set. I took it to a shop to get it done, because I don't have any time at the moment and I've been wanting to get it done.
The shop called me a while later and said this bushing kit isn't the right kit. He said he put the back bushing on (the tall skinny one in the picture, see link at bottom) and it almost falls through the mount. That the hole is almost as big around as the bushing. Has anyone used this kit? Was he just using the wrong bushing in that spot? Thanks for any advice.

http://www.prothanesuspensionparts.com/6106

 

[shortzt]

I used it and my mount brackets were rusted so evenly it was a perfect circle that was rusted about as big as the old mount, I welded the right size washer over it to fix the rusted hole, obviously a new body mount bracket would of been best, but it was a time and money circumstance

 

[Mark_88]

Same here...I took the cab off to sandblast the frame before painting it and found the hole as big as the fitting...so I had the guy weld a washer on both rear mounts...then painted it...that mount was still good the day I scrapped the truck...

I probably could have removed them and used them on the new frame...but decided to go with new mounts...just as soon as I win that lottery!

 

[adsm08]

I'm with the other guys, it's more likely that the bracket is rusted out that badly rather than you have the wrong part.

I had the exact same experience recently, and did the same fix, a couple heavy gauge 1 1/2 washers on the brackets and I'm good to go.

 

[jco77on]

I kind of thought that it may be rusted out...but it seems that the tech would have said the mount needed to be replaced, not just that the bushing was too small. I've found this set at bronco graveyard that looks different than mine. I emailed them asking what the o.d. of their bushings were to compare to the prothane dimensions.

http://shop.broncograveyard.com/Body-Mount-Bushings-Ranger-Red/productinfo/83006/#

edit: Also, there's not a lot of rust on this truck (one of the big reasons I got it) so I'd be surprised that there would be a major rust problem on the body mount but not really anywhere else...

 

[Mark_88]

I think the spring and body mounts might have been outsourced at some point because the frame on my 96 is pretty much rust free...well, surface rust from 20 years of exposure...but all the mounts on the passenger side were replaced and the ones on the driver side are shot...so it would appear a different metal source or, perhaps...poor treatment of those parts prior to being installed at the factory...

Hmmmm...$60 for the entire set...I paid $80 per mount back in 2004...and the whole six cost me 6x$80=$480

They were only installed in 2004 and were so badly rusted inside the sleeve...I would caution you to protect them with something like grease...you may never remove them and I certainly didn't expect to...but if I had taken the time back then I could save myself quite a bit of headache...

 

[jco77on]

Well $60 for the whole set of the poly aftermarket ones. If I wanted oem rubber mounts it would cost about what you paid.

So recent development. Looking at Bronco Graveyard, I found this kit here
(link) that looks a lot like what I got, with the tall skinny rear mounts. Which is for an F series. I wonder if prothane has the kit that I got mis-labeled? BG's kit here(link) looks more like what I need. I think the tall skinny ones in the Prothane kit would be too tall, even if not for the o.d. issue.

 

[Mark_88]

Do they have the center core metal pieces or do you need to buy them separate? Mine had the cores and I was just looking at one that I might be able to salvage...but they are so bad I'm thinking of taking them back to Ford and complain...only 11 years in service and they are shot...

 

[jco77on]

Both the kits I mentioned do not come with the hardware. Seems like most aftermarket kits don't. I ordered a new set of hardware (bolts, large area washers, nuts, and sleeves) from James Duff (here).

I've learned on this truck, it's worth the extra money pretty much anytime I replace anything to just get new hardware. That way I can cut, torch, hammer on the old stuff to get it out, lol.