Bizarre Bronco steering...?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 292
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Bizarre Bronco steering...?
Picked up an '82 Bronco recently and pretty much rebuilt the whole front end.
What's happening is when I'm driving down the road if I hit any minor bump like a man hole cover, it wants to drift. It doesn't pull the wheel out of my hand or anything. It also pulls left while braking hard...again, it doesn't pull the wheel out of my hand either.
All shocks, u joints, bearings, bushings, ball joints, steering linkeage, steering box have been replaced except for the coil springs. The complete braking system has been replaced except for the pedal. Tires are a few months old.
The steering is tighter since the repairs but still has the same issues.I have had it to a couple of reputable shops to align it and it has been aligned to specs twice with no change. I can't even drive it on the freeway, even hittiiing one of those little reflectors while changing lanes makes it drift like crazy.
Any input or help would be appreciated. I've spent a lot of time and $$ rebuilding the chassis stuff on this rig and I would at least like to drive it and not look drunk...lol.
What's happening is when I'm driving down the road if I hit any minor bump like a man hole cover, it wants to drift. It doesn't pull the wheel out of my hand or anything. It also pulls left while braking hard...again, it doesn't pull the wheel out of my hand either.
All shocks, u joints, bearings, bushings, ball joints, steering linkeage, steering box have been replaced except for the coil springs. The complete braking system has been replaced except for the pedal. Tires are a few months old.
The steering is tighter since the repairs but still has the same issues.I have had it to a couple of reputable shops to align it and it has been aligned to specs twice with no change. I can't even drive it on the freeway, even hittiiing one of those little reflectors while changing lanes makes it drift like crazy.
Any input or help would be appreciated. I've spent a lot of time and $$ rebuilding the chassis stuff on this rig and I would at least like to drive it and not look drunk...lol.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
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an f150 i used to have had a shattered frame around the steering box. after welding up the cracks i reinforced it by bolting on a piece of channel iron across the bottom of the 2 frame rails, then a diagonal bar from the middle of the channel up to the top of that frame rail.
before the repair it took an entire 2 lane road to do 35, that frame rail was about as flexible as a leaf spring with how it was broken
before the repair it took an entire 2 lane road to do 35, that frame rail was about as flexible as a leaf spring with how it was broken
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 292
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I totally forgot to mention that I checked out the frame when changing out the boxes. I had another 80-86 truck that had cracks in that area that I had to repair. This bronco is pretty decent in that area, no damage/cracks.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 106
From: Martinsburg, WV
I know you said no cracks, but some people have had issues where the frame is riveted together being loose, from years of oil leaks etc. Check that you have no travel at any joints on the frame.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Phoenix, AZ
The crossmember rivets are good. I've been down that road too. I had some come loose on the '85 I had.
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I'm thinking it could be the rag joint coupler, or the intermediate steering shaft or both.
Steering wheel play is 2 inches maximum... You shouldn't be able to move the steering wheel farther than 2 inches from side to side before the front wheels begin to turn.
Have somebody turn the steering wheel with the engine off, steering wheel unlocked while you look at the steering gearbox input shaft.
Look for the rubber part of the coupler or the intermediate shaft components moving independant to the steering box input shaft. Pay attention to the knuckle joint that connects both sides of the intermediate shaft together just before it connects to the steering column.
If the input shaft, and everything seem fine, you may have excessive play at the steering gearbox. The box might need to be adjusted to the proper preload, or possibly defective etc...
Steering wheel play is 2 inches maximum... You shouldn't be able to move the steering wheel farther than 2 inches from side to side before the front wheels begin to turn.
Have somebody turn the steering wheel with the engine off, steering wheel unlocked while you look at the steering gearbox input shaft.
Look for the rubber part of the coupler or the intermediate shaft components moving independant to the steering box input shaft. Pay attention to the knuckle joint that connects both sides of the intermediate shaft together just before it connects to the steering column.
If the input shaft, and everything seem fine, you may have excessive play at the steering gearbox. The box might need to be adjusted to the proper preload, or possibly defective etc...
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 292
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From: Phoenix, AZ
The rag joint has been replaced so the shaft is nice and tight. I had a buddy move the wheen back and forth with the truck off and there was no play. Just for kicks I warranty'd out the steering box for another and it acts the same way.
I'm kind of stumped on this one fellas...
I may have to strap a camera to the chassis and watch the suspention cycle and see if I notice anything out of whack.
I'm kind of stumped on this one fellas...
I may have to strap a camera to the chassis and watch the suspention cycle and see if I notice anything out of whack.
