Body lift body mount/bracket repairs

[Cuong Nguyen]

My pathfinder was in a front end collision a long time ago. To sum it up, frame stayed but body shifted forward. What I need to do is remove all my body bolts and pull the body rearward somehow and line things up straight again. What I'm scared though is that once I do, the rear bolts and mid cab bolts won't line up since they're slanted. Also, the rear body brackets are cracked and squeak annoyingly over bumps and turns.

 

A. How can I pull the body back with limited tools and living at an apartment complex. I have my portable welder and my booger welds are true.

B. Do I remove all the bolts and pull the body backwards, or keep the bolts in and move them backwards?

C. Think this is work for a body shop to handle?

Edited June 2, 2010 by Cuong Nguyen

[Kingman]

For the sake of safety, I would not re-use those mounting bolts. New hardware...bolts get very weak once they've been bent and if they catch on the threads while pulling the body back you can have some dangerously weak hardware. I would buy new bolts, and line the body up to normal and then put the new bolts in. Straight bolts will, of course, make installing everything again a whole hell of a lot easier. It's hard to get bent bolts to thread in (assuming they're bent, even if just a MM or so).

[Simon]

That, or, just loosen the bolts/nuts. Pull back on the body, then tighten them back up. Then, when you've got it straighted out, undo the bolts for the suspect mounts, pull the blocks, reinforce the mount, then reinstall the blocks and bolts.

 

I would concur with Kingman to replace any bent bolts.

[Precise1]

keep the bolts in and move them backwards?

 

This, then replace the bolts with new ones, one at a time. Keeping the bolts in will help keep things aligned.

 

As for how to do this...

 

 

Ford Exploder boat anchor, straps and a come-along.

When I did my body lift, it shifted a little so I needed some help aligning it. I was alone, so this is what I came up with. Thanks neighbor's Ford!!

 

B

[Cuong Nguyen]

I will probably do the same thing but with a busted recovery strap and my Tundra

 

It looks looks like I will be using bigger bolts where I can. The bolts that came in the body lift are indeed skinny and give play in the sleeves. There's already enough "play" for the sleeves to move around in the frame bracket holes. One thing though, I will have to replace ALL my body mount sleeves as they are bent. I may get lucky and get them bent back straight by putting them in a vice (which I don't have) and pounding it with a BFH.

 

The momentum of the accident pulled the the bolts downward as the body moved forward and the frame moved backwards. and I would assume all the bolts are all straight. The rear body mounts and mid body mounts are now my main concerns are they are threaded internally and not with a simple removable nut.

 

I still need to hit a junkyard a cut the front body mount bracket so I can graft it onto mine. I'm still missing it. My body shop mistakenly threw my old one away.