I got a Kimber TLE and the 2 top bushings on both sides wont tighten up. I am planning to replace the grips and grip screws with some VZ Grips and “fancy” screws from them also. I was thinking I’d just replace all my bushings while I was at it but I’m not sure if I need oversized bushings or if red loc tite will work better.
If the frame threads are stripped then yes you’ll want to bump to oversized bushings so you have new metal to tap.
I can’t say which Loctite to go with. When I switched to thin grips I used blue Loctite to reinstall bushings so that heat wouldn’t be necessary to remove.
Brownells sells a kit that comes with the oversized tap and I belive it comes with 4 bushings. You only need 1 but having extras on hand is a good idea.
Try a new (standard) bushing first before you tap it oversized in case it’s the bushing that is stripped and not the frame. It never hurts to chase the existing threads with a standard tap first.
Stripped bushings are one of the most common problems I have seen with 1911’s the only 1911’s I have owned that did not exhibit this issue at one time or another are my les baers. I have had near new guns with loose grip screw bushings. I agree with Dave the bushings can usually simy be replaced without messing with oversize ones. A few spare grip stews and bushings are one of the very few parts I have ever had issue with in 30 years of running 1911’s