Driving on bad body bushings?

[joesregalproject]

I am scheduled to get my body bushings done in a couple weeks. I have driven a couple miles (1 or 2) on bad bushings with good filler in my roof seams and I haven't seen any visual cracking. I am going to have to drive the car a couple miles (1 or 2) more to get to the shop that is doing the bushings. I know roof seams will crack when the car is driven on bad body mounts, but seeing as I have redone the filler in my roof seams a couple times, I really do not want to have to redo the filler in these seams again. Are my roof seam okay driving 2 or 3 miles on bad bushings?

 

[Blake442]

Don't worry about it.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I have been driving on bad bushings since I bought the car 5 years ago!

 

[Longroof79]

I've daily driven mine for years with bad bushings until I got around to replacing them. Although, I wasn't aware of how bad they really were.

 

[joesregalproject]

I've daily driven mine for years with bad bushings until I got around to replacing them. Although, I wasn't aware of how bad they really were.

That's what happened to me, I wasn't aware how bad they were until a couple months ago. I figured I'd be fine, but it never hurts to ask. Thanks guys.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

My rear quarter roof seams cracked from bad body bushing. Both my and your cars are Regals and Buick didn't install all the body mounts in them, increasing the chance of seam cracks. The other G bodies, Cutties, MCs, and GPs usually had all the mounts and extra bracing installed so they are less prone to cracking. You should take it slow and easy on the car on the way to the shop and be sure the "missing mounts" are installed. Hopefully they can weld if frame repair washers are needed.

 

[Blake442]

It also took 20+ years for your seams to crack...

A few miles isn't going to hurt anything.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

What Blake said. I have a hard time believing bad bushings alone caused seams to crack in a 30 year old car.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

It also took 20+ years for your seams to crack...

A few miles isn't going to hurt anything.

My car being a vinyl top it could have cracked when it was brand new for all I know and we also don't know how long the OP's bushings have been bad either. They can be bad but still look okay from the outside. Unlike your car, Regals lack the number 5s allowing that part of the body to sag and putting more stress on those seams than other G bodies would have besides the mounts starting out softer when new, apples to oranges. The Buicks had the worst body, frame, and suspension setups despite having the most powerful factory drivetrain as a option, Buick was really weird in those days.

 

[pontiacgp]

The vinyl top cars only got a quick cover of body filler to smooth out the spot welded joint and that dries out over the years causing it to crack. There is also a joint near the top of the A pillar that does crack cause it was finished with better products.