1991 Bronco Steering
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From: Motor USA
1991 Bronco Steering
I have a 1991 Bronco that I am currently in the process of trying to turn into a daily driver. It has 140,000 miles on it and I have 8 months to get this beast ready for everyday driving. I am going to replace the motor next month and still have a few other things to do as well. This truck will not drive straight. If you are driving down the street you have to constantly move the wheel back and forth. The truck wanders all over the road. I have read a few of the posts here and like another person said "it's scary to drive" I have a buddy who is a mechanic who is doing the engine swap and he said it's the steering box with out checking it. He said they are known problems on these trucks and he can probably take most of it out with an adjustment. I have had others say to just get the steering box changed. Any suggestions???
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From: Clearwater USA
1991 Bronco Steering
The steering-box is adjustable so IMHO why not try to adjust the steering 1st before replacing the box. Most of the time it is only an adjustment that is needed especially on a truck that is not very old. Good Luck,
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: cedar rapids usa
1991 Bronco Steering
I don't mean to be dishn' yo homey man but dude dig it if homey aint looking then homey aint seeing 
Ok with that out of my system theres plenty of things that can cause the troubles you're describing. Could be bad tierod ends. Could be a bad steering sector. Could be that little rubber shock joint in the steering sector. Could be bad ball joints. And it could be a lot of things.
Theres a lot of parts that make up the steering system, and at 140K any one of the parts I listed ""Could"" be going out. My point is that if he hasn't looked it over yet then he really doesn't know forsure. Wait till he, or someone that knows what they are looking at, has checked over the whole system before making plans to change something. I hate to say this but I kind of dislike it when someone says, "replace this" before looking it over (okay we do that on here but atleast we give more then one possible cause for the symptom).
Ok with that out of my system theres plenty of things that can cause the troubles you're describing. Could be bad tierod ends. Could be a bad steering sector. Could be that little rubber shock joint in the steering sector. Could be bad ball joints. And it could be a lot of things.
Theres a lot of parts that make up the steering system, and at 140K any one of the parts I listed ""Could"" be going out. My point is that if he hasn't looked it over yet then he really doesn't know forsure. Wait till he, or someone that knows what they are looking at, has checked over the whole system before making plans to change something. I hate to say this but I kind of dislike it when someone says, "replace this" before looking it over (okay we do that on here but atleast we give more then one possible cause for the symptom).
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From: Motor USA
1991 Bronco Steering
I just took this thing for a ride around the block and also noticed that the steering does not return. If I turn the wheel slight left it does not return you have to correct and turn slight right. You have to constantly steer the truck.
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1991 Bronco Steering
True dat, yo! Listen to Wayne.
Anyway, I've heard that the steering boxes can be a problem, but first I'd bet on ball joints, tie rod ends, and subsequently the alignment. Mine needed all these, plus radius arm bushings before it was driving the way it should. I haven't messed with the steering box.
Dan
Anyway, I've heard that the steering boxes can be a problem, but first I'd bet on ball joints, tie rod ends, and subsequently the alignment. Mine needed all these, plus radius arm bushings before it was driving the way it should. I haven't messed with the steering box.
Dan
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Michigan
1991 Bronco Steering
I took my 88 Bronco to a local fix it shop and they tried to really screw me over. They said that my steering box, pitman arm, stabilizer arm bushings, ball joints, steering shock, and steering gear box were all bad. They wanted $1450 to do the whole job. I figured they were about $400 too high and that they were full of it so I took it somewhere else. Ended up beeing only the steering box and it cost $320 to replace it. Made a world of difference. He said that everything else looks fine and didn't need to be replaced. Now I only have a little play in the steering wheel and I need an alignment. I will post what I find. Personally I wouldn't mess with adjusting the steering box. If it needs to be adjusted more than likely it's bad and you're better off just getting it replaced. Auto zone has it for around $150 so if you have the time do it yourself.
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1991 Bronco Steering
The ball joints were 500 bucks parts and labor. That was the best estimate I got (I also knew the place would do good work too).
Alignment was 50 bucks, and it was 40 to put the tie rod ends on. I did the radius arm bushings myself prior. All in all, none of it is very difficult, I'd just rather pay someone than have to spend the better part of the weekend doing it. Sounds like you're knowledgeable enough, so you probably wouldn't have too much difficulty doing it yourself.
Dan
Alignment was 50 bucks, and it was 40 to put the tie rod ends on. I did the radius arm bushings myself prior. All in all, none of it is very difficult, I'd just rather pay someone than have to spend the better part of the weekend doing it. Sounds like you're knowledgeable enough, so you probably wouldn't have too much difficulty doing it yourself.
Dan
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Clearwater USA
1991 Bronco Steering
No, one turn is not excessive not even close. Be sure to cycle the steering a couple of times (full left and full right) and check the adjuster again just to be sure all the slack is out. How does it feel now that you adjusted the box? 
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 99
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1991 Bronco Steering
Feels okay but probibly would be best to jack up and take load off steering system to really feel how smooth? What do you think?
I just got a little nervous after one complete turn I might over tighten adjuster. All other steering components seem tight.
I just got a little nervous after one complete turn I might over tighten adjuster. All other steering components seem tight.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Clearwater USA
1991 Bronco Steering
Yeah that's the best way to do it. Just a pain to jack it up sometimes. On the ground will work and is better than nothing. Glad to here it helped.
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
Rick
86 302 EFI, bored 60 over, AOD,
Headman Headers, Flowmaster 40 series,
2 inch dual exhaust, MSD ignition
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver USA
1991 Bronco Steering
I have a 93 Bronco and just got done fixing the exact same problem. If you are going to take it to a shop and have them fix it take it to a shop that does nothing but alignements. Preferably one that does RV's and 4x4's. They will be familiar with the problem. On mine it was the radial arm bushings and the inside tie rods. If the radial arm bushings are bad it will cause the front axle to move slightly making it very hard to keep your truck going straight. If you are mechanically enclined you can do it yourself for about $35. Just be aware that you are going to spend some time removing the rivets holding the radial arm bracket on the driver side. My advice is take it to a reputable alignment tech and have them diagnose it. You don't have to let them repair it if you feel you can take on the job. I got mine fixed for $500 parts and labor. Let us know what you find. Good luck.
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