I change my body mounts on 73 Nova. When I went take it for ride steering was tight. The rag joint binding with steering box. Loosen steering box up and retighten it seem to help qite bit. The new body mount drop body 1/4''. Not sure what to do.

Assuming you followed the instructions and reused the factory hardware then these body bushings should have been marked as lowering. Does it mention how to solve this misalignment problem any where in the instructions? (such as a CV joint and a splined shaft to replace the original rag joint). I have used Moroso solid aluminum bushings in the past and never experienced this problem; what brand did you use?

Big Dave

Dave , I used the energy suspesion body mounts. Nothing at all in the instruction. The new ones like said are 1/4 less , differance in height. This kit came with everything , bolts included.

The factory mounts had 1/4" spacers that went on top of the mount and they need to be reused with the new mounts.

Philip , Know thats interesting cause old ones had nothing. Thats exactly what need make up. Where do find them or can make my own.

A set could probably be made. How was the alignment of the fenders to the body? I would think that the lines would be off without the proper height bushing set.

Ron click here (http://www.novas.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5993&highlight=body+bushing)to see another thread on the problem.

Hopefully you have not thrown away the old bushings as they are probably bonded to the rubber by way of corrosion. They can be made by cuting out a spacer out of 1/4 inch sheet stock.

Big Dave

Philip , The doors , fenders fit fine. Went garage look old bushing they had 1/8 spacers. Were between frame and rubber bushing. Can post picture when find camera. Everyone had 1/8 shims except two radiator.

Dave , That where their at.

Thought so. Metal and rubber tends to look alike after forty years of corrosion at work. They can be seperated with some heat and cleaned up. Might have to make a thin washer to get back the full thickness of the spacer.

Big Dave

Phil & Dave Thanks . Last question is can use washer on top or dose spacer need be between frame and bushing. Should go with 1/8 or 1/4 ?

Any time you replace body bushings you need to realign the steering column and before you replace the body bushings you need to disconnect the column from the gear box to prevent any unnecessary damage.

Inside the car on the firewall where the column passes through it is a two piece steel plate. This thin sheet metal plate has some 3/8" bolts with large washers on it holding the plate to the firewall. Some of these bolts may be hidden and covered by the plastic toe plate under the column in that area. The plate also has some bolts that clamp to the column itself. In between the plate is also a foam rubber type of sealing gasket. The holes that these bolts pass through into the firewall holding the two piece steel plate to the firewall are fairly large and allow the plates to be moved up, down, left, or right some but with the gasket in between the plate and the firewall it may have to be broken loose to allow for adjustment and alignment of the column to the gear box.

Also on the adjustment of the column the nuts holding the upside down U shaped bracket bolted to the underside of the column below the instrument panel, are in slotted holes allowing some in and out movement of column. After lossening these two underdash nuts you also have to loosen the bolts on the firewall plate that clamp around the column to pull the column away or push it towards the gear box.

Jim

Thanks Jim ,I'll give try.

Thanks Jim ,I'll give try.

Post what you found out.

Jim

Jim , Moving steering colum out work. With 1/2'' drop on body really jambs that rag joint against steering box. Turned out to be simple fix. One that I was not aware you had to do.