I've got some experience working on the steering/suspension system of the pre 1992 for Broncos and trucks. On my 1994 Ford Bronco I've replaced all ball joints, U-joints and tie rods. Everything is new on the front end except the steering box. My steering is terrible with a quarter turn slop. I've adjusted the steering box with negative results. My question is this. On the older Fords the steering shaft going into the steering box has an oval shaped joint connecting the two. The shaft has been known to round off and develop some significant slop. I've looked on my Bronco and all I can see is a rubber boot over the steering shaft. Does the 1994 Bronco have this same setup and if so is it prone to rounding out? All opinions are welcome, I don't have the time to be pulling everthing apart and putting it back together again to order parts. I'm trying to make time to do this myself so I don't have to go to the shop and get charged a ton for labor. Give me some good brands on the steering boxes as well.

 

Have you looked at the rag joint in the shaft? I'm presuming that you have since everything is new. This is an often overlooked, fairly easy to identify repair.

 

Is the rag joint the oval joint shapped joint I've seen on the older Broncos? If it is then no, it would have been covered up by a rubber boot and I didn't have time to replace it. If that joint is bad what do you do to fix it? I had a buddy weld the two joints but I don't think that could be good.

 

The rag joint is about 1/2 way down the shaft and I think it may be covered by a boot now. It looks for all the world like a piece of tire sidewall between the two shaft ends. If it is gone it will result in 1/4 turn of play, almost exactly. Fairly easy to replace when compared to box. Good luck!

 

I read through my shop manual and was unable to find anything about a rag joint. I also searched Advanced Auto Parts and Auto Zone online for such a part and was unable to locate it. Does the rag joint have another name or was it only offered on the older vehicles?

 

I am certain it has a technical name. I'll see if I can find additional info for you.

 

Thanks Tex

 

SproutW I have a new rag joint in front of me. The correct name is steering coupling disc. made by Help part no. 31005 this is for a 94 Bronco.

 

Thanks 94, I bet that needs changed out and I will get one ordered up. Appreciate the look up/hook up.

 

SproutW,
Looks like 94XLT got the answer for you, great thing about this forum. Hope this cures the ills of the Bronco. We've been dodging hail, some the size of baseballs, for the last 24 hours. Shut down for a little while. All the best.

 

Hey SproutW, After changing out everything on my front end, I found out that the cross member had come loose from the frame rail. I guess broncs are known for this. I had my girlfriend run the steering wheel back and forth and saw the frame rail twist a little. I got my welder out and man what a difference it made in the steering. Hope things work out.