Having done a check at the weekend I noticed the 4 rear most bushes on the body/ frame are all slack. I.e. I can rotate the lower bush easily. This may well account for the increased noise and vibration when going down a rough road.

I suspect the upper bushes (those which take all the body weight) have squashed, thus freeing up the lower ones and allowing the body to bounce upwards on a bump.

Obviously the answer is to replace the bushes, but in the mean time does anyone know if I can simply take up the slack by tightening the bolts? I understand there are some mushroom shaped washers that fit through the bushes from above and below. Are 'tubes' through which the bolt runs different sizes thus allowing them to slide past each other when the nut is tightened or are they the same diameter? If the latter then the bolts can only be tightened until the two 'tubes' meet.

Bit of a long winded post I admit, but I don't want to start tearing the inside out until I know I can solve the problem.

 

you can try tightening them, ive never done that so good luck and let us know.

 

I'm curious to know about this also. I have been procastinating replacing all the body mount bushings.
Which brings up a question. How many are there in all?

 

10 positions, 2 bushes per position, therefore 20 in total.

The alternative to tightening the bolts would be to make some thick washers 'absorb' the slack.

Simon

 

I have tried tightening them up on my trucks before for the very same reason. Spend an hour tring to gently persuade the rusted nut to turn on the rusty bolt, only to find that it didn't work (for me anyway, yours might). I don't want to mislead, so try it, all you would be out would be the time it takes to do it.

 

I put a 3" body lift on my truck, AND I LOVE IT! That was for all the body lift haters. Give up on tighting them. They actually have stops inside the two parts, There is a male insert and a female. As they tighten, the male mushrooms out and thats it! I cut mine out, bought new mount bushings from J.C. Whitney, Daystars I think. Anyways I put in grade 8 bolts and modified the inserts into the bushings, I made them out of stainless. The dealer, dealer part only, wanted something like $60.00 for the upper and $90.00 for the lower, $150.00 per mount for the new mounting hardware, not including new bushings. Side note, not as easy as the manufacturers of the aftermarket products make it out to be! Do a search on here, I posted what I had to do in depth, about 2 years ago.

 

Cheers Alsair,
That saves me trying it out. I think I'll proceed with the 'washer' alternative for the time being and then replace the bushes when I can get some from the USA.

Simon

 

I dont think the washer idea will work either. You would have to completely remove the bushing assembly to put one in. If your going to that much work, put some new ones in. I know thats not what you want to hear. I'm in the same boat.

 

Helirich,

I agree with you to a part, the washer idea is just a short term bodge to stop it rattling. I don't have the luxury you chaps may have to nip down the road to get some new bushes as I am in the UK. The washer would need to fit between the bottom of the lower bush and the metal 'mushroom washer' that is already there. As it is the rear most 4 mounts they are easy to get to so I don't belive its a big job either way.

Yes, new bushes are they way to go, but at the moment a bodge may suffice.

Simon

 

Hi Muckypaws,

I think I tried it and ran into some problem. It was a while ago and I cant remember what the reason was. If you do it, please let me know how you make out.