91 explorer bushing question
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91 explorer bushing question
I have a 91 explorer and recently i have noticed "new" clunktookit to my mechanic he showedme two bushings under the truck that run crosswise inthe area of the tranny and back of the motor. what are these called can i replace them myself?
steve
steve
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Baltimore
91 explorer bushing question
I believe you are referring to the strut rod bushings. The bushing on the right side is know to go bad due to its locatation next to the catalytic converter. I've never replaced them myself, and I think the job may be fairly involved. Perhaps someone who has done the job themself can describe the steps.
Good luck...
Good luck...
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: South Texas
91 explorer bushing question
They are called Radius Arm bushings. They can be replaced yourself and the level of difficulty depends on if and how they were replaced previously (and if yours is a 91, I am sure they have been replaced at least once by now)
Crawl under and look at the point where the frame cross members attach to the frame side rails. Look specifically to see if the cross rail still has rivets or has bolts (look at all of them. Factory mixed some bolts and some rivets). If all bolts are present, then the job is much easier (meaning someone else has removed the rivets and replaced them with bolts).
In either case, block the front wheels from moving foreward and backward, remove the cross member and replace the bushings on both sides. Remember to check for the presence of a metal heat shield covering the right front bushing half. If not present, get one and install it to protect bushing from heat produced by catalytic converter. I have gone thru 2 sets of rubber on mine and last repair I used the phenolic plastic bushings (red). Supposed to last longer.
If you have rivets, it will require you to chisel heads off and remove them and replace them with grade 8 bolts and nuts.
Dialtone
Crawl under and look at the point where the frame cross members attach to the frame side rails. Look specifically to see if the cross rail still has rivets or has bolts (look at all of them. Factory mixed some bolts and some rivets). If all bolts are present, then the job is much easier (meaning someone else has removed the rivets and replaced them with bolts).
In either case, block the front wheels from moving foreward and backward, remove the cross member and replace the bushings on both sides. Remember to check for the presence of a metal heat shield covering the right front bushing half. If not present, get one and install it to protect bushing from heat produced by catalytic converter. I have gone thru 2 sets of rubber on mine and last repair I used the phenolic plastic bushings (red). Supposed to last longer.
If you have rivets, it will require you to chisel heads off and remove them and replace them with grade 8 bolts and nuts.
Dialtone
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cincinnati
91 explorer bushing question
My radius arm bushings went bad(cat conv side melted)and I bought polyurathane replacements before looking at the job. When I started to work on it, I saw what a pain it would be. Copped out and just put the one front bushing in the back and tightened it up. I didn't care, anything to get rid of that knocking noise over bumps. That lasted about 7 months and now even bigger pieces of the support frame were cracked out.
Got the idea to drop the anti sway bar (two front bushing mounts) and use an autobody hydraulic jack to move the radius arm forward 1". It doesn't take that much force. Chipped off the old rubber bushing and hack sawed the new bushing to the center, pried the bushing sides open and slipped it over the bar. Hot water helps. Then just put the rest back together as normal. Even with the cracked mounting cone in the cross member these new polyurathane bushings have lasted over 70K without problem. It took less than 2 hours.
Got the idea to drop the anti sway bar (two front bushing mounts) and use an autobody hydraulic jack to move the radius arm forward 1". It doesn't take that much force. Chipped off the old rubber bushing and hack sawed the new bushing to the center, pried the bushing sides open and slipped it over the bar. Hot water helps. Then just put the rest back together as normal. Even with the cracked mounting cone in the cross member these new polyurathane bushings have lasted over 70K without problem. It took less than 2 hours.
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
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From: Calgary Canada
91 explorer bushing question
If you want to know how to do the procedure right, click on this link. Again it depends on if they've been replaced before. If they have it'll be a snap, should only take you one hour to replace both bushings. If they havent then there will be at least two rivets that you have to grind off. Either have a dremel with at least 10 cutting wheels or a 4" grinder and 2 cutoff wheels. The rivets are what take the most time (about an hour each due to tight space. Make sure you have 4 replacement 7/16" x 1" long grade 8 bolts and nuts and a lock washer to put back on.
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/rab.html
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/rab.html
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