Body Bushing

[koda2000]

If I remember correctly, the "A" bushing bolt head is a size larger than the nut on top. Maybe 15mm for the bolt and 14mm for the nut. You don't need to lift the front separately. I lifted from the sides using a piece of 4x4 scrap on the reinforced parts of the under body.

I'd removed my ugly step bars, but if you still have them you might be able to lift the body from there.

Don't forget to use the suggestion in the Prothane instructions to use the bushing bolt to help separate the "B" and "C" bushing shells halves if they're stuck together (which they probably will be).

 

[KajunBndit]

I will look into it right now.

 

[HELMUT RONER]

Here's how I supported mine. I should have gone a little further in because this made the plastic trim pop loose at the rear, but it popped back into place when I lowered the lift back to the ground.

Clearance to get the top half of the body mount shell out of the frame.

You'll find driver side position B mount obstructed by the parking brake cable. I followed the cable up along the firewall and unbolted a single bolt (I think it was a 10mm, not certain) holding a bracket that held the cable.

Once I removed that bolt I could move the cable further out of the way and got the bottom half in.

Again, only remove the bolts on one side. Keep the bolts on the other side tight until you start working on that side.

Bolt heads for B,C, and D mounts are 18mm

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you HELMUT RONER, great pictures and explanations, I don't have a 18mm impact socket, I will getting one after church tomorrow, I am still waiting on my bolts, I need to call first thing Monday morning. I am sure they have it and had forgotten to call me. I will checking my impact gun to make sure it is working properly. I still need to get a tube of silicone grease, I will be picking that up tomorrow as well. Did you have to grind the mushroom off of one of the halves on your hardware? I do have a grinder.

 

[david4451]

Great photos, please let everyone know how the ST rides after fitting Prothane body mounts.

 

[koda2000]

I didn't have to grind anything. I used the handle of my hammer to lever the parking brake cable out of it's hole in the frame once I compressed the ears that lock it in the hole. It was easy to do.

BTW: Here's a pic of the "A" bushing torqued to 41 foot pounds. You really have to squash the crap out of it.

Here's a pic of the "C" bushing torqued to 59 foot pounds.

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you koda, I have gotten the impact sockets and silicone grease today after church, I have 2 Dr's appointment this week, Monday morning and Wednesday morning and I hope to start Wednesday afternoon. With all the wealth of information and pictures do this this job should be fairly basic, it will be time consuming but I have a muscle that will be helping me from church. I don't think my wife will be much help, 110 lbs soak and wet. LoL. I think I will use her as the camera woman. LOLOLOL I really can't wait to do this and get it behind me and not having to worry about it. Ford should have made a recall on this, I guess not enough people had gotten killed over this substandard product.

 

[KajunBndit]

I will be ordering the 1/2 in. Heavy Duty Electric Impact Wrench from Harbor Freight tomorrow when I get back from the Dr's appointment, I had went to the barn this evening to look for the one my dad had, I knew it was working and had put it up, well somehow it grew legs and walked off. So therefore I will be getting a new one. They have it for 49 bucks with 6 bucks shipping, it would cost me more in gas to go and get it.

 

[david4451]

I've just ordered prothane red bushings, I replaced mine with engineering plastic and square aluminium tube some 3 years ago. I've no squeaks or misalignment problems, but I feel that there is not enough softness in the mounts. It is only the B & C bushings that need replacing A & D look good.
It truly amazes me that a multi national company like FORD could install a material with such a short lifespan, on 4 out of 8 locations and no recall !!!!
What a lot of these car manufacturers need is older petrol heads in their employees who know what will survive and what won't.
At 65(today) I'm doing a belt and braces job on my ST, living in The Philippines any break down would be dodgy, you just never know(not that body mounts are that critical).
Well time for a few sherbets.

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you david4451 for your input. This is the first time I ever had to worry about chassis bushing before and I had even owned older cars and trucks that the chassis bushing weren't an issue. From what I have been reading online, that the Sport Trac is the worst for the bushing failing.

