I'm considering doing mine but before I do I wanted to get an ideas of what kind of difference can I expect? Less squeaks and rattles? What about rounding corners...will the car feel more glued to the road even if the control arms all still have the stockers?
Who here has replaced their frame to body bushings?
- Thread starter "Turbo-T"
- Start date
Red Regal T
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
I don't know if I can tell you changing your bushings is going to make you TR feel like a formula 1 racer, but if you're going to keep the car for a while, it's just an upgrade you should do if you feel your present rubber bushings are shot.
Well John actually I was under my car doing something, looked up and was greeted by a cracked and splitting body mount bushing.
However IMO the car doesn't really drive bad, well maybe a little sloppy but probably because it also has the stock control arm bushings.
However IMO the car doesn't really drive bad, well maybe a little sloppy but probably because it also has the stock control arm bushings.
Red Regal T
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
Well, if your bushings are shot, then it would just be something to make your car better. It's bound to tighten it up.
V8Assassin
100mi away ready 2 strike
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
It will tighten it up, the poly's even more. I haven't done alot of street driving since I changed mine to poly's, but there is a definite difference. Not the easiest task in the world, remember to coax those body bolts out, not exactly the easist fix if you break them.
I dont know how bad your's are, but some of mine were literally missing in the rear of the car. Over large bumps the body would actually bang against the frame.
I replaced them with the poly bushings and what a difference. Car is super tight now. Maybe too tight, I would go with stock rubber if I had to do it again. Install is a bitch, broke a few of the nuts from the body removing the bolts, had to tear up the floor, reweld new nuts in, then put the floor back in. If the car doesnt have much rust/low miles you should be ok. If nothing breaks on you, its not a bad job at all. Use an impact to get the bolts out if you can, less chance of breaking stuff.
I replaced them with the poly bushings and what a difference. Car is super tight now. Maybe too tight, I would go with stock rubber if I had to do it again. Install is a bitch, broke a few of the nuts from the body removing the bolts, had to tear up the floor, reweld new nuts in, then put the floor back in. If the car doesnt have much rust/low miles you should be ok. If nothing breaks on you, its not a bad job at all. Use an impact to get the bolts out if you can, less chance of breaking stuff.
V8Assassin
100mi away ready 2 strike
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
Depends on the amount of rust in the car. Mine was from Buffalo and had flat out cancer. I only broke one, but was very careful. Luckily it was the back on and access was easy, just cut a hole in the trunk and there is was.
As far as lifting, takes about 4" clearance to change them out. best to have everything that connects like steering, brake/fuel lines, ect.. unhooked. I used two floor jacks and some assorted lumber including 4x4's to rest the between body and frame once separated.
It's also a good time to go ahead and address any hard to reach rust spots or cleaning that needs to be done. Go ahead and get everything done you can while you have the body and frame separated. Not a job you want to do twice.
Oh yeah, above post is correct, might want to think about replacing with original rubber bushings if a stock like ride feel is what you are going for.
Red Regal T
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
If you do it, I'd say pass on the rubber bushings. I didn't feel any significant difference other than the car felt tighter upon replacing with the poly bushings. What you can do is go around and see how much rust you have. Try to break loose the bolts without going crazy. If you have signicant rust in the frame, it's really a pain in the ass. I don't even know how guys with northern cars can even do the job without being able to weld in sections that will rip out.
turboc87gn
Darkside in Detroit
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2008
Im not sure but i think its the nuts that are attached to the body that rip out when trying to remove the bolts and the and the bolts run thru the frame and thru the bushing...
Red Regal T
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
The retaining nuts are trapped in a cage inside the frame. As you turn to remove, the nut locks inside this cage so you can continue to remove the bolt. The bolt can be rusted solid to the "nut" and it can break out of the cage and then the whole thing spins, or another scenario is ripping out part of the cage. Then what you have to do is go in through the top to access the whole mess and then repair the damage. If you think you have rusted in nuts and bolts, you can drill a hole over the retaining nut and saturate it with penetrating oil before you start breaking them loose.
Red Regal T
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
My Red car was a Florida car. I had no problems with it but I did attempt to do a car I owned that apparently was from the North somewhere. I ripped out a big chunk of the body under the back seat trying to get one of the fasteners loose. With that, I understood, some cars aren't worth bothering with. I quit and sold the POS.
regal81455
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2008
Id saturate them with PB blaster atleast 2-3 times a weeks for about 2-3 weeks prior to replacement - also use a torch if available and heat the bolt up CHERRY RED this will help too - ask me how I know I just had to open up to holes in my truck to remove to broken bolts...
I just had to open up to holes in my truck to remove to broken bolts...bmackinnon
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
Become best friends with your local body shop owner. I took mine to a body shop where he had the power tools, lift, and 30 years of experience. That's my .02 cents. Make sure you loosen the rear bumper or you will break your bumper fillers. Also, many folks suggest adding bushings where the factory left them out. If you add these missing bushings, your car will ride firmer. You might actually like the soft mushy ride better. Plus it is less work if you don't replace those bushings. One last thing- I broke the rusty fuel line when the body separated from the frame. So keep an eye on that.
That's my .02 cents. Make sure you loosen the rear bumper or you will break your bumper fillers. Also, many folks suggest adding bushings where the factory left them out. If you add these missing bushings, your car will ride firmer. You might actually like the soft mushy ride better. Plus it is less work if you don't replace those bushings. One last thing- I broke the rusty fuel line when the body separated from the frame. So keep an eye on that.