body mount bushings

[phybere]

I'm in the middle of attempting to put a 3" lift on my '94 ranger, and nothing is going as planned so far...
After removing the bolts that go through the body mount bushings, are the nuts (with the welded on washers) supposed to just pull off the bushings? They seem to still be attached somehow, although they spin freely.
So far I've had to cut one of the bolts to get it out, and another of the bolts snapped off (and now the nut won't come out)
Also, is there any hope for replacing the factory nuts with regular nuts and a washer? I've found they're quite expensive from a dealership, and no parts stores seem to have them.
Thanks

 

[metalmacguyver]

hardware from the hardware store is fine. the bolts rusted and expanded inside the bushings. cut them with an angle grinder or a torch if you can get in there. brute force is the only other way.

 

[4x4junkie]

The bushings sleeves are flared. It's said you can thread the bolt in from the top and then beat it out with a sledgehammer, although I didn't have much luck. I had to get in there witha Dremel and a tiny bit and grind away at the flare until it was weakened enough to drive it through (and this was when the truck was less than 2 years old, too. Not sure if being another 11 years older will work for, or against you).