Body Mount Bushing Install - now with pictures! And a video too!!!

I'm not minding it too much. I did not have to fight with the old bolts though. Just the ones that the mechanic over torqued. Handy pipe trick worked. I like learning how to do this stuff & chocking another one up for girl power. I do wish it was summer though. On the other hand, to be able to have temps I can tolerate in mass, end of November, whelp, I'm pretty lucky. Thank you....

 

So I am studying & studying these photos & others from here for the install. I had detached the L bracket (front bumper arm) passenger side. Worked well. Easy access to the radiator mount. The driver's side apparently was welded so I cannot detach it. So back to my studying these pics & pics from a first gen install. I don't see anyone detaching anything up front other than the mount. Am I missing something? I am thinking that tomorrow I am going to have to take off the bumper which is the link between the cab & frame up front. I really would like to avoid this. I did jack up the driver's side, but got nervous cuz I raised it enough to stick the 2x4 in, but still could not get to the top radiator bushing. Was I being too wimpy about it? Jack it up some more?

 

If both radiator mounts are loose, you should be able to jack it up plenty far. When you slide the bolt up and out, the top bushing should slide out easily.

 

I did my radiator mounts before the others. I had a face palm moment when I realized I was trying to jack it up far enough to clear the bolt. Then I realized I could just slide the bolt up and out of my way.

 

But you did have to jack it up, correct? I just can't picture it. I had the nut off & jacked it up & had no wiggle room at the top mount. Maybe it's cuz I was jacking it up from the middle of the cab like I did on the other side?

 

You should be jacking it up from a stable point as close to the mount as possible for the radiator mounts.

 

Ok. Maybe that's the whole dif here. Since I did detach the bumper arm on the passenger side, I was able to jack the entire cab side up, enabling me to do all three mounts. This is how the ES instructions have you do it.
So I'll just have to do the other the way you describe & now the pics on the threads make a bit more sense.
Thank you once again....

 

A couple of things to add -
Per my last couple of posts, but I'll add it here as well -
- I detached the, what ES refers to as "L bracket", front bumper arm. It was easy enough. In doing so, I was able to change one whole side, radiator as well, by lifting at the middle of the cab. Is there an advantage to this? I guess it's personal.
- I have seen some posts about removing or not using the top washers (making noise?). The mechanic that did mine to start with did not use them. (Don't ask me why & yes. I got my money back.) So far the result has been that the sleeves on the radiator mounts pushed up into the bolt holes about 1/2 inch. I had to use plyers to work at getting the sleeve out. It was pretty jambed in as you can imagine.
- there seems to be a lot of discrepancy between what mounts are needed for position 2 & 3. My advice is to cross reference ES, &/or whatever co. you are purchasing from, with stock & with other members. Don't just go with one source. For instance one member ordered the "correct" ES kit for his truck. It had a thinner top bushing for position 3. He then removed the stock mounts & found that position 2 & 3 top bushings were the same. He then had to wait for ES to send another set of the same as position 2. I have "heard" other similar scenarios, different twists. One note about this is that I am tending towards this pertaining more to 1st gen. Replacement frame? Tilt corrected by a previous owner? I dunno. Just might suck to have to wait for parts or put the wrong ones in.

 

Help! The numnutz mechanic didn't use the washers on top so the sleeves jambed up into the bolt holes on the radiator mounts. I was able to do the passenger side by pulling it out with plyers. The driver's is jambed up farther so it is flush both top & bottom. Plus I can't get the bolt out all the way cuz this is the side with the radiator pump. If I could get the bolt out I could probably use something to hammer it down far enough to grab it with the plyers. Any suggestions?

 

Did you get this resolved? What a pain in the ass! If not, post some pics of what you're up against. We might come up with a solution.

 

I might have a big idea, but welcome something bigger.

From the top. The bolt can't come out any further. If it could come out that would most likely solve the problem. Although then I'd have to get it back in....

From underneath. The sleeve is so jammed up that it is flush with the bracket. Nothing to grab hold of.

 

I would try loosening the other 2 mounts on that side. You might get enough lift. They are probably what's holding you down (pun intended)

 

Haha! OMG! I feel so stupid! I mean it's still a PITA, but yeah.... raise it more. I have it jacked up under the middle of the cab again & both of the other bolts are foot loose & fancy free cuz with it lifted there's no bolt for the nuts to thread onto. I don't need much more clearance, maybe one inch. Then I can using something to hammer the sleeve up & out.... Wha'd you put earlier, hand smacks head? Thank you for pointing out my flakiness

 

Wait a minute.... I don't think that's gonna work. I actually need to be farther from the pump, lower, in order to get the bolt out. If I raise the body I am bringing the bolt closer to the pump, no?

 

Can you pull the bolt out before raising it?

 

No. This is it without being jacked up at all. The bolt clears the top bushing, so if the sleeve wasn't stuck in there....

 

Nice graphic btw

 

This is my big idea - I was hopin' you'd come up with a bigger one.... You still might....

 

How about a long screwdriver? Ginsu knives fuck people up.