Replacing worn out factory body mounts. Poly? aluminum? Or?

[Baja]

Going to eventually cage this thing, but for now, I need to do something about the rotten factory rubber mounts.

Should I still go poly, even though I may just go solid when I cage it down the road? Would it be okay to go solid now, or would I regret that? What are the negatives?

Thanks in advance

[Rmc]

If you decide on aluminum I can make you a set.

[Baja]

If you decide on aluminum I can make you a set.

Sweet! That is awesome. I will let you know.

[yikes]

Solid mounts will tear up the sheet metal fast without the cage. If you think you'll have significant dirt miles between now and caging it, I would advise sticking with poly. Factory rubber mounts are your best protection, as they are the most compliant to flex, so less force is transferred from the frame to the body. I believe the Moss Bros still have rubber mounts in the big black beast after all these years, which implies the need for solid mounts may not be necessary with a properly designed cage. Just something to consider.

[Baja]

Solid mounts will tear up the sheet metal fast without the cage. If you think you'll have significant dirt miles between now and caging it, I would advise sticking with poly. Factory rubber mounts are your best protection, as they are the most compliant to flex, so less force is transferred from the frame to the body. I believe the Moss Bros still have rubber mounts in the big black beast after all these years, which implies the need for solid mounts may not be necessary with a properly designed cage. Just something to consider.

I am glad you brought that up, because I have been thinking of just replacing the rubber with rubber, until I cage anyway. However, where can one find replacement rubber mounts? Besides the dealer that is. I have checked around and can't seem to find them. My next search was going to be the dealer, but I can only immagine what they want for a set, if they even stock them anymore.

[tcm glx]

Poly would be easier to get in the interim. Then when you cage, if you cage using poly mounts you are good. If you go solid mount, and do it well it doesn't matter.

Poly kits run around 100 bucks I think.

Rubber replacements can be purchased at Bronco Graveyard I believe.

[ChaseTruck754]

yes, JBG I think for rubber, or LMC truck (online as well) might have them.

Poly are pretty easy to find and I think Tony was right on price. Keep in mind with the poly kits I think you have to re-use you stock, steel inserts for the body mounts or buy new ones (LMC truck or JBG again) separately.


Like Tony said - if you do your cage well the body mounts don't matter as they don't really hold the body anymore. Well, that is if you do a cage that is properly welded to the body and then mounted to the frame in a bunch of places.

[Baja]

Thanks guys. If I go poly mounted cage, I was thinking of the Autofab type mounts. If I go solid, then maybe all solid? ugh! Who knows?!!!

I think I will spend all night looking at the cage thread again

[Baja]

LMC Tuck = $339.48 for rubber replacement bushing. Does not include any harware. Can anyone guess if I am going rubber or poly? lol

[ChaseTruck754]

yup, that may make the decision easier.

As a heads up - LMC truck is a distributor/middle man only. They do not make parts, but rather buy them from others & re-sell. What that means is the same parts can pretty much always be found elsewhere for cheaper. They buy 2nds/blems from Dennis Carpenter, Blue Oval Parts, etc., so it may be worth a little searching to see if you can find a better deal if you really want rubber. I'd got poly anyway, but that's just me so I figured I'd at least let you know on the LMC deal.

[ChaseTruck754]

Oh and if you go poly - I'd look up the kit # you need on JBG or somewhere & then search on google for that kit. When I got the set for my crew I saved a bunch by doing that. I can't remember if I found them on eBay or amazon or what, but I ended up getting them way cheaper than what the "typical" parts spots had them for.

[Baja]

Oh and if you go poly - I'd look up the kit # you need on JBG or somewhere & then search on google for that kit. When I got the set for my crew I saved a bunch by doing that. I can't remember if I found them on eBay or amazon or what, but I ended up getting them way cheaper than what the "typical" parts spots had them for.

Thanks for the advice.

Question...So what does the kit include for the core support? It looks like that are special with a hex formed in them. Does the poly kit come with the replacement core support bushings?

Also, Daystar, or Energy?

Thanks

[ChaseTruck754]

my poly mounts are on a 70's truck, not a bronco, so I can't answer the question on the hex.

As for Daystar vs. Energy, after reading a couple reviews and having it seem like they were about the same I went by price. Think I ended up with Energy.

[Baja]

Thanks. After doing some searching, I found that the poly kits do not come with the required core support bushings. You have to go rubber (JBG is the best palce) There is a kit which includes new hardware for $99.00

[Jbfab]

I found my set on ebay for about $70. Think i got daystar and they came with ones for the core support. But i also got the f150 kit since mine is a four door bronco. Im also keeping the poly bushings with my cage. Im mounting the cage to the frame using bushed sleeves. Just trying to eliminate some of the vibration that comes with a solid cage.

[dtbback]

yes, JBG I think for rubber, or LMC truck (online as well) might have them.

Poly are pretty easy to find and I think Tony was right on price. Keep in mind with the poly kits I think you have to re-use you stock, steel inserts for the body mounts or buy new ones (LMC truck or JBG again) separately.


Like Tony said - if you do your cage well the body mounts don't matter as they don't really hold the body anymore. Well, that is if you do a cage that is properly welded to the body and then mounted to the frame in a bunch of places.

Chase- Why do you have to re-use the steel inserts? I have a poly set from energy suspension and the inside diameter for all the mounts except the ones for the core support is 1". The core supports are just under 5/8". I was just thinking of running 1" bolts in everything but the core supports bushings. For those i would use 5/8" bolts. Wouldn't that work?

Oh keep in mind that I am still planning on using 1" aluminum body lift pucks.

[ChaseTruck754]

The poly stuff doesn't come with replacement inserts so you re-use the stock stuff. If you're going to step up to 1" bolts (that is a HUGE bolt) then you can run sans inserts i think. I was running 9/16" or 5/8" bolts depending on the truck and both are a decent step up from the 7/16" stock bolts. 1" is waaaaay overkill.

[dtbback]

Yeah I know it is wwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy overkill but to me it almost seems more cost effective. The 1" fine thread 8" long bolts that I will need are $17 a pop. I am sure the 5/8" ones are considerably less. I am just trying to calculate the cost of having some one make me a set of inserts vs just going straight to the 1' and 5/8" bolts. Cause I am sure like everyone else I'll end up cutting mine to get them out.

[ChaseTruck754]

If you drill the stock sleeves (take out bolt & drill out with 9/16" or 5/8" drill bit) they will come apart & be usable with the new bolts.

[dtbback]

That's awesome. Should I drill from the top or bottom?