Is it really nessasary to loosen all body mounts

[mainiac1]

to replace the bushings? Hear me out...I know you have to remove them all on one side and jack that side body to get clearence to pull out the old ones and replace them. I just got don installing the new ones on the drivers side and searched the forum for the torque value and found that they should all be loose (both sides) when replacing one side or the other? I didn't have to loosen the passengers side to replace the drivers side bushings, but there was no bushing material left on most of them. My thought is to snug up the new drivers side ones to try to keep the body alignment close, then remove and replace the passengers side, then torque them all....I don't want to ruin my new $150 bushings in the process though.....I appreciate your replies and any helpfull hints. The big allen wrench worked good reinstalling them. Gotta wait till the kid gets outa school to help me with the other side later today.
Thanks, Jamie

 

[no1plantman]

Jamie, can u take pics of the process. I am thinking of doing the same thing and while I know it shouldn't be hard to figure out, pics are always good.

 

[©H®I$]

They probably say to loosen the other side so that you're not flexing your body like a pencil when jacking up one end. Since you're replacing your body mount bushings, you should have just done the body lift since you're already in there

 

[mainiac1]

I did take some pics, but if you do a search here, there are at least 1 good post that has some better pics than I took....shows where the plugs are to remove to get access to the mount bolts in the cab ect. You do have to at least loosen all mount bolts on one side before you jack the body on that side and remove the bushings. #2 on Drivers side was a little tough because of the ebrake cable interference, but once you jack the body, the bushing will sepperate with enough room to remove it. Also #5 on drivers side I had to pull some sort of fuel vapor module after removing spare in order to remove the bushing. I used vicegrips to grab the lower washer/nut of the bushing to prevent it from spinning until I could get the big allen wrench into the hole vacated by the receding bolt. I also put plenty of grease on all the new bushings, taking care not to get any on the male/female tube washer nut...the washers with stems that engage each other and lock together. Don't try to tighten any until you lower the body back down. Hope this helps. Took a couple hours per side. Jamie