 

[KajunBndit]

OK, I really did start on my bushings today, I have all the bolts out on the drivers side, I have all the bushing except D out, they are stuck and I might need to lift higher to try to break the seal. I am having problems with the emergency brake line, I tried a hammer handle to pry it out, it is in there stuck like Chuck. I would hate to break the plastic piece that is in the B bushing wall. This afternoon I plan or buffing the hardware and then painting them and if isn't to late, I will install them. I do have pictures but will post after showering and eating. The A bolt was rusted pretty good, the rest on the drivers side are excellent, I will reuse them. Impact wrench is my FRIEND!

 

[swshawaii]

Kajun, you are likely fighting the "tabs" opening on the lower "D" bushings. 1/2" conduit may help to compress them.

See post #104 up
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3424981&postcount=97

 

[koda2000]

For the parking brake cable, make sure the parking brake is OFF, squeeze the tabs on the piece that locks the cable into the frame before trying to use the hammer handle against the firewall to lever the cable out of the hole in the frame. I believe I used a pair of vise grips to squeeze the locking tabs in, or I may have used a small hose clamp. It came out pretty easily. then you can slide the cable through the slot in the frame. Reinstall in reverse order.

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you swshawaii and koda, So I would need to push up on the D bushing to be able to unlock the two halves.
So koda, if I squeeze the tabs, does the plastic piece comes apart for the cable to come through?

 

[koda2000]

Thank you swshawaii and koda, So I would need to push up on the D bushing to be able to unlock the two halves.
So koda, if I squeeze the tabs, does the plastic piece comes apart for the cable to come through?

I don't recall any plastic pieces on the parking brake cable. Mine was like the one in the photo that Helmut posted. It's metal with tabs/fingers that stick out and once it's inserted into the hole in the frame it locks the cable in place. Nothing comes apart. There's an excellent picture of the cable in post $43. Helmut also said he removed a bolt/clamp to get more wiggle room w/out removing the cable from the frame.

I believe Helmut also said that you had to insert the 1/2" conduit into the bottom of the "D" bushing and I would assume push/hammer up on it to release the clip that locks the 2 halves together.

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you, I need to get me some conduit!!!!!!

 

[KajunBndit]

Ok, I am in the middle of the bushing replacement and have pictures to show what was done so far and how that I had done it.

 

[KajunBndit]

More pictures. I woke up this morning early because I hadn't done anything on the truck yesterday, I had to get a a/c guy to come out to look at it, I must have dreamed of getting to D bushing out because I was determined. I looked around the barn and found a old tire iron that I didn't have any need for, I cut the angle off and now I had a punch. I had taken the bolt from D bushing and threaded it from the bottom up just enough to come over the end of the lower bushing hardware and proceeded to hit on the bar to loosened and finally off.

 

[swshawaii]

EXCELLENT work and pics Kajun! Body mounts have never been considered an easy job, and it just goes to show
when you put your mind to something almost anything's possible. You are an inspiration to all of us, especially after reading your post from last year. Congrats buddy, now finish the **** job. LOL

A rough time to get back into the explorerforum
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3478561

 

[KajunBndit]

Thank you swshawaii, I plan on finishing it soon, maybe this weekend. A lot has changed for me from 2 years ago until now. Having congestive heart failure really has taken it toll on me physically. I try to move as much as I can everyday to feel useful, trying to pull my weight. When I first read about body bushing when I had joined explorerforum, I called Ford dealership and inquired about how much it would cost to change all the bushing. I was amazed @ what the parts and labor were. There are some things I would never tackle on a vehicle such as tearing down a motor or transmission, There would be extra parts, bolts and nuts, after I would be done. LOLOL. But replacing bushing, not a challenge. I knew it would take me some time which I have plenty of till the day I go home. I am happy with the progress and really, I can't thank you enough, HELMUT RONER, koda2000, MidnightRebel, and many others who's thread I've read. This is the first time I have ever changes bushing before and man, am I loving it! So Guys, THANK YOU!