Body bushings
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Texas
Body bushings
Anybody ever replaced the rear bushings in the wheel house? Mine are just flakes of rubber right now. I suspect all 8 will need to be replaced.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Those are the #4 mounts. The dificulty is dependant on how rusted the bolts are in the captured nuts and how bad the mount itself is rusted. Take a wire brush to it and clean it up a bit and see how it looks. Break it loose with a ratchet, if it comes out, great, lube it and put it back in. If it does not come out you will need to cut the bolt and see how bad the nut ir corroded. Once that stuff it determined you can figure out what you need to order: Just bushings, or bushings, bolts and mounts.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Whitmore Lake MI
Replacing body mounts
Mytman61
I'm in the process of doing this right now. Not really that bad of a job once you get everything so you can lift the body.
If you're doing it yourself the advice I received, since I'm not doing a full body off, was Lift one side at a time. Just enough to do the work you need to do. I invested in a good set of Energy suspension body bushings. They fit great. I used my engine crane and a very solid rachet strap to lift the body. I got the strap from H.D. I think it was 15 or 20 dollars.
Make sure you have an extra helping hand around because there are a few things that you just can't do yourself. I have my 11 year old son and my twin 16 yr old daughters to help me. We have the P.S done and plan on doing the D.S this saturday. I've already removed the bushings on the D.S but I'll try to get some pictures of the process if you'd like to see some.
Unless they're in pristine condition replace the #4 reinforcements while you're at it. You don't want to have to go through this all again a few years down the road. Mine were rusted out so it was a no brainer for me.
Do a search in this forum on Body Mount Replacement. I did and found quite a bit of very helpful information and advice including a list of items that you'll have to remove to lift the body.
My car is almost entirely disassembled so I didn't really need the list but it was nice to have so I could check to be sure there wasn't anything I missed.
Be sure to use a strap on the front clip when you're lifting the body. It needs to be supported.
When removing the old body mount bolts use lots of PB blaster. I managed to get the old bolts out of 2 and 3 without breaking them. If you happen to break them, you'll have to pull the body off to replace them (I've read there's no other way)
Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have or just post.
I hope this helps and good luck with your project.
I'm in the process of doing this right now. Not really that bad of a job once you get everything so you can lift the body.
If you're doing it yourself the advice I received, since I'm not doing a full body off, was Lift one side at a time. Just enough to do the work you need to do. I invested in a good set of Energy suspension body bushings. They fit great. I used my engine crane and a very solid rachet strap to lift the body. I got the strap from H.D. I think it was 15 or 20 dollars.
Make sure you have an extra helping hand around because there are a few things that you just can't do yourself. I have my 11 year old son and my twin 16 yr old daughters to help me. We have the P.S done and plan on doing the D.S this saturday. I've already removed the bushings on the D.S but I'll try to get some pictures of the process if you'd like to see some.
Unless they're in pristine condition replace the #4 reinforcements while you're at it. You don't want to have to go through this all again a few years down the road. Mine were rusted out so it was a no brainer for me.
Do a search in this forum on Body Mount Replacement. I did and found quite a bit of very helpful information and advice including a list of items that you'll have to remove to lift the body.
My car is almost entirely disassembled so I didn't really need the list but it was nice to have so I could check to be sure there wasn't anything I missed.
Be sure to use a strap on the front clip when you're lifting the body. It needs to be supported.
When removing the old body mount bolts use lots of PB blaster. I managed to get the old bolts out of 2 and 3 without breaking them. If you happen to break them, you'll have to pull the body off to replace them (I've read there's no other way)
Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have or just post.
I hope this helps and good luck with your project.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Don't start this job until the Corvette driving season is over. The changing of # 4 body mounts can lead you down the path of a frame off restoration and take years. I can't see how bad they are but take your time and think this out before you start the job.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
totally. I don't even have a #4 body mount. It's completely gone. Rusted to nothing. I'm waiting till winter, though, because I'm afraid of what else I'll get sucked into.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The road to much info on body mount replacement: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1603168
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
My ashtray got full and now I am midway thru a $12,000 body off restomod
couldn't resist, actually I nicked a palm tree when the brake pedal pin fell out which pretty much trashed my left front fender, bumper cover, fender skirt, yadda, yadda.....
BUT, when I get done, it SHOULD be a very cool car.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
My ashtray got full and now I am midway thru a $12,000 body off restomod couldn't resist, actually I nicked a palm tree when the brake pedal pin fell out which pretty much trashed my left front fender, bumper cover, fender skirt, yadda, yadda.....
BUT, when I get done, it SHOULD be a very cool car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Mines all rusted out in the body and the captured nut is completely gone. I have the right part to restore the mount correctly, but until I get the time I used a new rubber bushing and a very large washer with a typical nut. Its a two man job right now to install, but it's gotten me down the road for the last year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
