Howdy All
I just noticed that the rear radius arm bushing on the driver side of my '96 Bronco is gone. Not just worn out, GONE.

So, Can anybody tell me what to measure to determine if the bracket itself is worn out? Min/Max diameter of the hole that the arm goes through?

Thanks

 

I have never seen one wear, even with the bushing gone, but I suppose given enough time, it could happen. I always replace mine with the Napa ones, NCP 2749148. They allow for caster/camber adjustment. I don't have any brackets hanging on the wall to measure...

 

Now you have:
http://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/1052066

That was my driver's side radius arm bracket. Notice how the hole is not perfectly round. The bushing was totally shot (along with everything else on the front suspension...) and the radius arm was rubbing directly against the bracket. I replaced this bracket with a Napa Chassis one.
To OP: If your bracket looks like mine, where you can clearly see the hole is not perfectly round, then replace it. If it looks like it's still round, leave it be.

 

And... Brackets and bushings come with lift kits.

 

my lift didn't come with radius arm brackets. although I am running extended radius arms so I am sure that is the difference.

 

Yeah, ten-four... extended radius arms use the original brackets.

 

So there you have it Ron - Order a lift kit, with drop brackets, and all will be taken care of.

 

Drop brackets are not a good way to lift the TTB. just go buy a new bracket

 

I agree, drop brackets suck... but they have round holes in them.

 

Thanks to everybody for chiming in.

My Driver side bracket looked a lot like exranger06 so I replaced it and put a set of Moog bushings in it. FWIW, I did not have to disassemble the whole shock and coil the way that the instructions recommend. A little creative jack work and a pry bar and it was golden. It took far longer to grind the factory rivets than to do anything else.

No lift kit in the future of this rig. I'm to old and broken to dig another 4x4 out of the mud 20 miles from home.

The Passenger side bracket and bushings have been replaced by a PO and leaves me with another question. The passenger side bushing set has a steel "Cap" that covers the rear portion of the bushing set. I am wondering if this is a heat shield of some sort since the assembly is so close to the CAT? Any input appreciated here. I bought brackets and bushings for both sides but if the passenger side needs the heat shield I will fab something up before I take it apart.

Also, I'm thinking that SDElwood and I should not spend time together working on our trucks. It sounds like the beer budget would be more than the parts budget and starts to get a little scary.

Thanks again everybody. And please let me know what you think about the "Heat Shield" or what may be going on with the passenger side.

 

Yes, the metal thing is a heat shield. I don't think they're that necessary. I don't have them on my Bronco or my Explorer and I've never had any problem with not having one. But if yours is reusable, you might as well reinstall it.

 

I think my factory ones have lived their lives.... this is off my free 1994 Bronco.