Cab mount bushing issue
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New User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3
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From: Idaho
Cab mount bushing issue
Alright guys! Maybe a dumb repeated question but . .
I have a 76 F250 highboy that had some nasty cab mount bushings on the passenger side of the cab. I bought the polyurethane set from LMC, got the old bushing and retainers off and apart on the passenger side. Resused the retainers, since the kit didn't come with hardware and was told to reuse the old hardware. My problem is the driver side is much more difficult, the hardware is stuck together and it ain't coming apart. It's looking like I gotta cut those suckers off but I cant seem to find replacement retainers. Any suggestions on hardware? Anyone who has used and replaced their bushings with the polyurethane set from LMC got tips?
I have a 76 F250 highboy that had some nasty cab mount bushings on the passenger side of the cab. I bought the polyurethane set from LMC, got the old bushing and retainers off and apart on the passenger side. Resused the retainers, since the kit didn't come with hardware and was told to reuse the old hardware. My problem is the driver side is much more difficult, the hardware is stuck together and it ain't coming apart. It's looking like I gotta cut those suckers off but I cant seem to find replacement retainers. Any suggestions on hardware? Anyone who has used and replaced their bushings with the polyurethane set from LMC got tips?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
Likes: 7
From: Durham, NC
First off Penetrate penetrate... Repeat daily for a few days. Then.
Best thing to use as a pounder is a hardened tractor pin with the tip grounded down so that it fits inside the threads.
Then take the mounting bolt and thread it in underneath upwards til the threads of the bolt reach the top of the threads if the retainer.
Then insert modified tractor pin into the top and pound repeatedly with a BFH. I always wear a welding glove with the hand holding the pin in case I miss it only hurts my thumb a little while and not for days. Usually falls out on about the 5'th or 12'th swing.
Hope that helps!
Best thing to use as a pounder is a hardened tractor pin with the tip grounded down so that it fits inside the threads.
Then take the mounting bolt and thread it in underneath upwards til the threads of the bolt reach the top of the threads if the retainer.
Then insert modified tractor pin into the top and pound repeatedly with a BFH. I always wear a welding glove with the hand holding the pin in case I miss it only hurts my thumb a little while and not for days. Usually falls out on about the 5'th or 12'th swing.
Hope that helps!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 12
From: KY
Some stick pretty badly,,I had my cab off so I was able to cut out the bushing from around the hardware , and lucky enough the bolts came out , so I cut the top of plate off hardware and was able to drop it out and then used a torch to heat cherry red and was finally able to separate the sleeves and plan on welding the top back on the one sleeve to reuse,, other option is to make your own as you can buy sleeves and weld on top plates an lower nut and with the one you did get off you can use as a pattern ,,and you can buy the lower sleeves from 1973-1979 Ford Bronco and F Series Truck Body Mount Sleeve, Large Lower-Broncograveyard.com , there are 3 types front radiatorsupport front an rear cab but only the lower part , still have to make upper
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,601
Likes: 1,174
From: San Jose, CA
Surprised you got one side off totally without much of a fight to begin with, so congratulations on that at least!
What they said about removing the others. You were at least able to get the bolts out, correct? If not that could be more trouble, but once the bolts are out the penetrating oil and big hammer are your friend.
In extreme cases there are several ways to remove them (with power tools) but it seems like the easiest (if any of them are easy...) is to drill straight up from the bottom with a drill just larger than the hole. Sometimes you only have to get a little bit into it before the main washer separates and you can lift the top bushing out, but even if not, once you get up into the junction the drill will weaken/remove the rusted together interface between the upper and lower halves and they pop apart.
You win either way, but not without a struggle.
Good luck.
paul
What they said about removing the others. You were at least able to get the bolts out, correct? If not that could be more trouble, but once the bolts are out the penetrating oil and big hammer are your friend.
In extreme cases there are several ways to remove them (with power tools) but it seems like the easiest (if any of them are easy...) is to drill straight up from the bottom with a drill just larger than the hole. Sometimes you only have to get a little bit into it before the main washer separates and you can lift the top bushing out, but even if not, once you get up into the junction the drill will weaken/remove the rusted together interface between the upper and lower halves and they pop apart.
You win either way, but not without a struggle.
Good luck.
paul
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: down a red dirt road
I did my cab mounts back in 2007 and i know i got them from LMC, they came with new (the bottom piece with the nut built in) but i think they were the standard rubber set. If i recall they did not advertise that they came with new ones, but was pleasantly surprised that they did. My issue was that the frame portion was rusted thru as big as the bushing was and i had to weld in some very large washers to fix it. Yay for salty northern roads.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,601
Likes: 1,174
From: San Jose, CA
Yeah, yay indeed! That's why Jeff's (Bronco Graveyard) has so many small metal bits to weld into the body and chassis. They even have those pieces to fill the holes when the body mount supports rust out like you experienced. Probably didn't have them back when you did yours, but I bet they're a big seller these days!
Paul
Paul
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: down a red dirt road
Jeff wasnt that big back then, no. I forget to look at him now days for the trucks. I looked at several things for the 73 bronco and he has some awesome stuff. Im pretty sure he started with literally graveyard parts. Amazing.
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