How To Install 1981-1993 Fox Body Mustang Window Guide Bushing Brackets
When it comes to restoring Fox Body Mustangs, we've established one hell of a catalog of parts over the past 23 and a half years. We’ve added to the offering again with these 5.0 Resto window guide bushing bracket kits. These are great for any Fox owner who is currently restoring door glass or quarter glass components on their car.
Before beginning the installation process, let's discuss each kit. There are a total of four kits available:
- The first kit is for the door glass for 1981 to 1993 coupe and hatchback cars. This kit will include two brackets, bushings, and hardware. The long bolt and nut are provided in this kit because the factory setup utilized a solid rivet to secure the window guide bushing bracket to the main assembly. The bolt and nut will make the installation effortless!
- The next kit will fit the door glass for 1981 to 1988 t-top cars and 1983 to 1988 convertibles that were built before October of 1987. This kit includes two upper brackets, two lower brackets, bushings, and hardware.
- The third kit will fit the door glass for 1988 to 1993 convertibles built after October of 1987. This kit includes two brackets, bushings, and hardware. On the later model convertibles, we recommend that you go ahead and remove the door panel to check the shape of the window guide rod just to be sure you order the right kit. The third-party company that built the convertibles for Ford switched to an oval-shaped window guide rod after October of 1987 (See Image Below). However, that doesn’t always mean you have that particular style of window guide rod, so double-check before you order a kit.
- The last kit is designed for the quarter glass on 1983 to 1993 convertibles. This kit includes two upper brackets, two lower brackets, bushings, and hardware.
Before you start tearing everything apart, the door glass kits require the removal of the door panel. Tap here to learn how to remove the door panel.
For the convertible quarter glass window guide bushing brackets, we’re only going to show the brackets and bushings getting replaced since we already covered the removal and installation steps of the guide rod in another video. The video explains the procedure of removing and reinstalling the guide rod, which you must do to replace the window bushing brackets.
Required Tools
- Cleaning Supplies (WD-40, green scuff pads, brushes, microfiber towels, & all-purpose cleaner)
- White Lithium Grease (or any grease with PTFE)
- Compact Grinder or Cut-off Wheel
- Non-marring Pry Tool
- Drift/Punch Set
- Hammer
- 1/4" & 3/8" Socket Set
- 1/4" & 3/8" Swivel Sockets or Adapters
- Ratcheting Wrench Set
Window Door Guide Bushing Brackets Install
- With the door panel removed from the door, carefully remove the moisture barrier.
- Loosen and remove the upper 7/16 nut securing the guide rod to the door frame.
- The lower 7/16 retaining nut is underneath the door frame. Loosen and remove this nut as well.
- Lower the door glass and ensure it doesn’t bottom out on the rubber bump stop. If it does, bring it back up just a touch. Wedge something that won’t inflict damage between the door frame and door glass. Gently pry the door frame away from the glass and carefully remove the guide rod. The guide rod does have some sharp areas, so be careful not to make contact with the glass, as it will scratch either the glass or the tint.
- Raise the window so you can access the window guide bracket.
- If replacing an existing bracket, loosen and remove the 7/16-ths bolt.
- Then use a compact grinder or cut-off wheel to remove the lower section of the solid rivet.
- After that, you’ll want to brace the window as best you can and then use a drift and hammer to drive out the rivet. Whatever you do, don’t strike the drift very hard, as you risk breaking the glass.
- With the rivet out of the way, remove the existing bracket.
- Lower the glass just enough to remove the existing bushing from the upper bracket that’s attached to the door glass.
- Go ahead and clean this with some WD-40. Then you’ll want to remove as much of the old grease from the arm roller guide as possible.
- Finally, clean the guide rod with some WD-40 and a green scuff pad until it’s nice and smooth. Wipe away the residue.
- Install one new window guide bushing in the upper bracket.
- Lower the glass, take one of the new brackets, and ensure the slotted hole is positioned towards the front of the door.
- Loosely install the short bolt.
- Pass the long bolt through the bracket from the bottom and loosely install the nut. This hardware will get tightened at the end of the installation.
- Install a new window guide bushing. Lubricate the contact pads on both bushings with white lithium grease or grease with PTFE.
- Use this same grease and apply a thin film to the guide rod and the arm roller guide.
- Carefully pry open the door frame and reposition the guide rod.
- Ensure that it passes through both guide bushings and that both studs pass through their respective locations in the door frame.
- Reinstall both nuts and loosely tighten.
- Raise the window all the way up.
- Fully tighten the two retaining nuts securing the guide rod to the door frame and the bracket's hardware.
- Raise and lower the glass to ensure it’s situated properly. If needed, make small adjustments to the window guide bushing bracket. Repeat these same steps for the other side, and that completes the door glass portion.
Convertible quarter window bracket install
- Before you begin on the convertible quarter window bracket, we recommend checking out the guide video first.
- With the bracket assembly on a workbench, remove the guide rod from the bracket assembly.
- Loosen and remove the two retaining bolts from the upper bracket.
- Remove the bracket. Do the same for the lower bracket.
- Now would be a good time to clean up the components. We used some Naptha and a stiff, bristled brush.
- For the guide rod, repeat the process that we mentioned previously. WD-40 and a green scuff pad until it’s nice and smooth. Wipe away the residue.
- Dry the parts and locate two new brackets. These are location specific, and it’s pretty easy to tell which ones go where.
- Position the lower bracket into place and loosely tighten the bolts. Install a new guide bushing. Do the same for the upper bracket.
- Lubricate the contact pads on each bushing with white lithium grease or a grease with PTFE.
- Lubricate the stud for the pivot arm. Now you can repeat the same steps for the other side. After that, you’re good to go!
Alright, people, that’s going to wrap things up. As always, we hope you find great value in our videos, and more importantly, we hope you appreciate our commitment to the Fox Body Mustang. Until next time, y'all know what to do for all things Fox Mustang; keep it right here with the real enthusiasts, LMR.com!
