Maintaining Your Tacoma’s Body: Mounts & Bushings

Body mounts are what connect the body of the Toyota Tacoma to its frame. The body is bolted into these mounts and rubber bushings are used to dampen any vibrations that might be felt. On Tacomas you will want this dampening to occur due to the harsh conditions the truck will be subjected to.

Rubber Bushings: The bolts that secure the body to the frame will pass through a rubber bushing with a sleeve through the metal. The rubber does an excellent job at reducing vibrations when brand new, but over time the rubber will deteriorate and the ride will become harsh, and unpleasant squeaking and chattering will be heard as they move around.

The body of the Toyota Tacoma is separated into two separate parts. The cabin and the bed must both be secured to the frame with the use of body mounts and bushings. When preparing to upgrade these units you will need to know where they are located.

Cabin: The cabin of the vehicle is held to the frame with the use of four bolts. In a body bushing set, you will find there are four larger bushings included. These bushings are for the body of the Tacoma’s cabin.

Bed: The bed of a Toyota Tacoma is held in place with eight bolts. In the body bushing set you pick up there are six smaller bushings and bumpers included for the bed.

The six bushings are installed to the front of the bed near the cabin, and the bumpers are mounted to the rear near the tailgate.

The body mounts and bushings are tucked underneath the body out of harm’s way. This will leave many asking what they can be subjected to that can cause damage. The factors at large are completely subjected to the upgrades made to the Tacoma you are working with and the environment as well.

Elements: Body mounts and their bushings are subjected to the environment. Harsh weather conditions, road salt, and moisture can take a toll on these components. The bushing will suffer more than the mounts, and the rubber can dry out and crack over time.

Lift Kits: Lifting a vehicle will add leverage that can work against the mounts and bushings. If the bushings and or mounts are weak, the addition of a lift kit will make it apparent. This is why you will want to look at the condition of these components before you add a lift kit.

Off-Roading: The street can be harsh on body mounts and bushings as is. When you take the truck off-road the increased amount of being slammed around by trail obstacles can, of course, take a toll on these components.

Rubber body mount bushings are the weak point in the factory body mounts of a Tacoma. Rubber bushings have really short lifespans when compared to polyurethane bushings and generally are much less durable.

Making this upgrade is almost a no brainer but you will want to know how to replace the bushings before you get in way over your head.

Replacing: The process of replacing the bushings is not the hard part of replacing body mount bushings; the difficult task is getting to the bushings themselves. In the Tacoma gaining access to the bushings will require you to take apart interior componentry.

Once the bolts holding the body in place are undone, you will need to separate the body from the frame to access the bushings. 2x4s are often used to keep the body separated while the bushings are replaced.

When preparing a Toyota Tacoma for off-roading there are some upgrades along with the body mounts and bushings to be taken into consideration. These aren’t always linked to the body directly but should be kept in mind as off-roading, lift kits and the stresses that follow with can have negative impacts on.

Carrier Bearing Spacers: Carrier bearings ride on the yoke of the driveshaft and work to keep the driveline angle intact. When the body or suspension is lifted this angle can become offset. 

This is where carrier bearings come into play. A spacer will bring the carrier bearing down to the proper position in order for it to continue to properly do its job.

Brake Line Extenders: As a vehicle is lifted the caliper’s position will move in relation to the position of the factory brake lines. The brake line extensions are used to increase the amount of brake line there is to prevent them from becoming overstretched during turning.

Lift Spindles: Lift kits will change the geometry requirements of the suspension and steering components. Spindles will need to change in size as this geometry is changed and lift spindles are used for this purpose. However, most kits that require this change will include the spindle in the kit.