[KennyW1983]

This may be a surprise to some of you but Broncos have a nasty habit of rusting. Mine has rusted out in a few places to include the radiator support. I think im going to tackle this soon, as soon as I figure out what exactly I need like the radiator core support bushing stacks. LMC and JBG have differing hardware and im little confused as to what I will need.

I also need to replace the front fenders at some point.

My question is: can you get the fenders off and replaced without taking the whole front clip off again? It looks like it can be done in some u toob videos I have watched.

I might tackle the radiator support frame first and then come back and do the fenders.

I searched radiator support replacement on here but what was shown was from 2006, and the pictures are gone.

 

[KennyW1983]

My second question is this: who should I order the radiator support and/or fenders from? Bronco Graveyard or LMC? Who has the better product?

 

[DriftwoodBronco]

How bad is the rust? Any photos?

 

[CrazyBRONCOguy]

LMC on where to order from as the shipping from JBG sucks on these big core supports.

I have swapped fenders only and support only, not a big deal to do either or, or both at same time. Sometimes it is easier to align only doing the 1 at a time.

 

[jermil01]

Fenders are pretty easy, they come off without removing anything else.

 

[Siggy89]

This may be a surprise to some of you but Broncos have a nasty habit of rusting. Mine has rusted out in a few places to include the radiator support. I think im going to tackle this soon, as soon as I figure out what exactly I need like the radiator core support bushing stacks. LMC and JBG have differing hardware and im little confused as to what I will need.

I also need to replace the front fenders at some point.

My question is: can you get the fenders off and replaced without taking the whole front clip off again? It looks like it can be done in some u toob videos I have watched.

I might tackle the radiator support frame first and then come back and do the fenders.

I searched radiator support replacement on here but what was shown was from 2006, and the pictures are gone.

Couldn't have searched too hard. Cause my post pops right up.

Radiator front support

It’s time to replace my radiator front support. The front body mount is rusted out and it wasn’t able to replace it with the others last month. Now there’s a gap between the body and bumper on the passenger side. Just bugs me. I ordered the support and will tackle the project in a few weeks...

www.fullsizebronco.com

 

[KennyW1983]

Couldn't have searched too hard. Cause my post pops right up.

Radiator front support

It’s time to replace my radiator front support. The front body mount is rusted out and it wasn’t able to replace it with the others last month. Now there’s a gap between the body and bumper on the passenger side. Just bugs me. I ordered the support and will tackle the project in a few weeks...

www.fullsizebronco.com

Awesome, just what I was looking for. Who did you order your support from and how pleased are you with it? Did everything line up as it should? Does it seem to be well made and of good steel?

Im down in SEVA and have the same yellow colored license plates.

 

[KennyW1983]

How bad is the rust? Any photos?

 

[KennyW1983]

Are these sensors for the airbag?

 

[Siggy89]

Awesome, just what I was looking for. Who did you order your support from and how pleased are you with it? Did everything line up as it should? Does it seem to be well made and of good steel?

Im down in SEVA and have the same yellow colored license plates.

Used Amazon. It's listed in the post as well. No issues, I'm happy. I'd recommend eBay for the replacement mushroom steel for the body mounts. Since you're replacing the front two body mounts it is easier to order the hardware for all. Although I still haven't figured out how to replace the two rear mounts without dropping the fuel tank. Someday maybe I'll remove the bumper and try that.

 

[klh95bronco]

I went out to my local LKQ pick-ur-part and found a nice shape radiator core support for my truck and it was $45. It is a factory replacement peice and not the knock off remake from the suppliers we tend to use, plus it was even the correct color for my truck !! Score !!

If I were you I would do the fenders at the same time as the core support. The fenders attach to the front of the stuff you have to take off to change the core support so its really a no brainer...

 

[KennyW1983]

We only have one good "truck" junkyard around here and the only OBS trucks I ever see are stripped nearly bare.

 

[Skipole70]

We only have one good "truck" junkyard around here and the only OBS trucks I ever see are stripped nearly bare.

What part of South East VA? Johnson’s Mustang had a 92-96 F-150 that was damn near in mint condition ( minus the wrecked bed) in the yard in August. May be able to pick that up cheap, but you’ll have to do the labor.

 

[Skipole70]

Sorry, Johnson’s Mustang is in Chesapeake by the VB city line. That info is probably helpful 😆

 

[KennyW1983]

What part of South East VA? Johnson’s Mustang had a 92-96 F-150 that was damn near in mint condition ( minus the wrecked bed) in the yard in August. May be able to pick that up cheap, but you’ll have to do the labor.

Johnson's was the yard I was thinking of. Maybe its worth a trip over there to check out and see if that 150 is still there

 

[Skipole70]

Johnson's was the yard I was thinking of. Maybe its worth a trip over there to check out and see if that 150 is still there

It was a blue and white extra cab. Maybe call ahead and see if it’s still in the yard. Also had the fiberglass steps still intact. I got the jack, heat/AC knobs and a few other small items. If we weren’t home on vacation, I would’ve picked it clean LoL
Bit like I said, it looked garage kept. No rust. Amazing shape, but was totaled out for the hit to the passenger side bed.

 

[CrazyBRONCOguy]

That core support is pretty typical. I have seen otherwise rust free trucks have the core support rust. Bad design with all the metal coming together there.
Well typical for Northern Indiana, for sure not the worst I have seen, not the best. Looks like normal driver kind of a truck.

 

[KennyW1983]

I installed my new radiator support over the last few days. I would say it was about 10-12 hours of steady work. If you are going to do this make sure you bag and label all of your nuts, bolts, etc. Be careful of all of the little plastic push pins that hold everything ( I only broke 2), and lots of pictures. I looked at the pictures many times to make sure I was putting something back the right way or was running a cord back through the right hole. Ill post up a few pictures from my phone shortly.

I would also recommend hitting everything you can reach with PB blaster or similar. I only had a few hard bolts to get out. And the only ones that broke were 4 of the 6 that hold whatever those square back sensors are behind the grill.

The hardest thing about the whole operation was getting the old bushings/cushions off. I couldn't get a grip on them with anything to where they wouldn't spin. I ended up cutting them off with a sawzall. The guy in the u toob video I watched had the same problem so its probably normal for that to happen.

I went for a drive and the doors seem to rattle a little bit more so maybe the front end is a little stiffer. Hopefully this new one lasts 15-20 years. If it does that would make for a 50 year old OBS Bronco!

I still need to venture to a local junkyard for a set of OEM fenders and have them primed and maybe painted. One thing at a time.

 

[KennyW1983]