I have read numerous posts about the play/walking, etc... in the steering. My Bronco has it bad! I have replaced the following: 1. radius arm bushings, front sway bar bushings, cambers (professionally), right inner tie rod, propeller shaft u-joints, and had it aligned. The steering became a little tighter (from having to turn it 1/3 to get tires to move, now only 1/4 turn of steering wheel!!!! I have read numerous posts from this site as well as other "Ford/Bronco" sites on the internet and have deduced that it has come down to either the left side axle pivot bushings or the steering gear box. Further, some say taking out old bushings and replacement is a 30 minute per side fix while others say it's one of the most dreaded things to tackle. The bushings are very inexpensive while a rebuilt steering gear box is still affordable, if it will fix the problem. I'm sure that since they are both nearing 25 years in age, that replacing both would not be a bad idea but I wanted to get opinions on what the more likely culprit is and the comparison in the swap outs! Thanks

 

Youre right that it's likely that both need to be replaced, but there are still other things that can cause wander. Personally, I'd replace EVERY bushing on a vehicle that age, regardless of how nasty or fine it looks.

BUT, the standard for narrowing down what has the most slop is to have someone inside the vehicle, with key "On," but not running and someone who can stick their head under the hood and front suspension. The person inside grabs the wheel and steers back and forth like they are playing bus driver; not strong enough to actually turn the wheels, but enough to get a little resistance, back and forth and overcome any slack.

THEN, you can check steering shaft U-joints for play, steering box for play, and see any bushings that have turned to mush. Any movement should be, for the most part, transmitted ALL the way through the steering system.

For example, since you suspect the gear box, look at the input and see if the pitman arm moves about the same or if it sits still for a while then tries to play catch-up with the input.

Maybe I missed it, but while your'e under the front end, it wouldn't hurt to jack it up safely and check wheel bearings and ball joints. Just grab hold of one wheel with your hands at the very top and very bottom and try to wiggle the whole wheel like you're going to pull it off...then repeat with your hands at the left and right.

Any crunchy feeling, clunking or big looseness means it's time to start at least consider replacing ball joints or bearings.

I cant remember, but I THINK movement with hands at top and bottom is ball joint slop and with hands at 9 and 3 is wheel bearings...maybe it's the other way around.

 

I'd start on that Steering Box, these get old and sloppy. There is a screw on the top for adjustments, HOWEVER I would not touch it unless you read up on how to properly adjust it and the consequences of adjusting it improperly. Bushings are also a good start in some cases, I don't know too much about the bushings on the 95 TTB setups, there are others here who do. My 78 has a solid front axle BUT I had the Track-Bar bushings go bad on one side and gave it the famed "Death Wobble". Something that happens at about 35 mph, the front wheels have some play in them and they start to wobble left and right causing the whole truck to shake badly.

Anyways, for the tire thing, if you put your hands on the top and bottom and wiggle it as mentioned above, this is a good test for bearings. Ball joints can be done the same way if you have someone under the front either looking at the joint or feeling it with their hand, when you wiggle it they should feel it moving if the joints are bad. Putting your hands on the left/right side of the tire and wiggling (I think) only checks for tie rods and play in other steering components. Which is a good test too preform all the same.